Audubon is gearing up to deliver maximum support to the largest major proposal to expand federal conservation land in Florida to be announced in 20 years.
Important public meetings on the proposed “Everglades Headwaters National Wildlife Refuge and Conservation Area” will be held January 26 in Kissimmee, February 4 in Sebring, February 9 in Okeechobee, and February 10 in Vero Beach (times and locations below).
| Date | Meeting Location | Address |
| 1.26.2011 Wednesday 6:00-9:00 pm | Kissimmee Civic Center | 201 East Dakin Ave Kissimmee, FL 34741 |
| 2.4.2011 Friday 6:00-9:00 pm | Sebring Civic Center | 355 West Center Ave Sebring, FL 33870 |
| 2.9.2011 Wednesday 6:00-9:00 pm | Okeechobee High School | 2800 Hwy 441 N Okeechobee, FL 34972 |
| 2.10.2011 Thursday 6:00-9:00 pm | Vero Beach High School Main Campus Cafeteria | 1707 16th St Vero Beach, FL 32960 |
Audubon was one of the leading groups to champion restoration of the Kissimmee River which had been channelized by the Corps of Engineers in the early 1960’s. While that restoration job, accomplished at a cost of approximately a billion dollars, is nearing completion, Audubon believes that the Refuge and Conservation Area is an absolutely essential step to put the ecosystem back together.
Regarding the new Refuge, Audubon of Florida Director of Advocacy Charles Lee said, "As one who has been involved in Audubon’s efforts in the Kissimmee watershed advocating restoration of the river since the late 1970’s, I can say categorically that the “missing link” in the plan to restore the river has always been lack of certainty about protection of the ecosystem around its headwaters."
The historic cattle ranches that have existed so compatibly with wildlife, continuing to provide habitat for Bald Eagles, Crested Caracara, Grashopper Sparrows, Sandhill Cranes and now Whooping Cranes must also be preserved as part of the region’s economic heritage.
The plan to create this Refuge/Conservation Area with cooperative innovative approaches that work with the cattle ranching landowners is a brilliant new proposal from the Department of Interior.
Please follow this link to learn more about the proposal or click here for information on the meetings.
