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Wildwood Preservation Society has the support of families who have lived in the Wildwood neighborhood for three generations as well as individuals and organizations concerned about Fred George Basin from throughout Leon County and across the country.

A non-profit 501-(c)(4) all-volunteer project of the
Advocacy Consortium for the Common Good.

The Wildwood Preservation Society

Dedicated to protecting the Fred George Basin and our rural way of life from reckless development that threatens to:

* Increase flooding and traffic

* Contaminate our drinking water with runoff pollutants

* Contaminate our wells with cancer causing radon emissions

* Violate the comprehensive plan

* Endanger threatened wildlife and ruin ecosystems

SAVE

Fred George Basin

Wildwood Preservation Society is working with developers, property owners, conservation groups and public officials to place the last remaining 'core' or 'heart' of Fred George Basin into conservation.

The Leon County-City of Tallahassee Blueprint 2000 Intergovernmental Agency agreed February 26th, 2007 to pursue funding for the entire Fred George Basin conservation project. The unanimous vote followed two County Commission decisions that were also rendered without dissent, and initiates the process to move the Fred George project from Tier 2 to Tier 1 priority for funding, with up to $2.75 million earmarked for the purchase.

On December 9th, 2008 the Leon County Commission voted unanimously to complete the purchase of the first – and most environmentally sensitive – of five land parcels slated for conservation in the Fred George Basin. For details see our blog entry here. There are four additional properties identified for inclusion in the Fred George Basin Greenway. Wildwood Preservation Society will not rest until all these lands are protected, and the complete vision of a preserved Fred George Basin is realized.

Conserving these parcels protects aquifer recharge area and therefore the Fred George Sink. Additionally, it allows for the planned building of the storm water mitigation infrastructure facility needed to treat storm water prior to its entering the Fred George Sink/Upper Floridan Aquifer (Blueprint 2000 Map 1: Fred George and Ochlockonee River Basins) and the City of Tallahassee drinking water supply (Bruce Ritchie citing Brian Katz, USGS).

Multiple listed species have been located on the site and depend on the health of the Fred George Basin for their survival: Wood Stork, Gopher Tortoise, Little Blue Heron and White Ibis. Many others are likely. Their habitat will be preserved.

Uplands and disturbed areas close to Fred George Road and Capital Circle have potential for hiking trails or other low impact recreational opportunities compatible with conservation, needed by the citizens of the community.

Great Blue Heron in Fred George Basin July 3, 2006. Photo taken within property once threatened by development, now slated for conservation.

Snowy egret chicks nesting in Fred George Basin, Spring 2009. Photo courtesy Richard Leighton, Florida Nature Photography.

Note: click here to view our previous update.

We recently received the most exciting news to date regarding our three year campaign to Save Fred George Basin. Leon County has finalized the purchase and preservation of a sensitive 78-acre parcel that had been previously slated for development. The property contains karst wetlands used as core Wood Stork foraging habitat, and the pristine Fred George Pond. WPS supports the county’s continuing efforts to negotiate with landholders in order to place several adjacent properties into conservation, including a small lot containing the important Fred George Sink, which feeds into the Floridan Aquifer and the City of Tallahassee drinking water supply.

It has been an active nesting season for endangered wood storks in Fred George Basin’s Wildwood rookery. With overdevelopment in South Florida pushing more wood storks north from their original habitat, it is more critical now than ever that they be protected. Click here to see recent photos of wood storks and other wildlife in Fred George Basin.

Meanwhile, Fat Cat builders have begun a public relations and lobbying campaign to undermine current wood stork protections by downgrading their endangered status. It seems wealthy developers will stop at nothing to pave over our beautiful state. Despite a banner nesting season in 2009, biologists are not convinced that wood storks are on the path to a sustained recovery, primarily due to overbuilding in South Florida. You can learn more about this issue by visiting our blog post here. Watch for future updates from us via MySpace, Twitter, Facebook, and our main blog.

Endangered wood storks nesting in Fred George Basin, Spring 2009. Photo courtesy Richard Leighton, Florida Nature Photography.

