Master Plan Update

The Environmental Lands Acquisition and Protection Program (ELAPP) is a voluntary program established for the purpose of providing the process and funding for identifying, acquiring, preserving and protecting endangered, environmentally-sensitive and significant lands in Hillsborough County. It is a citizen-based program with volunteer committees involved in every key aspect of the program. ELAPP is not a regulatory program; a property does not become environmentally sensitive because it’s in the ELAP Program, it is in the ELAP Program because of its environmental significance.

About HCConservation

Hillsborough County FL Conservation and Lands Management

We protect Hillsborough County's natural lands and wildlife through a system of conservation parks and nature preserves, including more than 63,000 acres of environmentally sensitive lands through ELAPP. We also provide unique outdoor recreational activities ranging from picnicking and camping to hiking and kayaking.

preserve Trailhead complete complete Creek Scrub acre Alafia River Corridor Balm Boyette Scrub ELAPP Environmental Outreach Environmental Outreach March Native Plant Society Tampa Bay

<p>Conservation 
and 
Environmental Lands 
Management Department
Master Plan Update
Conservation and Environmental Lands 
Management Master/Strategic Plan
Key Components:
1. Analysis of Ecosystem Services
2. Assessment of Potential for Ecotourism and 
Environmental Education
3. Assessment of facilities, operations, capital needs, 
and funding sources.
4. Develop a Strategic Plan for Management
5. Monitoring Program
Analysis of Ecosystem Services
´Current per/year Estimates for the 
Department (80,335.5 ACRES)are:
´ Flood Protection = 
$15,305,069*
´Climate Regulation = 
$34,912,726
´Air Pollution Removal = 
$14,715,007
´Water Quality Regulation = $70,940,512
TOTAL:
$135,873,314
ELAPP = 
*The annual Flood Protection is based on a one time cost to build price of 
$459,152,058 and divided by 30 to account for facility design lifecycle.
Assessment of Potential for Ecotourism and 
Environmental Education
Surveys
´ Nominal Groups (complete)
´ Initial CELM Public Meetings (complete)
´ Random User Survey (in Parks/Preserves)
´ In process. Over 100 participants so far.
´ Electronic survey
´ Sent to Sierra Club
´Working with Neighborhood Relations to send to HOAs and other 
Community Groups.
´ PR Public Meetings (complete)
´ Non-User Surveys (interviews in select demographic locations)
´Will start in October
´ Random Mail Survey
´To be completed in October
Development and Verification 
of the Strategic Plan
Public Steering Committee
Public Steering Committee has 
developed the Vision, Goals, 
and Guiding Principles for the 
new Department
Members
´ Sierra Club
´ Parks Board
´ ELAPP General Committee
´ Native Plant Society
´ Citizens at Large
Technical Advisory Committee
Technical Advisory Committee met on 
July 20th to identify and discuss essential 
elements, key objectives, and 
performance indicators.  Two additional 
meetings are scheduled for Sept./Oct.
Members
´ SWFWMD
´ EPA
´ EPC
´ NRCS
´ USGS
´ UF
´ FFS
´ NPS
´ COT
´ COTT
´ Planning 
Commission
´ Public Works
2015 ELAPP Nominations
Acquisition Update
Site Management Updates
Site
Number of Burns
Acres Burned
Alafia River Corridor
3
241
Balm Scrub
1
275
Balm-Boyette Scrub
7
350
Bell Creek
1
20
Blackwater Creek
12
952
Brooker Creek HW
5
116
Bower Tract
2
62
Cockroach Bay
2
132
Cockroach Creek 
GW
2
206
Ekker
1
4
Fish Hawk
1
45
Golden Aster Scrub
4
115
Lake Dan
5
228
Lake Frances
2
45
Lower Green Swamp
8
892
Medard Park
1
10
Rhodine Scrub
2
135
Fred & Ida Schultz
1
77
Town 'n' Country
2
15
Triple Creek
2
124
ULMR 
7
889
Upper Tampa Bay
3
61
Wolf Branch
3
558
Totals
77
5552
Site Management/Restoration
´ Apollo Beach Shoreline Renourishment Project – COMPLETE
´ Phase 1 installed seven breakwaters and a terminal end structure (“T-groins”) 
