The Conservancy of Southwest Florida is seeking help from the public to protect the endangered Florida panther from community developments.
The conservancy says the Rural Lands West (RLW) has tried to gain approvals since 2008 for the "Rivergrass and Longwater Village" project.
Collier County permitted the project and the conservancy says it is close to breaking ground.
However, its last major hurdle is a federal wetland dredge and fill permit under the Clean Water Act Section 404, which will be decided by the Army Corps of Engineers.
According to reports, the applicant is proposing over 4,400 acres for this new town in eastern Collier County within the greater Western Everglades, which is a critical wildlife corridor for panthers.
The proposed site is upstream of the Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge, which the conservancy says would destroy 270 acres of wetlands within the Camp Keais Strand wetland flowway.
You can help protect Florida's wetlands and panthers by telling decision-makers that you do not support this development here .
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