CLAM committee finalizes updated conservation ranking, lists Piney Island as top priority

The Conservation Land Acquisition and Management (CLAM) Committee voted to approve a refreshed priority ranking of conservation project areas to forward as a draft recommendation to the Nassau County Board of County Commissioners.

Staff and consultants presented aggregated ‘‘CLAM’’ scores—GIS-based base scores adjusted for landowner willingness, qualitative factors and funding partnerships—and described how 23 new ownerships were evaluated in this cycle. Josh Macbeth, senior planner, told the committee that the ranking reflects both numeric scores and qualitative judgment: "Rankings reflect conservation potential in alignment with county priorities," he said.

The committee accepted staff’s recommendation for priority slots 1–15. The top five in the recommended order are Piney Island, Dudley, Saint Marys River Ranch, Lofton Creek View Shed and Orange Bluff. Staff noted two eligible open slots remain to accommodate properties with urgent timeframes.

The approval was framed as a committee recommendation, not an acquisition commitment. Macbeth emphasized the advisory role: the committee ‘‘has no power or authority to commit or bind the county’’ and the list will go to the Board of County Commissioners for final action.

Next steps include posting the draft recommendation online for public review and referring the list to the commission. Staff said due diligence (appraisals, surveys, Phase I reports) is under way for projects expected to reach the commission in November.