Charles Lee, Audubon of Florida's Director of Advocacy, joined the Assistant Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and representatives of the Nature Conservancy, and National Wildlife Refuge Association at a press conference held at Disney Wilderness Preserve today to announce the Department of Interior's proposed plan for the Everglades Headwaters National Wildlife Refuge.

The USFWS proposal mirrors the boundaries of the Florida Audubon Society Cooperative Bald Eagle Sanctuary established as collaborative effort between the Florida Audubon Society and 59 Kissimmee area cattle ranchers some 50 years ago. Click here to see an article from the October 1963 Florida Audubon Naturalist magazine describing this issue.

The 150,000 acre proposal combines proposed conservation easement and fee simple purchase concepts, depending upon the characteristics of the affected lands and the preferences of cattle ranch landowners. The proposal also envisions restoration work to block canals and ditches and store additional water in the upper reaches of the Kissimmee watershed.

Audubon's historic position of working with ranch landowners in a cooperative manner is well reflected in the proposal. A number of ranch owners attended the announcement and indicated their support. Among them were Mike Adams of Adams Ranch and representatives of the Latt Maxcey Corporation, one of the largest tracts of land under consideration.

After today's press conference, Charles Lee stated:

"The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has reached the right conclusions on the easement areas and properties to acquire, and has removed from the list all controversial properties. The easements and land to be acquired are vital to the Bald Eagle, Everglade Snail Kite, Audubon's Crested Caracara, and Grasshopper Sparrow, species Audubon of Florida has chosen as key indicator species for the Everglades. The opportunity to retain the good stewardship practices of these ranchers in perpetuity, and to further restore water storage and water filtering wetlands north of Lake Okeechobee will be a tremendous benefit to the Everglades."

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposes priority purchases in two areas, one a band along State Road 60 encompassing large ranch properties, and a second area in the northern Kissimmee Headwaters just south of the City of Kissimmee.

All fish and wildlife management and regulation of public hunting and outdoor use will be delegated to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, a facit of the proposal that follows another Audubon recommendation.

Two public hearings have been scheduled. One will be held 1-5 PM on Saturday, September 24th at the South Florida Community College Center for Performing Arts, 600 W. College Drive, Avon Park, Fl. The second hearing will be held 1-5 PM on Saturday, October 1 at Osceola Heritage Park, Exhibition Building Hall A 1901 Osceola Trail, Kissimmee Fl. 34744.