The preservation of Brevard County’s rich environment made conservation history in 1990 when voters supported a bond referendum to purchase environmentally endangered lands in the county. The referendum authorized issuance of limited tax bonds for
a period of twenty years for the purpose of purchasing, protecting, and maintaining these lands, and for improvements for passive recreation and environmental education. Residents reaffirmed the EEL Program in 2004 under a second referendum to protect the natural habitats within Brevard County by the acquisition of environmentally sensitive lands through a willing seller program for the purpose of conservation, passive recreation, and environmental education. Since its origin, the program has protected more that 28,000 acres.
Initially under the direction of the Brevard County’s Office of Natural Resources, the Environmentally Endangered Lands (EEL) Program came under management of the Parks and Recreation Department in September 1997.
Acquisition & Management
EEL is a willing-seller program that does not regulate or restrict private land rights. The program represents long-term protection of essential natural resources, open space, wildlife corridors and
maintenance of natural ecosystem functions.
Each site acquired through the EELProgram will have a management plan that outlines both management goals and compatible recreational and educational activities.
Buying lands for conservation requires a commitment to continued land management. Land managers recreate natural cycles of fire and water, remove invasive non-native species, and replant native vegetation to restore degraded areas.