Pasco County has purchased 67.5 acres along the Ehren Cutoff corridor to establish a new conservation area that will connect several existing ecological preserves in central Pasco. The acquisition was announced on October 22 through social media and is part of the county’s Environmental Lands Acquisition and Management Program, known as ELAMP. This latest purchase links the Connor Preserve, Cypress Creek Preserve, and the Connerton to Cypress Creek Ecological Corridor into a larger protected network. Funding for this acquisition comes from Penny for Pasco, a one-cent sales tax approved by voters in 2004 that has been renewed twice and is expected to generate $1.9 billion by December 2039. The purchase represents another significant conservation effort as the county faces criticism over allowing too much development in the area.
Key Points:
- Pasco County purchased 67.5 acres along Ehren Cutoff for conservation purposes
- The land purchase connects several existing preserves including Connor Preserve and Cypress Creek Preserve
- Funding comes from Penny for Pasco, a one-cent sales tax approved in 2004
- ELAMP has preserved approximately 8,688 acres since its creation in July 2004
