On
November 8, 1988 Hernando County residents committed to the program
by approving a bond referendum, which authorized the County to levy
taxes of 0.10 of a mil for 30 years, in of support the acquisition
and management of environmentally sensitive lands. It is through
that commitment we can achieve our goal in preserving the county’s
natural, cultural, and scenic resources while enhancing the quality
of life for present and future generations.When considering properties for acquisition several factors must be met. Those factors must include one or more of the following criteria:
- Within County’s Proposed Greenways/Wildlife Corridor
- Wildlife that is endangered, threatened, or a species of special concern;
- Plants that are rare, endangered, threatened, or commercially exploited;
- Unique vegetative communities;
- Areas of high recharge to the Floridan aquifer;
- Unique geological features; and
- Associated archaeological, historical, or paleontological sites.
The primary objective of the program is the protection of the County’s natural resources, and the accommodation of the public’s use of those natural resource areas. The use and management of each property will be evaluated, and a preliminary prospectus for the use and management of each property will be prepared prior to acquisition. Recreational uses are ancillary and will only be allowed when the resource will not be placed at risk by such use.
