18-24.0022. Florida Forever Goals and Numeric Performance Measures

(1) The Florida Forever goals and measures described in this rule apply to all programs that receive Florida Forever Trust Funds pursuant to Section 259.105(3), F.S., or funds deposited into the Land Acquisition Trust Fund pursuant to s. 28(a), Art. X of the State Constitution. Some goals and measures are specific to acquiring land, while others are primarily measures for capital improvement expenditures. Some measures are not directly related to Florida Forever program activities per se, but are general ecosystem function measures that may have an indirect connection or a post-acquisition land management or land use component. Some measures are specific to one or more of the programs funded under Florida Forever pursuant to Section 259.105(3), F.S., while the majority of the goals and measures overlap with several programs.

(2) The council shall employ the following Florida Forever goals and measures when evaluating, selecting and ranking acquisition projects. Numeric values for these measures shall be supplied to the Council pursuant to paragraph 18-24.006(3)(c), F.A.C.:

(a) Enhance the coordination and completion of land acquisition projects, as measured by:

1. The number of acres proposed to be acquired that contribute to the enhancement of essential natural resources (such as retention of biodiversity and water quantity and quality), ecosystem service parcels (such as those that assist in carbon sequestration, flood control and storm surge protection), and connecting linkage corridors, as identified and developed by the best available scientific analysis, and measured under goals paragraphs (2)(b), (c), (d) and (g) of this rule.

2. The number of acres proposed to be protected through the use of alternatives to fee-simple acquisition.

3. The number of Florida Forever acquisition funding partners and partners with other funding sources, including the percent of funding to be derived from partnerships, and the estimated amount of funds to be made available by the funding partners.

4. For ranking purposes only, the remaining acres and percent completion of each project on the Florida Forever list.

(b) Increase the protection of Florida’s biodiversity at the species, natural community, and landscape levels, as measured by:

1. The number of acres proposed to be acquired of significant strategic habitat conservation areas, as identified in the Florida Forever Conservation Needs Assessment.

2. The number of acres proposed to be acquired of highest priority conservation areas for Florida’s rarest species, as identified in the Florida Forever Conservation Needs Assessment.

3. The number of acres proposed to be acquired of significant landscapes, landscape linkages, and conservation corridors, giving priority to completing linkages, as identified in the Florida Forever Conservation Needs Assessment.

4. The number of acres proposed to be acquired of underrepresented native ecosystems, as identified in the Florida Forever Conservation Needs Assessment.

5. The number of acres proposed to be acquired that would establish or enhance a landscape-sized protection area of at least 50,000 acres that exhibits a mosaic of predominantly intact or restorable natural communities, as identified in the Florida Forever Conservation Needs Assessment.

6. The number of imperiled species known or reported to occur on the acquisition project.

(c) Protect, restore, and maintain the quality and natural functions of land, water, and wetland systems of the state, as measured by:

1. The number of acres proposed to be acquired that enhance the management feasibility of existing conservation lands, as documented by the affected agency(ies) that manage or own the existing conservation lands.

2. The number of acres proposed to be acquired for restoration, enhancement, and management as identified in plans prepared pursuant to Section 373.199, F.S., the management prospectus for an acquisition project prepared pursuant to Section 259.032(9)(d), F.S., or the Florida Ecological Restoration Inventory, which is maintained by the Department of Environmental Protection’s Division of Water Resource Management and available at www.dep.state.fl.us/water/wetlands/feri or by writing Florida Wetland Restoration Information Center, 2600 Blair Stone Road, M.S. 3500, Tallahassee, Florida 32399, or by calling [phone].

3. The number of acres proposed to be acquired that protect natural floodplain functions, as identified in the Florida Forever Conservation Needs Assessment.

4. The number of acres proposed to be acquired that protect surface waters of the state in designated watersheds, as identified in the Florida Forever Conservation Needs Assessment.

5. The number of acres proposed to be acquired to minimize damage from flooding, as identified by the Department of Environmental Protection in coordination with the water management districts.

6. The number of acres proposed to be acquired that protect fragile coastal resources, as identified in the Florida Forever Conservation Needs Assessment. These include those acres that help species and natural communities adapt to climate change.

7. The number of acres of functional wetland systems proposed to be protected, as identified in the Florida Forever Conservation Needs Assessment.

(d) Ensure that sufficient quantities of water are available to meet the current and future needs of natural systems and the citizens of the state, as measured by:

1. The number of acres proposed to be acquired which provide retention and storage of surface water in naturally occurring storage areas, such as lakes and wetlands, consistent with the maintenance of water resources or water supplies and consistent with district water supply plans, as identified by the water management districts in plans prepared pursuant to Section 373.199, F.S.

2. The number of acres proposed to be acquired for a water resource development project, as identified in plans prepared pursuant to Section 373.199, F.S.

3. The number of acres proposed to be acquired of groundwater recharge areas critical to springs, sinks, aquifers, other natural systems, or water supply, as identified in the Florida Forever Conservation Needs Assessment.

(e) Increase natural resource-based public recreational and educational opportunities, as measured by:

1. The number of acres proposed to be acquired that are proposed to be available for potential natural resource-based public recreation or education, as identified by the Department of Environmental Protection in coordination with other agencies.

2. The miles of trails that are proposed to be made available for public recreation, giving priority to those that provide significant connections including those that will assist in completing the Florida National Scenic Trail, as identified in the Florida Forever Conservation Needs Assessment.

3. For ranking purposes only, the population served within 100 miles of the acquisition project.

(f) Preserve significant archaeological or historic sites, as measured by:

1. The number and relative significance of archaeological sites identified on the acquisition proposal, as reported by the Department of State’s Division of Historical Resources in the Florida Master Site File.

