FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 8, 2002
Governor, Cabinet's Vote Preserves Florida's Resources
-- Endangered species, valuable aquatic resources protected --
TALLAHASSEE - Today's vote by Governor Jeb Bush and Florida Cabinet members to ac-quire Bald Point increases public ownership of the St. Joe Timberland Florida Forever project to more than 38,197 acres.
"The habitats of a significant number of species have been preserved by today's action," said DEP Secretary David B. Struhs. "The protection afforded to both Ochlocknee Bay and Alligator Harbor Aquatic Preserve is the result of another partnership between the State and the environ-mental stewards at The Nature Conservancy. The Governor and Cabinet have stepped up to pre-serve a priceless estuary."
In addition to its upland and wetland resources, the waters surrounding the project area provide important habitat for rare sea turtles, such as the endangered Kemp's ridley, Falcons and other migratory birds, the Florida black bear, and at least one active eagle's nest.
The tract encompasses high quality estuarine tidal marsh along portions of the bay frontage and along Big Chaires Creek - a prominent tidal creek that bisects the northern portion of the prop-erty. Both Big Chaires Creek and Tucker Lake support a diversity of fish species, providing ex-cellent saltwater fishing opportunities.
Two miles of the tract share a common boundary with Bald Point State Park. Its natural scenic beauty attracts thousands of visitors annually to Florida's Gulf Coast.
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Press Office
