The chapter also contains a section called “Principles for Evaluating Development Proposals in Native Habitats,” which establishes management guidelines for each native habitat type. These guidelines provide the standards to protect and manage these valuable native habitats.

The 2006 amendments to the Comprehensive Plan added a requirement that the county complete an updated native habitat land cover map and risk assessment study for each native habitat identified within Chapter 2.

Click here to view the updated native habitat land cover map and the study .

The results of this study are not meant to be used for regulatory measures, but rather as a planning tool to assist our community in updating the environmental standards for our native habitats. The habitats identified in this study were mapped remotely via aerial imagery and with a limited amount of ground truthing. The findings of this study should not be viewed in isolation. Other planning instruments, such as land use maps and future land use maps, should be considered when evaluating trends and developing future policy.

If you are interested in obtaining the Geographic Information Systems data associated with the update and study, contact Matt Osterhoudt at 941-861-6342 or Rachel Herman at 941-861-6232.