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Friends of the Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge

Three Sisters backers not worried about budget cuts

State funding for purchase reduced

The state Legislature this week cut $105 million from the land-buying program known as Florida Forever and in turn eliminated $6.3 million targeted for the Three Sisters Spring property purchase.

Backers of the Save Three Sisters Spring effort, however, are not concerned.

"This is just a bump in the road," said Lace Blue-McLean, president of the Friends of the Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge, an organization that is heading up the Three Sisters project.

The city of Crystal River received the $6.3 million grant in September to go toward the purchase of the property. The grant money is contingent on a sale, and the money would not be released until after two state appraisals on the property.

Projects such as Three Sisters that received grant funding from The Florida Communities Trust must now wait for the Legislature to restore some or all of the money next year.

Crystal River City Manager Andy Houston said the priority list would remain in place if funding returns next year. He said organizers are hoping that occurs and proceeding as if it will.

"The focus is getting our ducks in a row here," he said.

A management plan is in the works that is being developed by the city, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Southwest Florida Water Management District.

The Conservation Fund, a national organization that acts as a conduit to the government wanting to buy private land, has a $14.2 million option contract on the property that expires in late April.

The tentative plan had the Conservation Fund buying the property in anticipation of selling off easements to the state, USFWS and water district.

Organizers are closer their goal of raising $2.7 million to match the state grant. With the addition of $100,000 from a New England trust called Jane's Trust, and $35,000 from the Kings Bay Rotary Foundation's Stone Crab Jam festival, the fundraising goal is down to $170,000.

Blue-McLean said the state's funding crisis gives organizers more time to raise money.

She said organizers have no reason to believe the project is dead.

"It might take a little bit longer but we're very optimistic," she said. "I hope the community still stands behind us."

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