The Sebastian Creek CARL project, ranked number five on the CARL Substantially Complete list is now 90 percent complete. Today's vote added 95 acres to one of the most important aggregation sites for the manatee. Surrounded by marshes, swamps and scrub, the project also protects the water quality of the creek while providing recreational opportunities like fishing and hiking. Rookery Bay CARL project, ranked number four on CARL's Substantially Complete list, was also removed from the list when it became 90 percent completed. Only eight percent remains to be purchased.
Rookery Bay is a subtropical estuary in one of Florida's quickest growing areas.
Its mangroves provide important shelter for nesting colonies of water birds while providing food and protection for many other aquatic animals. The Charlotte Harbor Flatwoods CARL project is ranked number 10 on CARL's Priority list. The slash pine flatwoods are the largest and highest quality remaining in southwest Florida. The pines provide home to several protected and endangered species including the red-cockaded woodpecker, black bear, bald eagle and, occasionally, the Florida panther. One of the rarest trees in Florida, the pawpaw, can also be found in the project.