Florida Greenways

In 1991, 1000 Friends of Florida and The Conservation Fund established the Florida Greenways Program to help conserve greenways throughout the state. The Florida Greenways Program is involved with greenway planning initiatives at the state, regional and local levels. Since early 1993, 1000Friends of Florida has actively worked with the 40-member governor-appointed Florida Greenways Commission. The Commission's mission is to plan and support a statewide system of greenways linking natural areas and open spaces to benefit Floridians today and in generations to come. Regional and Local Greenway Projects On the regional and local level, 1000 Friends of Florida is working with four regional greenway planning projects. They are the Suncoast River-based Greenways Project in the Tampa area, the Loxahatchee Greenways Project in Martin and Palm Beach counties, the Broward County Urban River Greenways Project, and the subject of this report, the Apalachee Greenways Project. We also are monitoring two legislatively created efforts, the Cross Florida Greenway in north-central Florida, and the South Walton conservation and land development project (which includes greenways). Apalachee Greenways Prototype Project In 1993, in cooperation with the Red Hills Conservation Program at Tall Timbers, the Apalachee Land Conservancy and government partners, 1000 Friends of Florida initiated a three-year effort to assess the natural, recreational, historic, and cultural resources of the Apalachee region. This work was generously funded through a grant from the Elizabeth Ordway Dunn Foundation. The project covers a six-county area of northern Florida (Gadsden, Jefferson, Leon and Wakulla counties) and southwestern Georgia (Thomas and Grady counties), stretching from the Ochlockonee River on the west to the Aucilla River on the east. This report presents the findings of the Projects first two phases, an overall assessment of resources and a network planning and demonstration project, the St. Marks and Wakuha Rivers Resource Assessment and Greenway Protec- Man, funded in part by the Florida Coastal Management Program. This study is the first to comprehensively assess the Apalachee region's natural, recreational, historic and cultural resources, potential development conflicts, and the tools that are available to conserve these resources. While we recognize the challenge of protecting ecosystems that cross both county and state borders, the reality is that this area functions as a region and conservation strategies must treat it as such. The full report contains a complete assessment of environmentally sensitive lands, critical habitats, and opportunities for outdoor recreation and historic and cultural interpretations Information was gathered from experts knowledgeable about plant and wildlife habitats, archaeological and historic sites, recreation areas and trails, and community development, as well as from publications, maps and electronic databases. Because the region's rivers are relatively undeveloped, we have an excellent opportunity to conserve these natural greenway corridors, which are critical links in the region's native ecosystems. The region's proposed river-based greenways could be unifying links between the extensive conservation lands of the Red Hills, Apalachicola National Forest, and the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge. They can help pro- the water and fisheries of the rivers and Apalachee Bay and maintain their aesthetic and recreational appeal. They remain as untrammeled reminders of the region's natural beauty. Many of the region's outdoor recreational activities or historical events are associated with these green spaces in some manner. Wildlife thrives in the expansive working landscape that forms a greenbelt around the Tallahassee metropolitan area. People also thrive here. While much of the region's population growth stems from educational or professional opportunities, its distinctive natural, recreational, historic and cultural qualities create a unique sense of place that provides a strong incentive to remain.

CONTENTS | NEXT PAGE