Polk County begins accepting nominations for environmental land acquisitions
Posted on: July 31st, 2023
Original Article: https://www.theledger.com/story/news/local/2023/07/31/polk-county-welcomes-nominations-for-environmental-land-acquisitions/70488747007/
Polk County’s Environmental Land’s program is opening the process for accepting site nomination forms from landowners beginning Tuesday.
County voters passed a referendum last year for a property tax creating additional funds to acquire and protect environmental land and water resources. The funding supports the Polk County Environmental Lands program. A tax previously approved by voters had expired.
Properties are typically acquired by the county through outright fee title or less-than-fee methods such as conservation easements, bargain sales and donations, the county said in a news release. The program allows property owners several options to consider in their plans for future land use.
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Property owners wishing to have sites evaluated may submit a nomination form, which can be found at https://polknature.com/about-us. Contact Tabitha Biehl at tabithabiehl@polk-county.net for more information.
Each property will go through a preliminary review process that includes input from the Conservation Land Acquisition Selection Advisory Committee, a citizens advisory committee. Aspects of the property’s sites relating to the preservation and protection of lands for their water resources, fish and wildlife habitat and natural resource benefits are important in the evaluation process, the release said. Opportunities for providing resources-based recreation where compatible with these important resources is considered part of the program.
Polk County’s Environmental Lands program has previously bought and restored or preserved such sites as Circle B Bar Reserve and Lakeland Highlands Scrub.