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Boot Key Boundary Amendment Proposed by The City of Marathon. Acquisition and Restoration Council December 9 and 10, 2010 Presented by Muller and Associates, Inc. Boot Key Highlights. Renowned fall raptor migration site – average single-day counts of almost 800 raptors
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Boot Key Boundary AmendmentProposed by The City of Marathon Acquisition and Restoration Council December 9 and 10, 2010 Presented by Muller and Associates, Inc.
Boot Key Highlights • Renowned fall raptor migration site – average single-day counts of almost 800 raptors • FWC Wildlife Viewing Area • Important Bird Area • Habitat for at least 21 imperiled species (3 state-listed animals, 12 state-listed plants) • Tropical hardwood hammock (rockland hammock), coastal berm/beach dune (S2 rank)
Boot Key Highlights • Adjacent to Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary • Complements conservation/education/ historical facilities • Adjacent to Florida Keys Overseas Paddling Trail • Potential side-trip for the Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail
Boundary Amendment • Will allow 100% conservation ownership and management of island, after purchase of critical ownership (Yampol) • Provide gateway to island for public access (essential since bridge was removed) • City of Marathon will manage the island, in cooperation with FWC
CELCP NOAA Funding • 50/50 cost share federal/state and local funding - Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program (CELCP), administered by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) • Boot Key ranked sixth in the nation on the preliminary priority list of projects eligible for CELCP funding, well within the anticipated funding
CELCP NOAA Funding • Florida’s guidelines - projects proposed for CELCP must be on the Florida Forever/Board of Trustees acquisition list. • The City of Marathon worked with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection Coastal Management Program to prepare the Boot Key application.
State/Keys Cooperative Agreement • >>date, agreement, amt Marathon committed