Everglades refuge stalled at 10 acres but expected to grow - Sun Sentinel

The U.S. government is slow in assembling conservation land to protect areas that feed the Everglades system. Easements are possible over privately owned land. They are less costly, allow for continued agricultural use, but do not allow public access. It is important to note what is considered the "headwaters of the Everglades" as indicated in the article. Click title for link.

The Everglades Headwaters National Wildlife Refuge was billed with much fanfare as a federal rescue of an imperiled environmental treasure in Florida. Drawn across Osceola, Polk, Okeechobee and Highlands counties, the refuge would target 50,000 acres for outright purchase and an additional 100,000 acres for partial ownership."This is a long-term commitment to the resource and to the landscape," said refuge manager Charlie Pelizza recently, commenting much as he did two years ago. "We don't expect it to happen in one year, five years or 10 years."The refuge may eventually reach Metro Orlando by taking in 10,000 acres of prairie, woods and wetlands just south of the Orange County line in Osceola County.The entire 150,000-acre mosaic of properties that federal officials want to acquire could cost more than a half-billion dollars.