Environmental Protection

Future Strategies

Future Master Plans

Plans to Reduce Greenhouse Gas
Alachua County plans to to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20% of year 1990 baseline emissions by 2010.

Plans to Control Invasive Species
The County is working to develop and implement a plan for the removal and continued management of invasive species on County-owned or controlled lands and incorporate them into the management plans of preservation areas.

An Emergency Water Management Conservation Plan
By cooperating with Florida's water management districts and other local governments, the County plans to conduct water conservation programs and prepare a water conservation plan.

Plans for Land Conservation
The County plans to develop a county-wide system of natural areas and trails for wildlife and people. The land conservation master plan will be implemented by identifying the components of the land conservation program via:

  1. The Alachua County Forever program.
  2. Open space and greenways programs.
  3. Coordination with other land acquisition and management programs.
  4. Private donations and dedications.
  5. Regulatory mechanisms.
  6. Taxation policies, such as agricultural and bluebelt assessments.

Plans to Develop a Greenway/ Open Space System
The County is planning a greenways system by acquiring specific lands which will be preserved, or otherwise included in the greenways system.

Plans for Ecosystems
Devise schedule for creating a special area plan for each ecosystem of special interest

Plans for Scenic Corridors
Create special area plans to protect scenic quality through the community and neighborhood planning program.

Future Studies, Reports, and Analysis

Studies
The following list represents future study plans intended to identify, evaluate and assess resources, site suitability, economic and social needs, and technologies, as a prerequisite to certain required actions and programs.

  • High aquifer recharge study
  • Hydrologic study of Santa Fe River/springs
  • Inventory of significant geologic resources
  • Soil erosion control study
  • Habitat corridor analysis
  • Investigate feasibility of local mitigation banking system

Reports
The County plans to initiate an annual status report on natural resources. The goal is to compile and publish reader-friendly status report on natural resources including air quality, water quality, and other sustainability indicators.

Analysis

  • Mapping- update and maintain maps/inventories of natural resources, recreation facilities, wildfire hazards, parks, hazardous materials facilities, future land uses, substandard homes, etc.
  • Database coordination - coordinate GIS databases of natural resources, infrastructure, and land uses, across departments, local governments, UF, Santa Fe Community College, state agencies, and water management districts
  • Indicators tracking - establish and track environmental, economic, and social indicators to measure Comprehensive Plan effectiveness for benchmarking
  • Policy evaluation and update - periodically review existing policies and regulations for effectiveness, and update in response to changing needs and effectiveness

Future Programs

Wellhead protection program to identify and establish wellhead protection areas.

Xeriscape program to use xeriscape principles in public rights-of-way and other public lands to conserve water and native vegetation.

Education and outreach program

  • Friendly documents - create and maintain reader-friendly web-based Comprehensive Plan, Land Development Code, master plans, maps, and photos, using interactive hyperlinks to increase public access to planning materials.
  • Stakeholder consensus building project - continue project initiated in 2000.
  • Expanded outreach - expand outreach to include notices in church bulletins, flyers for homeowners/landscapers/foresters, other non-traditional mediums of communication to broaden outreach to and participation of all citizens.
  • Stewardship - provide information on BMPs, cost-shares, certification programs, available technical assistance to improve environmental stewardship.

Air Quality Program to establish intergovernmental air quality task force.

Implement land acquisition program - acquire and manage Alachua County Forever (ACF) lands, parks, dedications, etc.; develop management plans for County-owned conservation and preservation areas.

Air and water quality, and landfill monitoring programs to address evolving issues, emphasize connection to central services of community water systems and package treatment plants.

Wildflower and tree planting roadway beautification programs to establish and maintain the scenic quality of roadways in Alachua County.

Firewise medal communities program - implement education and outreach, review and approve wildfire mitigation plans, inspect sites; implement new fuels management program.

Future Review Processes, Regulations, and Ordinances

Future Review Process

  • Establish for wetlands mitigation, and other precious resource issues.
  • Integrate indicators assessment and tracking into development review process.

Future Regulations and Ordinances

  • Revisions to Surface Waters and Wetlands Code
  • New Habitat Protection Ordinance
  • New regulations for geologic features protection, land clearing, erosion control
  • Revisions to Groundwater Protection/Wastewater Treatment regulations
  • Revisions to mining, excavation, and fill regulations

For current information on Land Development Regulations, visit Growth Management