2. The number and relative significance of historic sites identified on the acquisition proposal, as reported by the Department of State’s Division of Historical Resources in the Florida Master Site File.

(g) Increase the amount of agricultural and forest land available for sustainable management of natural and agricultural resources, as measured by:

1. The number of acres proposed to be acquired that are potentially available for sustainable forest management and could provide economic return utilizing multiple-use management, as identified in the Florida Forever Conservation Needs Assessment.

2. The number of acres of forestland proposed to be acquired that will serve to maintain natural groundwater recharge functions, as identified by overlaying data from measures subparagraphs (2)(d)3. and (g)1. above.

3. For ranking purposes only, the number of acres of improved agricultural lands proposed to be protected, as verified by the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services in coordination with the landowner.

4. For ranking purposes only, the number of acres of unimproved agricultural lands proposed to be protected, as verified by the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services in coordination with the landowner.

5. The number of development units proposed to be acquired, as verified by the landowner through the approved local government comprehensive plan.

(h) Increase the amount of open space available in urban areas, as measured by:

1. The number of acres proposed to be purchased of open space within urban service areas.

2. The number of linear feet proposed to be acquired to protect working waterfronts, as defined in Sections 380.503(18)(a) and (b), F.S.

(3) For capital improvement project proposals the following goals and measures are applicable:

(a) Protect, restore, and maintain the quality and natural functions of land, water and wetland systems of the state, as measured by:

1. The number of acres of publicly owned land identified that are proposed to be restored or enhanced.

2 The proposed percentage completion of targeted capital improvements in surface water improvement and management plans created pursuant to Section 373.453(2), F.S., regional or master stormwater management system plans, or other adopted restoration plans if such project were funded.

3. The number of acres of public conservation lands in which upland invasive, exotic plants are proposed to be treated to bring them under maintenance control.

(b) Ensure that sufficient quantities of water are available to meet the current and future needs of natural systems and the citizens of the state, as measured by the quantity of water proposed to be made available through Florida Forever expenditures for water resource development.

(c) Increase natural resource-based public recreational and educational opportunities, as measured by the number of new resource-based recreation facilities, by type, proposed to be made available on public land.

(4) The following list includes Florida Forever performance measures that may not directly relate to land acquisition selection or capital improvement expenditures, but are general ecosystem function measures that may have an indirect connection or measures that have a post-acquisition, land management or land use component that was not captured in subsections (2) and (3) above:

(a) Protect, restore, and maintain the quality and natural functions of land, water, and wetland systems of the state, as measured by:

1. The number of acres of publicly owned land identified as needing restoration, enhancement, and management, acres undergoing restoration or enhancement, acres with restoration activities completed, and acres managed to maintain such restored or enhanced conditions; the number of acres which represent actual or potential imperiled species habitat; the number of acres which are available pursuant to a management plan to restore, enhance, repopulate, and manage imperiled species habitat; and the number of acres of imperiled species habitat managed, restored, enhanced, repopulated, or acquired.

2. The percentage of water segments that fully meet, partially meet, or do not meet their designated uses as reported pursuant to Section 259.105(4)(c)2., F.S.

3. The percentage completion of targeted capital improvements in surface water improvement and management plans created under Section 373.453(2), F.S., regional or master stormwater management system plans, or other adopted restoration plans.

4. The percentage of miles of critically eroding beaches contiguous with public lands that are restored or protected from further erosion;

5. The percentage of public lakes and rivers in which invasive, nonnative aquatic plants are under maintenance control, as reported by entities that manage state conservation lands.

6. The number of acres of public conservation lands in which upland invasive, exotic plants are under maintenance control, as reported by entities that manage state conservation lands.

(b) Ensure that sufficient quantities of water are available to meet the current and future needs of natural systems and the citizens of the state, as measured by the quantity of water made available through the water resource development component of a district water supply plan for which a water management district is responsible.

(c) Increase natural resource-based public recreational and educational opportunities, as measured by the number of new resource-based recreation facilities, by type, made available on public land.

(d) Preserve significant archaeological or historic sites, as measured by the increase in the number and percentage of historic and archaeological properties that are in state ownership.

(e) Increase the amount of agricultural and forest land available for sustainable management of natural and agricultural resources, as measured by:

1. The number of acres of state-owned forestland managed for economic return in accordance with current best management practices, as verified by the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services in coordination with land managers, conservation easement monitors, and the landowners.

2. The percentage and number of acres identified for restoration actually restored by reforestation, as verified by the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services in coordination with land managers, conservation easement monitors, and the landowners.

(f) Increase the amount of open space available in urban areas, as measured by:

1. The percentage of local governments that participate in land acquisition programs and acquire open space in urban service areas as defined in Sections 163.3164(29) and 163.3177(14), F.S.

2. The number of parks and open space projects proposed to be acquired within urban service areas as defined in Sections 163.3164(29) and 163.3177(14), F.S.

(5) For program expenditures to acquire lands or implement capital improvements that achieve one or more of the measures listed above in subsection (2), (3) or (4), each program funded under Section 259.105(3), F.S., shall report its accomplishments to the Department of Environmental Protection’s Division of State Lands by January 15 of each year. Fund recipients shall also report on those measures that are not directly related to Florida Forever expenditures but are applicable to their program component as described in subsection (4).

(6) Statewide, uniform data sets shall be developed for each geographic-based numeric performance measure that is a component of the Florida Forever Conservation Needs Assessment. Each geographic-based data set shall attempt to identify and establish priorities for each performance measure.

Rulemaking Authority 259.035(1), (4), 259.105(9), (18) FS. Law Implemented 259.035, 259.04, 259.041, 259.045, 259.07, 259.105 FS. History–New 5-1-10, Amended 2-8-17.