Osceola County, Florida, has a rich natural heritage that is essential to its quality of life and economic vitality. The Environmental Lands Conservation Program (ELCP), formerly known as SAVE Osceola, has played a crucial role in preserving this heritage by acquiring and protecting environmentally sensitive lands.

Established in 2004, ELCP has been a cornerstone of Osceola County's conservation efforts. Funded by a 0.25-mill property tax, the program has acquired 3,300 acres of land, including wetlands, forests, and prairies. These lands provide essential ecosystem services such as flood control, water quality protection, and habitat for wildlife.  These protected lands also provide passive recreation in the form of hiking and picnicking for Osceola County residents.

As Osceola County continues to experience rapid development, the importance of renewing the ELCP becomes even more evident. Preserving open spaces helps to mitigate the negative impacts of urbanization, including increased traffic congestion, pollution, and loss of biodiversity. By protecting environmentally sensitive lands, the ELCP ensures that future generations can enjoy the benefits of a healthy and sustainable environment.

However, the future of ELCP is uncertain. The program is scheduled to sunset in 2025 unless renewed by voters on the November 5, 2024 ballot.

Citizens have expressed frustration with development pressures but also the concern that that even after lands are protected by conservation initiatives, they may still be subject to development.

To address these concerns, it is essential to do two things.  First, renew and strengthen the ELCP - This can be achieved through a combination of strategies, including monitoring the lands proposed for acquisition, and strengthening public outreach and education. Second, make sure that you are voting for local officials that support conservation and mindful development strategies.

By investing in the preservation of Osceola County's natural heritage, we can ensure a brighter future for both our community and the environment.  Please make sure to vote for the Environmental Lands Conservation Program (ELCP) on the November 5^th ballot.

EcoAlert!

Split Oak Forest Wildlife and Environmental/Mitigation Area

(Content provided by Jenny Welch and Friends of Split Oak Forest)

The Central Florida Expressway Authority (CFX) is proposing to put a high-speed toll road through the forest to access future planned developments. CFX has proposed routes that go through Split Oak Forest rather than previously identified preferred routes avoiding the preserve.  In addition to the road impacts, future plans would include intense development along the southern borders of Split Oak, Moss Park and Isle of Pines Preserve that will impact the wildlife and the ability to manage the land and control wildfires.  

Please sign this petition to let the Central Florida Expressway Authority and others know that you oppose putting a road through any part of Split Oak Forest AND building residential and commercial development up to the boundary of these vital conservation lands.

Sign Petition

We strongly urge everyone to continue submitting objections to this Expressway extension via e-mail and to attend and speak at CFX Board and Osceola Board of County Commissioners Meetings. 

Let the consultants and CFX staff know you want the route to avoid Split Oak Forest altogether so the 20+ year old prescribed burn program can continue and the 100+ relocated gopher tortoises and other fire-dependent plants and animals can survive.

Please visit Friends of Split Oak Forest and sign up for their email updates.  You can also  "Like" and follow their Facebook Page, and join their Closed Facebook Group for updates.

Write you own email or letter (including name, address, e-mail and phone number) and send:

Electronically:

Conceptstudies@cfxway.com

CC: Glenn.pressimone@cfxway.com (Overall four-project leader at the Expressway Authority)

CC: Matthew.lamb@ch2m.com (Project leader Osceola Parkway Extension)

U.S. mail:

Concept, Feasibility & Mobility Studies
Attn: Mary Brooks, Public Involvement Coordinator
Quest Corporation of America
2431 Aloma Avenue Suite 231
Winter Park, FL 32792

Bullet Points (provided by "Friends of Split Oak Forest")

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Background:

Split Oak was acquired in 1994 with funds received through the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission's Mitigation Park Program. Mitigation banking is the preservation, and restoration of a wetland, stream, or habitat conservation area which compensates for developers that eliminate habitat for an endangered or threatened species, then they pay fees that are used to buy and manage high quality habitat elsewhere. This is one of the many reasons that this is so wrong to run a 4 - 6 lane expressway through this park and then mitigate the mitigation land! 

State Florida Native Plant Society, FNPS Pine Lily, FNPS Tarflower, Speak Up Wekiva, South Florida Wildlands Association, Back to Nature Wildlife Refuge, Osceola Soil and Water Conservation District, and many other groups and individuals have joined the Friends of Split Oak Coalition to try to stop plans to run the Osceola Parkway Extension through any part of Split Oak Forest. 

Additional information can be found on the Expressway Authority website at: https://www.cfxway.com/agency-information/plans-studies/project-studies/concept-studies/
To see the routes, go to the link on the right hand side about half way down called "Osceola Parkway Extension Environmental Board Sept-Oct 2017".  Zoom in to see the area where Florida Scrub-Jays live. The noise from the traffic will be enough to scare off the very rare community of timid Florida Scrub Jays that are nesting in the path of 2 of the proposed routes and very close to the 3rd option. Scrub-Jay Island (as it is now known) is one of the only known Scrub-Jay communities in all of Orange and Osceola Counties! This park also has numerous hiking trails where you can view many rare and endangered animals and plants, and keep an eye out for gopher tortoises since this is one of their relocation sites.