Background

The Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program (CELCP) was established in 2002 by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The primary purpose of the program is to acquire property in coastal and estuarine areas that have significant conservation, recreation, ecological, historical, or aesthetic values, or that are threatened by conversion from a natural or recreational state to other uses. The NOAA Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management (OCRM) administers the program, which provides up to $3 million dollars for each eligible project. CELCP funds must be matched equally by non-federal funds.

The CELC Program is restricted to states that have a coastal zone management program approved by NOAA or a National Estuarine Research Reserve (NERR). Florida is eligible to participate in CELCP because it satisfies both requirements. The Florida Coastal Management Program (FCMP) was approved by NOAA in 1981 while the Rookery Bay NERR was designated in 1978, the Apalachicola NERR was designated in 1979, and the Guana-Tolomato- Matanzas NERR was designated in 1999.

To participate in the program, the state must develop a plan for administering the CELCP program and setting acquisition priorities. The FCMP submitted a draft CELCP plan in 2006, describing how Florida’s CELCP program supplements and coordinates with the state’s Florida Forever land acquisition program. In November 2008, Florida became the 5th state to have its CELCP plan formally approved by OCRM.

More information on CELCP is available through the Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management.

NEW CELCP Update for FY 2011
In April 2010, the FCMP submitted the following three projects to the NOAA CELCP review committee for the 2011 application cycle.

• Boot Key, Marathon, Florida Keys [PDF - 6.26MB]
• Sugarloaf, Florida Keys [PDF - 4.02MB]
• Indian River Lagoon [PDF - 2.28MB]

CELCP Applications in Prior Years

CELCP 2010
The FCMP submitted three projects to the NOAA CELCP review committee in March 2009 for the fiscal year 2010 application cycle. NOAA received 60 proposals from coastal states and in December 2009 released a prioritized list of 57 projects eligible for funding. Florida's projects ranked 6th and 24th. Fifteen projects were selected for FY 2010 funding from the CELCP ranked list, including the Keewaydin - Rookery Bay NERR project.

• GTMNERR – Rogers [PDF - 13.8MB]
• Keewaydin Island [PDF - 8.51MB]
• Indian River Lagoon – North Brevard [PDF - 3.79MB]

CELCP 2009
NOAA recieved 54 proposals from coastal states and in November 2008 released a list of 46 projects eligible for funding. Florida's three projects ranked 4th, 17th and 28th. The Cayo Costa State Park and Guana Tolomato Matanzas NERR projects were selected for FY 2009 funding.

• Cayo Costa State Park [PDF - 4.33MB]
• Indian River Lagoon - North Brevard [PDF - 25.4MB]
• Guana Tolomato Matanzas NERR [PDF - 11.6MB]

CELCP 2008
In June 2007, the NOAA CELCP review committee identified 44 projects that are eligible for funding in FY 2008 [PDF - 85MB]. Florida's three projects ranked 11th, 19th and 30th for FY 2008, but were not among those funded in 2008:

• Florida Keys Ecosystem [PDF - 3.8MB]
• Cayo Costa State Park [PDF - 4.78MB]
• Keewaydin Island Conservation Project [PDF - 8.24MB]

CELCP 2007
In FY 2007 [PDF - 23KB], NOAA funded the top 17 projects of the 41 eligible for funding. Florida’s FY 2007 projects were ranked 25th, 33rd, and 40th:

• Florida Keys Ecosystem [PDF - 5.3MB]
• Cayo Costa [PDF - 5MB]
• Northeast Florida Blueway [PDF - 5.25MB]

Other Information
Comments or questions about CELCP can be directed to Mr. Danny Clayton at Danny.Clayton@dep.state.fl.us or by calling 850-245-2161.