Proposed Establishment of the Southwest Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Area
As part of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (Service’s) continuing effort to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people, the Service is proposing to establish a Southwest Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Area. Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act, the National Historic Preservation Act, and the Fish and Wildlife Service’s Planning Policy, we seek your involvement in the planning process for this proposed Conservation Plan.
The Service is implementing the first step of a planning process, which includes engaging the public through public scoping. The purpose of public scoping is to provide the public with an overview of the planning process and seek public input, including comments, issues, ideas, and suggestions. Your comments will help guide us through the next step in the planning process, which would include the development of a draft plan and environmental analysis document. The Service expects these draft documents to be available for review and comment in late summer/fall 2023. We will continue to update and engage the public throughout this planning process.
INFORMATION
Facts about the project: Fact sheet
Frequently Asked Questions: FAQs
Study Area for Consideration: Map
Do you want to receive updates on the planning process? Mailing List Request
Are you interested in potentially selling property (willing landowner) to the Service for this project (through fee title or less than fee title)? Landowner Form
PUBLIC SCOPING PERIOD
We will be conducting a 35-day public scoping period starting 03/14/23 and ending 04/18/23. This will include 4 in-person and 2 virtual public meetings.
In order to be considered in the development of the proposal and in preparation of the associated documents, your comments must be received no later than 04/18/23.
IN-PERSON PUBLIC SCOPING MEETINGS:
All in-person meetings will be from 5:30PM – 8:30PM EST. The presentation will begin at 5:45PM.
March 28
Hardee County Agri-Civic Center, 515 Civic Center Dr, Wauchula, FL 33873
March 30
Turner Agri-Civic Center, 2250 NE Roan Street, Arcadia, FL 34266
April 3
Immokalee High School, 701 Immokalee Dr, Immokalee, FL 34142
April 5
Port LaBelle Inn and Conference Center, 1563 Oxbow Dr, LaBelle, FL 33935
VIRTUAL PUBLIC MEETINGS:
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has scheduled 2 virtual public information meetings on April 7, 2023, and April 12, 2023, from 1:00 – 4:00pm Eastern Time (ET). The virtual public meetings are intended to give the public an opportunity to learn more about the Southwest Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Area.
The USFWS will hold the virtual public meetings via the Zoom online platform so that participants can attend remotely. During the virtual public meetings, attendees can join by computer or phone to learn about the proposed Conservation Area. The virtual public meeting will start with a brief presentation by USFWS staff followed by an opportunity for attendees to ask questions. In addition, public comments can be submitted to southeast_fws_planning@fws.gov.
We recommend that members of the public log into the Zoom meeting platform 5 minutes prior to the beginning of the presentation to ensure that they can connect. If using the phone-only option, participants will be able to listen to the virtual public meeting, but they will not view the presentation. Instructions will be given regarding how participants will be able to provide their questions during the meeting.
*For security purposes, registration is required. To listen and view the meeting via Zoom, listen to the meeting by telephone, or provide questions during the meeting by Zoom or telephone, you must register.
*Interested members of the public not familiar with the Zoom platform should view the Zoom video tutorials (https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/206618765-Zoom-video-tutorials) prior to the public meeting.
*If you have technical difficulties registering for the meeting or joining the meeting on April 7 or April 12, please email megan.stone@empsi.com.
HOW TO ATTEND A VIRTUAL MEETING:
For Participants Joining by Zoom Web Platform or Zoom App:
- Please pre-register using the links provided below. If you would like to attend both meetings, you must register for both.
4/7/23 Southwest Florida Virtual Public Meeting
https://empsi.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_rZup5VRTRM6qQUCNk8FLgw
4/12/23 Southwest Florida Virtual Public Meeting
https://empsi.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_AQXnqp5RQASu3MtYMWugQw
2. After registration, participants will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
3. On the day of the meeting, please join using the information contained in your confirmation email.
For Participants Joining by Phone:
1. Register for the meeting (see above). On the day of your meeting, call in using one of the toll-free phone numbers listed below. You will be prompted to enter your Webinar ID. Enter your Webinar ID from your confirmation email and press the # key.
2. You will then be prompted: “Enter your Participant ID followed by #. Otherwise just press #.” Phone-only participants will not receive an individualized Participant ID, so just press the # key.
3. You will then be prompted: “Enter your Password followed by #. Otherwise just press #.” Enter the Passcode from your confirmation email and press the # key.
4. You will be directly joined to the meeting. If the meeting has not started, you will be on hold until the meeting begins.
Call-in Numbers(for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location):
- US: +1 720 707 2699 or +1 253 215 8782 or +1 346 248 7799 or +1 646 558 8656 or +1 301 715 8592 or +1 312 626 6799
- International numbers available: Zoom International Dial-in Numbers - Zoom
REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS
The USFWS is committed to providing access to the public meeting for all participants. Closed captioning will be available during the virtual public meetings. Further, a full audio and video recording and transcript of the virtual public meeting will be posted online at https://www.fws.gov/project/proposed-southwest-florida-conservation-area after the meeting. Participants will also have access to live audio during the virtual public meeting via their telephone or computer speakers.
Persons with disabilities requiring reasonable accommodations to participate in the meeting should contact Laura_housh@fws.gov at least 5 business days prior to the date of the meeting to help ensure availability. An accessible version of the USFWS’s public meeting presentation will also be posted online at https://www.fws.gov/project/proposed-southwest-florida-conservation-area prior to the meeting.
CAN’T ATTEND A MEETING?
If you cannot attend a scheduled meeting and wish to view the presented materials, please click below to view the scoping presentation that will be given at all public scoping meetings.
HOW TO SUBMIT COMMENTS
Comments can be submitted in multiple ways:
Email: southeast_fws_planning@fws.gov
Mailing Address: NWRS SWFL CA, P.O. Box 700188, Wabasso, FL 32970
Or on comment cards provided at the in-person public meeting.
