Eastern Collier development sparks lawsuit over panther habitat risk

An environmental conservancy group is planning to sue U.S. Fish and Wildlife over a development project near Ave Maria in Collier County. The South Florida Wildlands Association (SWFA) argues that the 10,000-acre project, called 'Rural Lands West,' will irreparably harm the critically endangered Florida panther and its habitat.

Matthew Schwartz, executive director of SWFA, said, "The idea that this is not going to have a significant, significant impact on the Panther is ludicrous."

SFWA is one of the environmental groups who have issued a 60-day notice of intent to sue the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Collier Enterprises, alleging violations of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) related to the approval of the project. 

Schwartz explained the project's naming. "The project is called by the county and by most of the public and the developer, now, the Town of Big Cypress, and they're more or less the same area," he said.

The roughly ten-thousand acre project, located off Oil Well Road between Golden Gate Estates and Ave Maria, will develop roughly half of the land into homes, shops, and parks while the other half is designated for environmental protection.

Last month when the county pushed the project forward, Louisa Gomez, a local resident, expressed a different perspective. "I really love that I think it is a great opportunity for young families to have a place to kind of do like fun activities since we are kind of out here in the middle of nowhere," she said.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's biological opinion on the project states that it is not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of native species, including the Florida panther. 

The Service's website on the project further clarifies, "The Service reviewed the current status of the caracara, indigo snake, Florida bonneted bat, Florida panther, tricolored bat, the environmental baseline for the action area, the effects of the proposed action, and the cumulative effects, and it is the Service’s biological opinion that the Rural Lands West project, as proposed, is not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of the caracara, indigo snake, Florida bonneted bat, Florida panther, and tricolored bat."

However, Schwartz disagrees. "We think that this will bring them closer to the edge, to where not only is there continued existence in jeopardy, but also their chances of recovery," he said.

In 2026, two panther deaths have already been reported in Collier County, raising concerns about the impact of the development.

The developer's website claims the town will generate millions for the Panther Protection Fund, stating, "This collaborative effort will preserve a significant, contiguous range for panther territory, necessary for the panther to thrive."

Schwartz emphasized the need for officials to reconsider the broader wildlife implications before proceeding with the development. "We're hoping that if we're successful, not only do we stop this project or change significantly this project, but this lawsuit will affect all the other projects coming in through the Fish and Wildlife Service," he said.

Schwartz has not yet received a response from U.S. Fish and Wildlife or the developer. If no response is received within 60 days from the notice of intent sent on January 20, the lawsuit will proceed.

WINK News reached out to the developer, Collier Enterprises, for comment but has not heard back. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services stated they cannot comment on active or pending litigation.

To see U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's full biological opinion on the project, click here.