The Southwest Florida Water Management District has reached an agreement with Leigh and Lynn Hampton and LSL Hampton Family Ltd. Partnership, LLP to purchase their property, including settlement costs, for $39,239,000 as part of the Lake Hancock Lake Level Modification Project.
The Hampton�s property, which includes 1,177 acres, is located southwest of the intersection of Thornhill Road and Winter Lake Road and borders the northeastern shore of Lake Hancock. Once this acquisition is complete, the District will own approximately eight of the 11 miles of lake frontage.
The project, which was authorized by the District's Governing Board on Sept. 25, 2007, will raise the lakes water level by raising the control elevation of the existing outflow structure to store additional water that later can be released into the Upper Peace River during dry periods. The project is a critical component of the Districts recovery strategy for meeting the minimum flows in the Upper Peace River.
To date, the District has acquired approximately 5,803 acres and accepted donation of less than fee interests on an additional 718 acres of property around the lake as part of the project. Less-than-fee is a public purchase of certain property rights from the land owner while leaving the property in private ownership. This public/private partnership allows the District to minimize development. Under this partnership, the landowner retains ownership and continues activities compatible with conservation and protection of the resources while generating taxable income for the county.
District staff has been heavily engaged with property owners affected by the project to explain how their property will be affected and the acquisition process, attempting to negotiate the purchase of as many parcels as possible through voluntary acquisitions. However, if staff determines an agreement cannot be reached with a property owner, a condemnation lawsuit will be initiated.
Lake Hancock is a 4,500-acre lake in the headwaters of the Peace River watershed, which extends 120 miles downstream to Charlotte Harbor, an estuary of national significance.
Over the last 150 years, land use changes and water withdrawals have significantly altered the Peace River watershed. These activities have resulted in a reduction in the watersheds ability to store and recharge rainfall, which has led to lowered groundwater levels, extended periods of low or no flows in the Upper Peace River, poor water quality and altered ecosystems.
The District is required by state law to set minimum flows and levels for priority water bodies. A minimum flow or level is the limit at which further withdrawals will cause significant harm to the water resources and the related natural environment. The District has set minimum flows for the Upper Peace River from Bartow to Zolfo Springs, but the river has been failing to meet these flows about 30 percent of the time over the last 30 years.