Who: The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC)

What: The FWC will present proposed mitigation alternatives for impacts that may result from a partial release of conservation easements over the Split Oak Forest Wildlife and Environmental Area to accommodate the future Central Florida Expressway (CFX) alignment. Breakout groups facilitated by FWC staff will follow to receive public comment.

When: Thursday, April 18, 2024, from 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Where: Osceola Heritage Park Events Center; 1901 Chief Osceola Trail, Kissimmee, Fla. 34744. The Event Center is located within the Osceola Heritage Park complex at 1875 Silver Spur Ln, Kissimmee, FL 34744. Either address can be used to navigate to the meeting location.

Why: Staff have been working with CFX, Orange and Osceola counties, and FWC Commissioners to identify alternatives that would minimize and mitigate the anticipated impacts and ensure a net positive conservation benefit in exchange for releasing portions of conservation easements over a section of Split Oak Forest WEA.This meeting is to engage the public and receive public comment regarding the proposed mitigation package.

Background: Split Oak Forest WEA is 1,689 acres jointly owned by Orange and Osceola counties. It was acquired in 1994 with a grant award from the Florida Communities Trust (FCT) and funding from the FWC Gopher Tortoise Mitigation Park Program, to be used as a mitigation area to offset impacts to gopher tortoise habitat from development. The FWC holds conservation easements over the area and staff manage Split Oak Forest WEA through an interagency agreement.

CFX has proposed construction of the Osceola Parkway Extension, part of a regional expressway, which would result in direct and indirect impacts to the southern portion of Split Oak Forest WEA. At the December 2023, FWC Commission Meeting, Commissioners delegated authority to the Executive Director to negotiate options for the release of perpetual conservation easements held by the FWC over portions of Split Oak Forest WEA. Commissioners directed staff to return to a future Commission meeting with the results of the negotiations for deliberation and a vote.

Media contact: Media interested in attending should contact Ryan Sheets at Ryan.Sheets@MyFWC.com or 727-282-7642.