On March 29th WPS founder Misty Penton led a community clean-up of Fred George Basin. The event was covered by WCTV CBS News. About fifteen volunteers helped remove trash and debris in order to prevent contamination of our drinking water, minimize flooding, and help protect endangered wildlife that lives nearby.

WPS founder Misty Penton with WCTV reporter Kelsey Johnson

Wildwood Preservation Society worked unsuccessfully during the recently concluded Florida legislative session to prevent lawmakers from gutting the critical Florida Forever program. Florida Forever is widely regarded as the most successful state land conservation program in the country, with more than 2 million acres of our state’s most sensitive areas having been preserved since its inception. Fred George Basin is among Florida Forever’s beneficiaries, as WPS assisted Leon County in securing Florida Forever grant funding to match costs associated with acquiring the last undeveloped portions of the basin. WPS will continue to work with the Florida Forever Coalition to restore this valuable program when next year’s budget is deliberated by our legislature.

Unfortunately, the loss of Florida Forever wasn't the only legislative activity this past session that angered conservationists. The legislature passed, and Gov. Crist signed into law, a controversial bill (SB 360) aimed at promoting more developmental sprawl. The law, which was widely criticized by municipal governments and newspaper editorial boards, was written and supported by builders and vigorously opposed by environmental groups. The Governor also signed a bill (SB 2080) that shuts out the public on important water-use decisions and allows a handful of bureaucrats to dictate permitting for large-scale wetlands destruction. Our friends at Florida Wildlife Federation have a good summary of what the 2009 legislative session means for Florida’s environment here.

We do have good news from South Florida, where a judge’s ruling will help prevent Lowe’s from building a large retail store outside of the Miami-Dade Urban Development Boundary, right up to the edge of the Everglades. This important decision should bolster efforts to stop sprawl from further encroaching on the crown jewel of Florida’s ecological landscape. Thank you to everyone who responded to last year’s action alerts that we distributed on behalf of Hold the Line and Progress Florida to stop Lowe’s reckless plan.

And finally, WPS has joined the Teaming With Wildlife Coalition, a group of more than 5,900 organizations seeking new and greater funding for wildlife conservation and related education and recreation. The coalition is working to promote wildlife action plans designed to give us the ability to conserve wildlife and the lands and waters where they live for future generations.

Wildwood Preservation Society is an all-volunteer nonprofit effort. Special thanks to our many supporters, volunteers and coalition members. Questions? Email us at wildwoodpreservation@gmail.com.

Bill Brooks, Fish and Wildlife Biologist
US Fish and Wildlife Service
Letter in support of Fred George Basin Greenway acquisition
May 3, 2007. Excerpt:
"Throughout its range in the Southeast U.S., wood storks are dependent upon wetlands for breeding and foraging. Short and long hydroperiod wetlands continue to be lost to residential and commercial development and urbanization. Preventing loss of wood stork nesting habitat and foraging wetlands within a colony's core foraging area is a high priority for the recovery of this species."

U.S. Senator Bill Nelson
Letter to Leon County and City of Tallahassee Commissioners
February 12, 2007. Excerpt:
"This project will not only ensure that Tallahassee residents continue to have safe and clean drinking water, but will also protect numerous fragile ecosystems and endangered and threatened species. Additionally, the creation of the Fred George Basin Greenway will reduce traffic and school overcrowding in an area of high development."

Wildwood Preservation Society
Stakeholders’ 156 Acre Acquisition Option Recommendation/Settlement
December 5, 2006. Excerpt:
"The Leon County Commission has an opportunity to safeguard one of our most critical natural assets by acquiring 156 acres in Fred George Basin for perpetual conservation, storm water mitigation, and water quality treatment purposes. This land acquisition has unprecedented support with developers, landowners, neighbors, Leon County, Blueprint 2000, public policy groups representing almost 100,000 supporters, and elected officials all working together to protect these parcels for future generations."

