Parks & Recreation reports preserve projects, species find and cleanup plans

Mr. Young, speaking for Parks and Recreation, briefed the committee on a range of ongoing and completed projects across Lee County preserves.

He reported that a fuel-reduction project at Gator Hole Preserve was completed in partnership with Lee County CD to mitigate wildfire risk, fence lines were replaced at Moody River Preserve, and right-of-way trimming at Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve was completed by DOT. Staff found a small yellow plant at Imperial Marsh Preserve described in the record as "rabbit bit bells." At Gulf Preserve, the viewing deck boardwalk framework is completed, and nearby Matanzas Pass Preserve has a boat-ramp framework nearing completion.

Restoration and maintenance work includes exotic species treatments at Calusa Hatchery Creek Preserve, tree removals at Frank Mann Preserve, trail and bike-trail trimming at Owl Scrub Preserve, and completed plantings at Bunch Beach Preserve. On Pine Island, staff said a shrimp-pond restoration project is underway with partial funding from the Coastal Harbor National Estuary Partnership; construction is expected to take three to five weeks once environmental work is finished. Staff also noted upcoming volunteer work days and roadside cleanup events for Earth Day (April 22) and Memorial Day (May 25).

Mr. Young said that, where needed, staff would require phase I and, if necessary, phase II environmental audits for any acquisition or restoration activity where prior agricultural use could pose contamination risks.

Committee members thanked staff for the updates; no formal action was taken on the update report.