Forever Florida Submission to Preserve the Rainbow River Open Space Corridor

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2 Forever Florida Submission to Preserve the Rainbow River Open Space Corridor Rainbow Springs and the Rainbow River, located in Dunnellon Florida, are natural jewels of Central Florida s Springs District. The source of the river s water is a group of springs that pour 490 million gallons of clear pure water a day in the river channel. The clarity and unpolluted nature of the water have allowed numerous species to inhabit and flourish in this State designated Aquatic Preserve. Rainbow Springs is a 1 st magnitude spring, the third largest in the state. The clarity of the water at the headwaters is among the highest in the United States. Figure 1 Headsprings at Rainbow Springs State Park The Rainbow River has been designated as an Aquatic Preserve with a resident Aquatic Preserve Manager, a Florida Outstanding Water and a SWIM Plan River by the State of Florida. It also has been designated a Natural Landmark by the US Department of the Interior. Since the 1980 s Florida has acquired a series of land parcels at the headwaters and along the east side of the river. The northern portion is managed as the Rainbow Springs State Park and the southerly parcels are managed by the Division of Florida Greenways. Much of the west side of the river has residential development. There are several locations where the public has access to the river. Kayaking, canoeing and floating down the river on tubes in quite popular. On the recent Memorial Day weekend it was estimated that 5000 people enjoyed the river. At this time approximately 50 percent of the river is developed and 50 per cent is both publicly owned and privately owned open space. A map showing land use is given at the back of this section. Marion County and the Dunnellon area have seen explosive growth in both commercial and residential development over the last few years. Large tracts of 500 acre, 1000 acres and larger are being converted from agricultural use to residential land use, many with golf courses. This has put tremendous pressure on water resources in the area and especially on the pristine springs. Figure 2 Rainbow River Overlook Developers are eyeing the remaining waterfront parcels on the Rainbow River for medium density development projects. We believe that this will have a very detrimental impact on the springs and the Aquatic Preserve. We are therefore proposing to the Directors of the Florida Forever program that a land acquisition program be started for critical parcels of land along the Rainbow River corridor to preserve the water quality and natural habitat of this extraordinary water body. Unlike many submissions to the Florida Forever program, which target a particular parcel of land,

3 our goal is to preserve the open land on the river corridor. This will protect the springs and rivers water quality and also preserve the habitat that supports a vast array of birds, turtles, amphibians and reptiles including endangered or listed species. To accomplish this, it is necessary to consider preserving a group of land parcels. Figure 4 shows a map of the Rainbow River with outlines of the adjacent land parcels. (The base data is from the Marion County Property Appraisers web site.) The parcels highlighted in light green are currently Florida State properties. The properties highlighted in light yellow are those that are being proposed for the Florida Forever program. The red parcels were added to the project in the April 2007 amendment. These candidate parcels have been divided into seven groups. These groups have two things in common. First, acquisition of each group and maintaining the land as open space would have a significant positive affect on preserving the water quality and habitat of the Rainbow River Aquatic Preserve. Second, most of the parcels under consideration, border on existing Florida State land. To add some perspective, a table is included that shows acreage, ownership and footage of riverfront. This data is from the Marion County Property Appraiser database and is subject to review during the Florida Forever evaluation. An aerial map with land use highlights and a topographic map of the river area are also attached for perspective. Each group of property has its own personality. Formal Florida Forever submissions were attached to this Executive Summary for each group with the application. A few highlights will be noted. The Indian Creek group includes four significant springs that have been mapped by the Aquatic Preserve and have been included in the total outflow of Rainbow Springs and the Rainbow River. Limpkin, Little Blue Herons, Tri-colored Herons, Ibis, Wood storks and Snowy Egrets are listed species that feed in the marshes of the Rainbow River. Photos of these birds are included in the attachments. The Rainbow Springs State Park and its campground area along with KP Hole County Park, provide public access to the Rainbow River for low impact use. Citizens of all economic means can enjoy a quiet trip on the river to observe the wonders of nature. Preserving the Rainbow River Corridor should be a high priority of the Florida Forever Program Figure 3 People enjoy floating on inner tubes on a quiet day on the Rainbow River

