October 6, 2001
DICKERSON BAY/BALD POINT LAND ACQUISITION FOR PRESERVATION
The email, fax and phone campaign is working. I have been informed that our efforts are really getting noticed by the Governor, his cabinet and DEP. We need to keep up the pressure........the decision has not been made yet. If you haven't contacted them, please do so NOW. If you have already contacted them.......resend your message or call again. I learned that their fax machine stays on so I fax them each night and each day.
Your message may be as long or short as you like. All that matters is that they get the MESSAGE! Ask them where the acquisition stands, when they expect a decision. Here is another email address for Governor Bush jeb@jeb.org I actually got a response when I used this address! Here are two other people to send emails too. They were cc'd by Governor Bush in his reply to me.
Colleen Castille castilc@eog.state.fl.us
Jim Boxold jim.boxold@myflorida.com
Below are some samples of letters. Feel free to use them or to modify them in anyway you'd like.
Thanks again for all of your help!
Vicki
Governor Bush,
It has come to my attention that the State of Florida, Department of Environmental Protection, Division of State Lands is considering the purchase of approximately 3000 acres adjoining Bald Point State Park in Franklin County. The tract includes substantial amounts of waterfront on both Ochlockonee Bay and on Alligator Harbor. It has one of the few remaining examples of sand pine forest in the area. If not purchased by the state, it may be targeted for development by the current owner, St. Joe Corporation.
Preservation of this area will protect the currently outstanding marine resources of the Ochlockonee Bay and Alligator Harbor. With much of its upper watershed already in public ownership, Ochlockonee Bay supports huge populations of white shrimp, endangered Kemp's Ridley sea turtles, manatees, bald eagles, woodstorks, ibis and many other rare species. It is one of the best tarpon fishing areas in all of Florida. The beach at Bald Point is a major nesting area for horseshoe crabs, whose eggs are a critical food source for many species of shore birds. The sand pine forest ecosystem is one of the most endangered in all of Florida.
Park status will insure that the area remains as it is, while real estate development will almost certainly result in the loss of an ecological treasure. One of your responsibilities as Governor is to preserve the fragile, critical lands of our state. That is an awesome responsibility and I hope that you will be able to use your position to see to it that the state does what is best, by purchasing these lands for preservation. Once these lands are lost, there will be no going back.......we only have to look to the Everglades to fully understand that.
Please give this every consideration and save what little "Wild Florida" we have left.
Thank you,
Vicki Barnett
1292 Bayview Dr.
Alligator Point, FL 32346
349-2677
Secretary Struhs,
I am aware that the state is in the process of making a decision regarding the Dickerson Bay/Bald Point CARL land acquisition, which is listed as GROUP A FULL FEE. Could you please tell me the status of this project? I would also like to know the time frame for the final decision?
As the Secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection, you have the awesome responsibility of preserving and protecting the fragile, critical lands of our state. Once these lands are lost, there will be no going back. It is much easier and more cost effective to protect these lands now than to try and restore them later. .......we only have to look to the Everglades to fully understand that.
Please give this every consideration and save what little "Wild Florida" we have left.
Thank you,
Vicki Barnett
1292 Bayview Dr.
Alligator Point, FL 32346
349-2677