made of Florida limerock.  The purpose of the breakwaters are to deflect wave 
energy and capture sand within the boundaries of the park. The “t-groin” is 
designed to maintain the beach area and keep sand from filling the boating 
channel. Ecological benefits include aquatic habitat and water filtration from 
mollusks and other filter-feeders.
´ Phase 2 included dredging the north, main, and south channels around the 
Apollo Beach hammerhead and restoring the two acre beach at the preserve.  
This was a partnership between Hillsborough County and the Apollo Beach 
Waterway Improvement Group (ABWIG).  The goal was to “bring the beach 
back to Apollo Beach.”
´ Balm- Boyette Scrub Stallion Hammock Restoration – IN PERMITTING
´ Restore the creek using “hydraulic carving” methodology.  Hydraulic Carving 
forms the creek bed using accelerated water to find the most natural path.
´ Agreements have been finalized with the SWFWMD
´ Currently revising design and methodology for carving
Site Management/Restoration
´ Kracker Road Fish Farm – IN DESIGN PHASE
´ Enhance, restore, and create a coastal mosaic of freshwater, estuarine, and 
uplands habitat; improvements to the areas hydrology; and, as feasible, creation 
of low salinity fish nursery habitats as a product of re-routing of reuse water.
´ Upland Restoration –
´ Alafia River Corridor (40 acres) – controlling undesirable vegetation. Site is 
progressing well.
´ Bullfrog Creek (100 acres) – had to take a step back due to rainy season.  Will be 
seeded next year.
´ Balm Scrub phase II (45 acres) – contractor installed seed and is planting potted 
plants.
´ Former projects at Triple Creek (180 acres), Ekker (15 acres), and Balm Scrub (40 
acres) are doing well.
´ Alafia Scrub Preserve Trailhead – Complete
´ Balm-Boyette Preserve Bike Trailhead – In permitting
´ Blackwater Creek Preserve Trailhead – Complete
´ Cockroach Bay Pavilion – Complete
´ Cypress Creek Preserve Boardwalk – In permitting
´ Lake Dan Preserve Trailhead – Complete
´ Little Manatee River 
´ Corridor Addition – Complete
´ Redus – Complete
´ 579 – Complete
´ Rocky Creek Preserve Trailhead – Complete
´ Schultz Preserve Trailhead – Complete
´ Wolf Branch Preserve Trailhead – Complete
Public Access
ELAPP Environmental Outreach: 
March 22 – September 30, 2016
´ Staff-led programs
´ 4 guided canoe trips
´ Alafia River Corridor 
´ Cockroach Bay (2)
´ Double Branch Creek
´ 5 guided hikes
´ Violet Cury (Parks & Recreation Dept.)
´ Fish Hawk
´ Night hikes at Golden Aster, Blackwater Creek, Lakes Frances and Dan
´ 2 guided wagon tours, both at Triple Creek
´ 7 exhibits and 3 presentations for community groups
´ 1 native planting event at Lower Green Swamp
ELAPP Environmental Outreach: 
March 22 – September 30, 2016
´ 3 Eagle Scout projects
´ Lake Frances
´ Fish Hawk
´ Alafia Scrub
´ Multiple cleanups in partnership with Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful
´ Volunteer-led educational hikes 
´ Camp Bayou’s BOLD 
´ Tampa Audubon Society 
´ Suncoast Native Plant Society 
´ Nature Coast Native Plant Society
´ USF’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI)
´ Promotion of CELM’s guided hikes by Florida Trails Association’s Suncoast Chapter
´ SWAMP mountain bike club at Balm Boyette Scrub
ELAPP Environmental Outreach: 
March 22 – September 30, 2016
´ Other community engagement
´ Economic Development’s Cultural Assets Community Conversation
´ YMCA’s “Let’s Move” outdoor initiative
´ ELAPP history project with USF
´ Florida Birding and Nature Festival (October 13-16, Ruskin)
´ Tampa Bay Times’ News In Education publication: 
http://www.tampabay.com/nie/florida-wildlife/index.html
´ Visit Florida, Visit Tampa Bay, Economic Development, many local sponsors,  
volunteers, and other collaborators throughout west-central Florida: 
www.floridabirdingandnaturefestival.org
</p>