4 Figure 4 Major land parcels along the Rainbow River Corridor

5 Major Parcels Bordering or Near Rainbow River Dunnellon Florida Parcel Number Acres Riverfront Feet Owner Address Headwater Group SMITH, SANDRA ELLEN, ET AL C/O RENEE STEPHENS, W HWY 40, DUNNELLON FL C/O RENEE STEPHENS, W HWY 40, DUNNELLON FL A SMITH, SANDRA ELLEN, ET AL 2B ALEXANDER ADDIE R FOLKS 1908 NE 7TH PL, OCALA FL C FOLKS, RONALD H 225 SW MADISON CIR N, SAINT PETERSBURG FL ALEXANDER ADDIE R FOLKS 1908 NE 7TH PL, OCALA FL SMITH, SANDRA ELLEN ET AL C/O RENEE STEPHENS, W HWY 40, DUNNELLON FL Indian Creek Group DULEY, JOHN E 8921 SW 190TH AVENUE RD, DUNNELLON FL PRIEST, JOE F 1220 SE 12TH CT, OCALA FL SMITH MARY MANN & MARTHA MANN BUTTNER 2773 SEABREEZE DR S, GULFPORT FL PRIEST, SARA KAY 3920 SE 15TH ST, OCALA FL DULEY JOHN E 8921 SW 190TH AVENUE RD, DUNNELLON FL Meredith Property MEREDITH, JUANITA S & MEREDITH, CARROL S PO BOX 712, DUNNELLON FL Greenberg Group GREENBERG, BERNARD Z PO BOX 248, INDIAN ROCKS BEACH FL A GREENBERG, BERNARD Z PO BOX 248, INDIAN ROCKS BEACH FL GREENBERG BERNARD Z PO BOX 248, INDIAN ROCKS BEACH FL (Split Parcel) GREENBERG BERNARD Z PO BOX 248, INDIAN ROCKS BEACH FL Rainbow River Ranch Group RAINBOW RIVER RANCH LLC 104 W SUPERIOR ST, DULUTH MN RAINBOW RIVER RANCH LLC 105 W SUPERIOR ST, DULUTH MN RAINBOW RIVER RANCH LLC 106 W SUPERIOR ST, DULUTH MN A RAINBOW RIVER RANCH LLC 107 W SUPERIOR ST, DULUTH MN Blue Run of Dunnellon Property

6 BLUE RUN OF DUNNELLON LLC 1040 NE 31ST TER, OCALA FL Rainbow River Club Property NATURE PRESERVES OF AMERICA PO BOX 1778, DUNNELLON FL Totals , (From Property Appraiser Tax Card) Addendum Parcel Number Acres Riverfront Feet Owner Address ROBERTS, KENNETH E 8909 SW 190TH AVENUE RD est. 0 SECRET PROMISE LTD of BEACH DRIVE SE STE 302E, SAINT PETERSBURG FL, A MEREDITH, JUANITA S & MEREDITH, CARROL S PO BOX 712, DUNNELLON FL (Acquisition of complete 63 acres) A MEREDITH, JAMES REID & DAWN E PO BOX 1635, DUNNELLON FL A122 Altkey est Lowry, James R II N Osborne Ave, Dunnellon FL, Citrus County 15, River Frontage from first group Grand Total , Acres Feet

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8 Rainbow River Corridor Current Land Use

9 Topographical Map of the Rainbow River Area (Source USGS)

10 The preceding pages are a portion of the Executive Summary of the Rainbow River Corridor Project application. This application was submitted in October of 2006 to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Division of State Lands, for their Florida Forever Program. The project qualification process is rigorous. Rainbow River Conservation Inc. (RRC) hopes that this project will be placed on a preferential list of lands targeted for acquisition by February of The Acquisition and Restoration Council (ARC), a broad multi-agency council with participation from over 10 state agencies, manages the Florida Forever Program. Criteria for selection include lands that are environmentally sensitive and that impact major water systems and springs. Impact on forest systems and recreation potential are also considered. Funds are limited and numerous candidate projects from all counties in the state compete for these resources. Successful acquisition is consummated between willing buyers and sellers and eminent domain is never a part of this process. Rainbow River Conservation Inc. is a 501.c3 corporation whose mission is to protect and maintain the quality of the water and habitat of the Rainbow River for current and future generations. RRC activities include public advocacy for the river, monitoring water levels and water conditions, managing the annual river cleanup and installing and maintaining 45 Wood Duck boxes along the river. RRC has pursued this mission since the 1960 s and played a key role in advocating for the acquisition of lands to start and expand the Rainbow Springs State Park. The Rainbow River Conservation address is PO Box 729, Dunnellon, FL and the officers are: Burt Eno President Jerry Rogers Vice President Gretchen Martin Treasurer Mary Ann Ermatinger Secretary The Rainbow River is a major natural asset of Marion County, Central Florida and the United States. Public access is available from Rainbow Springs State Park, the State Park Campgrounds, KP Hole County Park and from the Tuber Exit at County Route 484. There are also three community parks that yield access for launching kayaks and canoes. All who visit this river come away with an appreciation of its beauty and its extraordinary range of birds, turtles, fish, and otters. The river must be preserved in its current form to maintain its beauty, water quality and broad range of species.