One of the primary missions of the Charlotte Harbor Environmental Center, Inc. is to provide preservation land management in the surrounding area.

The Center is responsible for natural resource management on a number of sites located in Charlotte County.  Monitoring flora and fauna provides information necessary for the development of management strategies.  Prescribed fire is a management tool utilized by CHEC in an effort to duplicate the naturally occurring fire events that have been shaping this area for centuries.  Reduction of fuel is  an important part of resource management.  Removal of exotic plants and re-vegetation with native species is another important management tool for the Center's resource managers.  A working group of trained volunteers assist the Charlotte Harbor Environmental Center in the re-treatment and monitoring of these project sites.

Some of the lands we manage were obtained through developmental mitigation.  Many of them are conservation easements.  CHEC, Inc. has been sought out several times for their quality of work & cooperative, professional approach.

Properties currently under management:

• Heron's Cove

Heron’s Cove is a 173-acre Charlotte County sub-division to which approximately 23-acres are managed by CHEC as a conservation easement to protect habitat for the threatened Florida scrub jay. The Easement has been set aside as scrub jay habitat and, as such, will not be built upon by the property owners. CHEC monitors the scrub jays to determine the population status of adults and young within and adjacent to the development. To provide and protect this habitat within the Easement, CHEC makes recommendation to conduct various on-site land management activities such as mechanical fuel reduction and the removal of invasive, exotic species. 

 

• Serene Estates

Serene Estates is a 20-acre site in Charlotte County which is managed by CHEC as a mitigation site for threatened Florida scrub jays. This is preservation land that will not be developed but instead has been set aside as scrub jay habitat. CHEC monitors the scrub jays to determine the population status of adults and young within the property. To provide and protect this habitat, CHEC makes recommendation to conduct various on-site land management activities such as mechanical fuel reduction and the removal of invasive, exotic species.

• Eastport Reclamation Facility Conservatioin Easement

Eastport Reclamation Facility Conservation Easement is 51-acres of mesic and scrubby flatwoods in Charlotte County which is managed by CHEC to provide for the protection and conservation of Florida scrub jays and gopher tortoises. To facilitate this, CHEC implements a monitoring program to assess vegetation cover and abundance, and Florida scrub jay and gopher tortoise populations. Monitoring results and land management recommendation are then forwarded to relevant agencies.

• Bridgebrook Shores

Bridgebrook Shores is approximately 7-acres of scrub jay habitat within Charlotte County which is managed by CHEC as a Conservation Easement. This is preservation land that will not be developed but instead has been set aside as scrub jay habitat. CHEC monitors the scrub jays to determine the population status of adults and young within the property. To provide and protect this habitat, CHEC makes recommendation to conduct various on-site land management activities such as mechanical fuel reduction and the removal of invasive, exotic species.

• Cedar Point Park

Cedar Point Environment Park is a 115-acre Charlotte County park that is managed by CHEC and is the location of the western Charlotte County CHEC office. On-going land management activities include the removal of invasive, exotic flora and fauna, the monitoring of wildlife including an EagleWatch Program which provides on-site data on nesting bald eagle activity, trail maintenance, and the monitoring of vegetative communities. CHEC also conducts many environmental education programs at Cedar Point Park such as guided walks, seagrass wading excursions, field trips for local students, and public lectures.