Item Coversheet



BOCC AGENDA ITEM

Item Title:North Florida Land Trust, Little Tiger Island Letter of Support
Date:12/12/2022
Department:County Manager
Background:

Little Tiger Island is a marsh and hammock island in the St. Marys River Sound, across the Intracoastal Waterway from the City of Fernandina Beach and Amelia Island. It is surrounded by conservation land, with Cumberland Island (National Park Service) to the North, Big Tiger Island to the West and Ft. Clinch to the East (both parts of Ft. Clinch State Park).  The site is significant to a number of coastal and migratory birds and is listed as critical habitat for the recovery of Piping Plovers, which only have a couple thousand nesting pairs left in the wild.

 

The Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the North Florida Land Trust have secured a matching grant of $1 million from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant Program to match this acquisition.

 

The North Florida Land Trust is seeking State approval  of this purchase in early January and has requested a letter of support from the Board of County Commissioners.

Request:
Approve and authorize the Chairman to sign a letter of support to the North Florida Land Trust for the acquisition of Little Tiger Island.
Financial/Economic Impact to Future Years Budgeting Process or Effect on Citizens:
The acquisition of Little Tiger Island is important for a number of reasons: shoreline protection, habitat conservation, national security, recreation.
Action Requested and Recommendation:
Approve and authorize the Chairman to sign a letter of support to the North Florida Land Trust for the acquisition of Little Tiger Island.
Is this action consistent with the Nassau County Comprehensive Land Use Plan?
Yes
Funding Source:
N/A
Additional Information Needed for Contracts/Agreements (If Applicable)
Contract Number assigned by Contracts Management:
N/A
For non-governmental agencies, has the document been sent to the vendor for signature?
N/A
Does the document need to be recorded? If so, who will pay the recordation fee?
N/A
Are there any special mailing instructions? (Include contact name, address, deadline for submittal, how to mail such as express mail, FedEx, etc):
N/A
How many originals are needed?
N/A
ATTACHMENTS:
DescriptionUpload DateType
Letter of Support12/9/2022Cover Memo