Proposed development on Lemon Bay islands, as well as a bridge, spurred community leaders to organize Lemon Bay Conservancy (LBC) in 1971 with the purpose of limiting inappropriate development and protecting environmental resources. Since then LBC:
- Helped create Blind Pass, Lemon Bay, Indian Mound, and Cedar Point Parks
- Worked to get Lemon Bay designated an “Outstanding Florida Water”
- Advocated for many environmental protections to ensure the future of sensitive coastal ecosystems
- Acquired: two small islands and several parcels of mangrove shoreline along Lemon Bay; scrub jay habitat within the Peace River watershed; 2 acres of waterfront property in the center of Cedar Point Park; and over 10 acres of environmentally sensitive land on the bridge-less barrier island of Thornton Key
- Acquired and preserved the 80-acre former Wildflower Golf Course, working in partnership with the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) and NOAA to converty it into a remarkable natural area with hiking trails, extensive wetlands, and numerous ponds
- Has become a vibrant community force embracing the entire complex of coastal lands and waterways from Lemon Bay to Charlotte Harbor
Some highlights of LBC’s work through the decades are shown below.