Background

The Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program (CELCP) was established in 2002 by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The primary purpose of the program is to acquire property in coastal and estuarine areas that have significant conservation, recreation, ecological, historical, or aesthetic values, or that are threatened by conversion from a natural or recreational state to other uses. NOAA's Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management (OCRM) administers the program, which provides up to $3 million dollars for each eligible project. CELCP funds must be matched equally by non-federal funds.

The CELC Program is available to states that have a coastal zone management program approved by NOAA or a National Estuarine Research Reserve (NERR). Florida is eligible to participate in CELCP because it satisfies both requirements. The Florida Coastal Management Program (FCMP) was approved by NOAA in 1981 while the Rookery Bay NERR was designated in 1978, the Apalachicola NERR was designated in 1979, and the Guana-Tolomato-Matanzas NERR was designated in 1999.

To participate in the program, the state must develop a plan for administering the CELCP program and setting acquisition priorities. The FCMP submitted a draft CELCP plan in 2006, describing how Florida's CELCP program supplements and coordinates with the state's Florida Forever land acquisition program. In November 2008, Florida became the 5^th state to have its CELCP plan formally approved by OCRM.

NEW! Click here to read a summary of the recent acquisition of the Keewaydin Island CELCP property. Fifteen projects were selected for FY 2010 funding, including the Keewaydin Island-Rookery Bay NERR project (see Keewaydin Island CELCP Application).

More information on CELCP is available through the Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management.

CELCP Applications Submitted by the FCMP

CELCP 2011
In April 2010, the FCMP submitted the following three projects to the NOAA CELCP review committee for the 2011 application cycle. Florida's ranked projects were: Boot Key (6^th), Indian River Lagoon (8^th) and Sugarloaf Key (20^th):

• Boot Key, Marathon, Florida Keys [PDF - 6.26MB]
• Sugarloaf, Florida Keys [PDF - 4.02MB]
• Indian River Lagoon [PDF - 2.28MB]

CELCP 2010
The FCMP submitted three projects to the NOAA CELCP review committee for the fiscal year 2010 application cycle. Florida's projects were ranked 6^th (Boot Key) and 24^th (Indian River Lagoon) out of 60 proposals received by NOAA.

• [PDF - 8.51MB]
• GTMNERR Rogers [PDF - 13.8MB]
• Indian River Lagoon North Brevard [PDF - 3.79MB]

CELCP 2009
NOAA received 54 proposals from coastal states and listed 46 projects eligible for funding. Florida's three projects ranked 4^th, 17^th and 28^th. The Cayo Costa State Park and Guana Tolomato Matanzas NERR projects were selected for FY 2009 funding, but were ultimately not acquired.

• Cayo Costa State Park [PDF - 4.33MB]
• Indian River Lagoon - North Brevard [PDF - 25.4MB]
• Guana Tolomato Matanzas NERR [PDF - 11.6MB]

Other Information
Comments or questions about CELCP can be directed to Ms. Kelly Samek at Kelly.Samek@dep.state.fl.us; or by calling 850-245-2161.