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State Parks May Turn Egmont Key Over To Federal Agency

Tribune file photo by JULIE BUSCH (2007)

The park service has proposed turning Egmont Key's management over to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which owns the island.

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By MIKE SALINERO | The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 17, 2008

Updated: 10/17/2008 01:50 pm

TAMPA - The fate of Egmont Key State Park is in limbo as the Florida Park Service struggles to deal with diminishing state revenues.

The park service has proposed turning Egmont Key's management over to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which owns most of the island. It's not clear whether Fish and Wildlife will keep the preserve open if it takes control.

"This is a proposal from the state, and it's not for us to speculate what would happen," said Keith Ramos, a deputy refuge manager for Fish and Wildlife whose responsibilities include Egmont Key. "It's just a proposal, and that's all we have."

The transfer is part of a 10 percent overall budget reduction at the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, which oversees the parks service. The agency hopes to save $1.9 million by closing 19 state parks, including Terra Ceia Preserve State Park in Manatee County, and transferring control of three others, including Egmont.

Gov. Charlie Crist asked the DEP and other state agencies to cut operating costs by 10 percent for next year's budget. Altogether, the environmental agency plans to reduce spending by $39.8 million out of a $2 billion budget. The governor and the Legislature must approve the cuts.

Closing Egmont would be devastating to Hubbards Marina, which conducts boat tours to the island, said manager Leslie Peruche. The marina takes about 9,000 visitors to the island each year, Peruche said.

The Southwest Florida Water Management District has spent millions of dollars in restoration in recent years at the Terra Ceia Preserve, said Charlie Hunsicker, director of Manatee County's Natural Resources Department. Hunsicker said closing the park will put more pressure on wildlife in nearby preserves.

"I guess it's a stark reality of where Florida's economy and the local economy have had to make some difficult choices," Hunsicker said. "We unfortunately are on the wrong side of the ledger."

The park closure and transfers will save $1.9 million. The parks proposed for closing were chosen based on low visitation rates, according to DEP, which manages state lands. The agency said the parks would reopen if the economy improves. Until then, they will be supervised by full-time caretakers.

Other cuts at the environmental agency include more than $1 million in land management and $300,000 in the exotic species control budget. The agency will also save $4 million through outsourcing.

State park employees do everything from leading interpretive wildlife tours to cleaning restrooms. They monitor wildlife, restore habitat and keep trails clear so visitors can enjoy nature firsthand.

Reporter Mike Salinero can be reached at (813) 259-8303.

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