Kristin Jacobs Coral Aquatic Preserve Management Plan Review

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection is finalizing the Kristin Jacobs Coral Aquatic Preserve (KJCAP) Management Plan, Florida's most recently designated aquatic preserve, and welcomes public input on its draft management plan, available at https://floridadep.gov/rcp/aquatic-preserve/documents/kristin-jacobs-co….
The objectives of this series of public meetings are to:
• Provide historical context on the formation of DEP's Coral Reef Conservation Program and the KJCAP.
• Provide background on Chapter 259.032, Florida Statute, which stipulates that aquatic preserve management plans shall be developed with input from the public, and outline the timeline for the subsequent steps of this process.
• Outline work completed to date during the drafting of the KJCAP management plan.
• Create a forum to collect feedback in a variety of formats
• Create an in-person environment that enables fruitful discussions amongst members of the public and KJCAP staff.
To that end, the in-person meetings will be structured in the spirit of an open house, with various stations set up to align with the different thematic issue areas found within the draft management plan. The hope is to create an interactive experience that will allow members of the public to connect and engage with the KJCAP management plan in the ways that are most relevant to their interests.
Feedback matters to ensure that the resulting KJCAP management plan is a robust document that is representative of the broader community and will provide the necessary guidance to thoughtfully manage the unique ecosystem that is the KJCAP. Please attend to learn about the proposed plans for the KJCAP region and provide input.