The Habitat Trust for Wildlife
Leeona Klippstein, Executive Director
December 4, 2006. Excerpt:
"As honorable County Commissioners, you must make a fully informed decision...why not focus on conservation? Numerous conservation organizations locally and nationally are watching what you are doing. Even the local media recognizes the importance of your decision-making. Be conservation heroes!! No one wants to spend time and money on litigation of a development project. If the County supports development of the parcels, such destruction will be in violation of the Endangered Species Act (ESA), Clean Water Act (CWA), Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA), National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) and others. Litigation in the courts goes on for many years. So please, just support giving time to finding a way to conserve the area."

Florida Wildlife Federation
Preston T. Robertson, Vice-President/General Counsel
September 28, 2006. Excerpt:
"On behalf of the 50,000 members and supporters of the Florida Wildlife Federation, I write to express our strong support for the perpetual conservation and protection of the Fred George Basin. This 160 acre tract northwest of Tallahassee contributes to our water quality, as well as serving as much-needed habitat for many species of plants and animals, particularly the rare wood stork, our only native stork."

Former Rep. Loranne Ausley
Florida House of Representatives, District 09-D. Excerpt:
"The Wildwood Preservation Society (WPS), a project of the 501 (c) (4) non-profit Advocacy Consortium for the Common Good (ACCG) has worked with the Ochlocknee River Soil and Water Conservation District (ORSWCD) to bring attention to the sensitive areas, including endangered species habitat, on these parcels. In July 2006, ORSWCD passed a resolution to support conservation of sensitive areas in the Fred George Basin. I am pleased to join the ORSWCD and Audubon of Florida in lending my support to this vital conservation effort in our area."
Loranne Ausley completed her third term in the Florida House of Representatives in 2008. Her district included most of Tallahassee and a part of adjoining Jefferson County.

Environment Florida
Submitted letter of support August, 2006.
Environment Florida is a statewide, citizen-based environmental advocacy organization. Their professional staff combines independent research, practical ideas and tough-minded advocacy to overcome the opposition of powerful special interests and win real results for Florida's environment. Environment Florida draws on 30 years of success in tackling our state's top environmental problems.

1000 Friends of Florida
Submitted letter of support August, 2006.
1000 Friends of Florida promotes healthy urban and natural places by wise management of growth and change. They educate, advocate, negotiate and, when necessary, litigate to protect our high quality of life.

Florida Audubon Society
Eric Draper, Policy Director
July 19, 2006. Excerpt:
"Florida Audubon (is) pleased to hear of the opportunity to place parcels 21-08-20-602-000, 21-08-20-606-0000, and 21-08-20-604-0000 within the Fred George Basin into conservation status. The unique ecological niche that these parcels encompass includes multiple layers of rare plant and animal species, aquifer recharge, storm water attenuation and flood protection...We...encourage the Commission to support the protection of this land."

Blueprint 2000
Dave Bright, Planning Manager
July 19, 2006. Excerpt:
"The Bluprint 2000 and Beyond Project Definitions Report does identify this area for protection. The narrative for Blueprint Map 1: Fred George and Ochlockonee River Basins, describes the project as follows: Storm water. Acquisition of Fred George Sink and much of the undeveloped portions of the Fred George Closed Basin will preserve groundwater quality in the area. *A wet detention pond is proposed to be constructed within the Fred George Basin to ensure that storm water entering the sink has been treated."

Apalachee Audubon Society (local Audubon Chapter)
Eric Draper, Conservation Chair
July 19, 2006. Excerpt:
"The Wood Stork is listed by Florida and the Federal government as endangered. A colony of several dozen nesting pairs can be found foraging on this property. They depend upon the health of the Fred George Basin for survival... We consider this land to be a very high priority for the uses of water quality Blueprint 2000 funds and therefore encourage the Commission to support the protection of this land."

Ochlockonee River Soil and Water Conservation District
Resolution in support of conserving Fred George Basin
July 7, 2006
The following resolution was adopted unanimously by the ORSWCD. WPS would like to thank Thure Caire and Sean McGlynn.