Hillsborough County Florida Conservation and Environmental Lands Management Department
We manage more than 61,000 acres of environmentally sensitive wildlife habitat and corridors acquired through the Jan K. Platt Environmental Lands Acquisition and Protection Program (ELAPP).
Management responsibilities include:
Prescribed burning
Invasive species control
Wildlife inventory
Trail maintenance
Feral animal control
Habitat improvements for endangered and threatened species of plants and animals
ELAPP is a voluntary program established for the purpose of providing the process and funding for identifying, acquiring, preserving and protecting endangered, environmentally-sensitive and significant lands in Hillsborough County. It is a citizen-based program with volunteer committees involved in every key aspect of the program. ELAPP is not a regulatory program, but lands are identified for the program because of their environmental significance.
About HCConservation
Hillsborough County FL Conservation and Lands Management
We protect Hillsborough County's natural lands and wildlife through a system of conservation parks and nature preserves, including more than 63,000 acres of environmentally sensitive lands through ELAPP. We also provide unique outdoor recreational activities ranging from picnicking and camping to hiking and kayaking.
Environmental Education and Outreach
Hillsborough County Conservation and Environmental Lands Management
www.HCFLGov.net/conservation
Hillsborough County
Nature Preserves and
Conservation Parks
Overview
• Conservation and Environmental Lands
Management Department
• ELAP Program
• Environmental Lands Management and Challenges
• Ecosystem Services
• Access and Recreation
Photo: Terry Tomalin, Tampa Bay Times, 3/25/10,
www.tampabay.com/sports/outdoors/paddling-the-hillsborough-
river/1082800
Conservation and Environmental Lands
Management Department (CELM)
Protects natural resources in the following
ways:
• Control invasive and exotic plant species
• Protect conservation lands from overuse
• Restore natural plant communities and ecosystems
• Conduct prescribed burns to improve wildlife habitat
and reduce wildfire risk
• Promote environmental stewardship through
educational programming and outreach
• Voluntary program established for the purpose of providing the
process and funding for identifying, acquiring, preserving and
protecting endangered, environmentally-sensitive and significant
lands in Hillsborough County
• Citizen-based program with volunteer committees involved in
every key aspect of the program
The Jan K. Platt Environmental Lands
Acquisition and Protection Program (ELAPP)
Jan K. Platt Environmental Lands Acquisition
and Protection Program (ELAPP)
• Local response to rapid
development and habitat
loss
• ELAPP authorized and
funded by Hillsborough
County voters in 1987,
1990, and 2008
• Named in honor of Jan K.
Platt, County Commissioner
(1978-2002) and tireless
advocate for ELAPP
ELAPP History: Prioritized Acquisitions
• 63,400 acres for $258.6 million
• Partnered with state and local
investments
• $174 million from ELAPP,
$84.6 million from partnering
agencies
• Preserve management agreements
with SWFWMD, FDEP, Tampa,
Temple Terrace
Local Greenways,
Wildlife Corridors,
Connections
• Brooker Creek
• Coastal Tampa Bay
• Upland and Scrub
habitats
• Little Manatee River
• Alafia River Corridor
• Cypress Creek,
Hillsborough River,
Lower Green Swamp
1938
2015
ELAPP Management:
• Over 63,400 acres of nature
preserves
• 350 miles of security fence
• 500 miles of fire lanes
• 125 miles of hiking, bike, and
equestrian trails
• More than 315 prescribed burns
and 45,000 acres since 2007
• Native habitat restoration and
exotic species control is constant
effort
• Urban interface and public
understanding
Conservation Parks
Management:
• 16 Conservation ParksOver
18,000 acres of large, natural
resource-based parks
• 2,830,000 visitors during FY2016
• 500 miles of hiking, bike, and
equestrian trails
• Canoeing/kayaking, camping,
swimming, boating, picnicking
• Upper Tampa Bay Trail
INVASIVE EXOTIC SPECIES
• Grow aggressively,
overwhelm and displace
native plant communities
• Reduce habitat for
dependent wildlife
• Change fire ecology
• Alter soil chemistry
• Alter drainage patterns
Treatment of Invasive Plants
•Mechanical
•Biological
•Chemical
•Prescribed Fire
BENEFITS OF
PRESCRIBED FIRE
• Maintains habitat for wildlife
• Stimulates blooming, seed production
• Promotes species diversity
• Controls invasive woody species
• Controls certain insects and diseases
• Reduces fuel build-up, limiting wildfire
Prescribed Fire Promotes Species
Diversity
Threatened and Endangered Plants
Pine Lily
Florida Golden Aster
Threatened & Endangered Animals
Florida Scrub-Jay
Gopher Tortoise
Burrowing Owl
Feral Animal Control
Site Security
Ecosystem Analysis and
Strategic Planning
• Ecosystem Services (findings for ELAPP
preserves) over 63,000 acres
• Flood protection: $13 million annually
• Water quality: $49 million annually
• Climate regulation: $27 million annually
• Air pollution removal: $11 million annually
Total = $99+ million annually
Conservation Parks provide an additional $36
million in ecosystem services over 16,000 acres
Photo credit: Octavio Jones, Tampa Bay Times, 7/31/15:
http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/retail/with-top-golf-and-now-bass-pro-shops-
brandon-is-a-destination/2239496
Tampa flooding, 8/3/15
Looking Ahead
• Development boom is back
• ELAPP shifting priority from
major acquisitions to
significant connections and
wildlife corridors
Strategic Planning for ELAPP
• How much preserved land is enough?
• How to prioritize acquisitions?
• Even with 2008 referendum and
external resources, there is not enough
funding to preserve all currently-
approved ELAPP sites
• Identify critical upland wildlife corridors
threatened by development, particularly
within or adjacent to urban services
boundary
• Expand acreage of existing ELAPP
preserves
• Areas likely to be developed in 2-5 years
(Pine Flatwoods vs. Flattened Pinewoods)
Public Access and Recreation
HCFLGov.net/conservation
Questions?