Surplus Lands Assessment

The objectives of the Surplus Lands Assessment project are to identify lands that no longer meet the original acquisition purpose, or do not provide water resource benefits, such as flood control, recharge, water storage, water management, conservation and protection of water resources, water resource and water supply development, or preservation of wetlands, streams and lakes. For example, a landowner may have been unwilling to divide a property offered for sale, so the District purchased the entire parcel recognizing that some portions may have little conservation value. Those portions would be considered for surplusing. Another example are acquisitions for specific projects, where once the project was completed, land was left unused.

Mission Statement

Review the SWFWMD’s land holdings to ensure their support of the water supply, flood protection, water quality and natural systems areas of responsibility thereby ensuring the diligent and efficient stewardship of both land and financial resources for the citizens of Florida. The review process will confirm the original acquisition purpose and current water management benefits within the four areas of responsibility, facilitate a transparent public decision-making process and, if appropriate, consider a full range of potential surplus options.

The Assessment Process

The Governing Board has appointed a Surplus Lands Subcommittee, made up of six Governing Board members, to provide guidance to staff and to review future staff recommendations.

Staff is looking at a number of criteria to draft a process for identifying potential surplus parcels. The assessment will begin by looking at lands that are solely owned and managed by the District. View map of lands owned and managed by the District.

The Surplus Lands Subcommittee will review the staff recommendations and then make its recommendations to the Governing Board. Ultimately, it will be up to the Governing Board to make the final decisions.

Parcels Evaluated

Initial analysis is complete and the Governing Board SLA Subcommittee has reviewed:

• 260,998 acres
• 1,282 acres (29 parcels) recommended for further staff analysis to determine surplus options
• 6-acre Frog Creek tract has been declared surplus by the full Governing Board

Surplus Parcel	Acreage*	Surplus Status
Citrus County
Flying Eagle Preserve
FE-15  »	.50	Preparing request to surplus form for DEP review and approval
Hillsborough County
Tampa Bypass Canal
TBC-1  »	0.75	Request to surplus form sent to DEP for review and approval
TBC-2  »	0.93	Request to surplus form sent to DEP for review and approval
TBC-3  »	1.31	Performing due diligence
TBC-4  »	12.09	Request to surplus form sent to DEP for review and approval
TBC-7  »	0.74	Request to surplus form sent to DEP for review and approval
TBC-8  »	1.34	Request to surplus form sent to DEP for review and approval
TBC-10  »	3.06	Request to surplus form sent to DEP for review and approval
TBC-11  »	2.09	Performing due diligence
TBC-12  »	12.40	Request to surplus form sent to DEP for review and approval; site of Hillsborough County Park
TBC-14  »	3.98	Request to surplus form sent to DEP for review and approval
TBC-15  »	0.40	Request to surplus form sent to DEP for review and approval
TBC-16  »	1.59	Request to surplus form sent to DEP for review and approval
TBC-17  »	0.23	Request to surplus form sent to DEP for review and approval
TBC-18  »	0.28	Title research revealed parcel is not owned by SWFWMD
TBC-19  »	0.90	Evaluate quitclaiming parcel to Hillsborough County
TBC-20  »	0.07	Request to surplus form sent to DEP for review and approval; title research revealed portion of parcel conveyed to Hillsborough Co.
Chito Branch Reserve
Chito North  »	89.00	Preparing request to surplus materials for DEP review and approval
Chito East  »	38.00	Preparing request to surplus materials for DEP review and approval
Manatee County
Frog Creek
Frog Creek  »	6.00	Received approval from DEP to surplus; Governing Board declared surplus; staff preparing to file a Future Land Use Change with Manatee Co.
Pasco County
Upper Hillsborough
Upper Hillsborough  »	111.00	Request to surplus form sent to DEP for review and approval
Pinellas County
Lake Tarpon Outfall Canal
LTOC-1  »	2.00	Preparing request to surplus materials for DEP review and approval
Polk County
Lake Hancock
OFP DRI  »	833.00	Preparing request to surplus materials for DEP review and approval
Between Old Bartow Rd & SR 17  »	54.00	Preparing request to surplus materials for DEP review and approval
Griffin-Ellsworth  »	100.00	Preparing request to surplus materials for DEP review and approval
Sumter County
Panasoffkee-Outlet Tract
PO-1  »	6.30	Preparing request to surplus form for DEP review and approval
	*Acreage is approximate