UPDATE: President Barack Obama signed a bill into law Monday that will protect more than 17,000 acres of land in Collier County. The property is now part of the Coast Barrier Resources System and will act as a storm buffer. The measure by Rep. Curt Clawson, R-Bonita Springs, affects pieces of Marco Island Keewaydin Island and Cape Romano. The law removes federal financial assistance, like flood insurance, which is meant to discourage development in that area known for flooding and hazardous winds. Anyone who chooses to develop and live there will be solely responsible for damages to their property.
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UPDATE: The U.S. Senate passed a measure this week sponsored by Rep. Curt Clawson, R-Bonita Springs, that would protect more than 17,000 acres of Southwest Florida land from development. This legislation affects parts of Marco Island, Keewaydin Island, and Cape Romano in Collier County. The bill is now heading to President Barack Obama's desk for signature.
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The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill recently that would protect more than 17,000 acres of land from development in Southwest Florida. If the measure passes the Senate, the property would instead act as a buffer for extreme weather conditions along Collier County’s coast.
Rep. Curt Clawson, R-Bonita Springs, wants to protect thousands of acres of mangrove islands. Those islands would double the size of a federally protected natural storm buffer between Naples and the Ten Thousand Islands.But Clawson said “most importantly” it would protect wildlife, like sea turtles, from development.
"We're gonna have a beautiful place for generations to come," said Clawson. "And if my team and I have had a small part in that, in saving the lives of important animals and keeping things beautiful for future generations, then we'll feel pretty good about that."
Some of the land is privately owned. Clawson said this bill still shields the property rights of those land owners, and it would not transfer that land over to the federal government.
But Jennifer Hecker with the Conservancy of Southwest Florida said the bill does discourage development.
The area is prone to flooding and high hazard winds, and this measure would remove any hazard help from the government.
"Anyone who would knowingly choose to develop in such a vulnerable area will have to take responsibility themselves for doing that," said Hecker. "It wouldn’t be the role of the federal government to come and bail them out."
So if a natural disaster hits, private land owners may not be able to count on federal expenditures and financial assistance, like flood insurance. Congressman Clawson said he expects this measure to pass the Senate next week.
Topher Forhecz contributed to this report.
