Panther Island Mitigation Bank

Panther Island Mitigation Bank and Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary Ramsar Designation Ceremony

2010-02-18T20:13:00.001-08:00

Corkscrew Named Wetland of International Importance

2009-10-20T07:28:00.000-07:00

Naples News- By Eric Staats, Posted October 20, 2009

Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary is basking in the international limelight.

The International Secretariat for the Ramsar Convention, an intergovernmental treaty on wetlands conservation, has named the sanctuary a wetland of international importance.

Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary Receives US Nomination as RAMSAR Wetland Site of International Importance

2009-10-14T05:26:00.000-07:00

US officials nominate Audubon of Florida's Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary to be designated as a wetland of International Importance by the RAMSAR International Convention on Wetlands. Included in this nomination and designation are lands that Panther Island Mitigation Bank has restored and entrusted to Audubon of Florida as the long term steward.
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Panther Island Mitigation Bank 2008 Annual Barbeque

2008-11-14T17:23:00.000-08:00

Pioneering partnership to help restore wildlife habitat in Collier

2008-08-12T14:07:00.000-07:00

By ERIC STAATS
Monday, August 11, 2008
NAPLES DAILY NEWS

Naples— The Panther Island Mitigation Bank and Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary already are neighbors in northern Collier County...Click title to read article.

Swamp swap: Corkscrew's ‘perfect deal’

2008-07-03T07:33:00.000-07:00

Wildlife main beneficiary of restoration
by kevin lollar • klollar@news-press.com • June 27, 2008

Passing through the gate was like crossing from one world to another.

On one side was Panther Island Mitigation Bank, a series of wetlands rich in diverse native vegetation and wildlife.

On the other was a 640-acre cow pasture full of cattle, low grass and little wildlife.

But the cattle will soon be gone, and the cow pasture will be restored to a more natural wetland state.

Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary has traded 1,280 acres to the South Florida Water Management District for the cow pasture, on the sanctuary’s north border, and 480 acres on its southwest border; the sanctuary’s two new properties will be restored as a mitigation bank.

“The swap is done,” sanctuary director Ed Carlson said...

For the rest of this story please go to newspress archives

Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary to restore wetlands

2008-07-03T07:22:00.001-07:00

by kevin lollar • klollar@news-press.com • June 20, 2008

Some recent swapping will soon bring about the restoration of 1,700 acres of agricultural land belonging to Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary in Collier County...Click title to read article.

Seacrest High School’s Environmental Club gets tour of Panther Island

2008-07-03T07:19:00.001-07:00

Naples News
by Katherine Lewis Sunday, December 23, 2007

They had to admit, sitting in a swamp buggy was much cooler than sitting in class on the last day before holiday vacation...Click title to read article.

Panther Island Mitigation Bank

2008-07-02T13:06:00.000-07:00

Panther Island Mitigation Bank (Panther Island) is one of the premier wetland restoration projects in Southwest Florida. The fully restored Panther Island lands will be preserved in perpetuity through a conservation easement and a long-term stewardship trust fund which will be managed by Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary and owned by Audubon of Florida. Located contiguous with portions of the Corkscrew Regional Eco-System Watershed (CREW) and Save Our Rivers (SOR) lands, Panther Island provides significant regional wetland restoration enhancement, benefiting both freshwater wetland systems and wildlife habitat in the CREW lands. The total Mitigation Bank site is 2,778 acres; and when completed will have generated a total of 934 mitigation credits for the work done on the restoration, enhancement, preservation and perpetual management of the entire bank site. Panther Island offers:

Freshwater Forested Wetland Credits
Freshwater Herbaceous Credits
Panther Habitat Units

The Mitigation Service Area for Panther Island is primarily contained within the Estero, East Collier, and West Collier Basins. Linear projects outside the Mitigation Service Area, such as roadways, power lines and pipelines, may be eligible to utilize the mitigation bank on a case-by-case basis in accordance with the requirements of Federal Guidance and Section 373.4136, F.S.

The Wetlandsbank Group (TWG) a nationally recognized team, is responsible for implementation and management of the Panther Island project. As one of the leading mitigation bankers in the country, the TWG team significantly increases the probability of a fast, hassle-free mitigation transfer procedure with less cost and “red tape.” Permit applicants with projects that have wetland impacts have the opportunity to embrace the advantages of purchasing credits from our bank. By transferring their project’s mitigation obligations to Panther Island clients benefit by:

Being provided one fixed predetermined fee with no cost overruns.
The prevention of assets being tied up.
Optimizing the full potential of the proposed site.
Reducing permitting time.
Providing regulatory certainty with no hidden surprises.
Streamlining the development process.
Enhancing project value.
Working with a team who understands your concerns.
Contributing to significant environmental enhancement.

In June of 2008 Audubon of Florida announced a land swap with SFWMD of 1700 acres of agriculture land which will be restored by the Panther Island Joint Venture. This will bring the total to almost 4,500 acres which will eventually be restored by Panther Island and The Wetlandsbank Group.