(1) DESIGNATION.—The area described in subsection (2) which lies within Citrus, Hernando, and Pasco Counties is designated by the Legislature for inclusion in the aquatic preserve system under the Florida Aquatic Preserve Act of 1975 and as an Outstanding Florida Water pursuant to s. 403.061(28) and shall be known as the “Nature Coast Aquatic Preserve.” It is the intent of the Legislature that the Nature Coast Aquatic Preserve be preserved in an essentially natural condition so that its biological and aesthetic values may endure for the enjoyment of future generations. This section may not be construed to impose additional permitting requirements for county or state projects under the Resources and Ecosystems Sustainability, Tourist Opportunities, and Revived Economies of the Gulf Coast Act of 2012 (RESTORE Act) that are funded pursuant to 33 U.S.C. s. 1321(t)(3).
(2) BOUNDARIES.—For purposes of this section, the Nature Coast Aquatic Preserve consists of the state-owned submerged lands lying west of a meandering line following the westernmost shorelines of Citrus, Hernando, and Pasco Counties, excluding artificial waterways, canals, inland rivers, and tributaries. Such state-owned submerged lands include all those lands seaward of the mean high-water line and tidally connected to the Gulf of Mexico, lying south of a line extending westerly approximately 4.5 miles along Latitude 28.910000°, Florida West Zone (NAD83) from the mean high-water line of the corresponding shoreline at Fort Island Gulf Beach Park, Latitude 28.910000°, Longitude -82.690000°, and lying westward of a line extending north approximately 1.8 miles from Latitude 28.909402°, Longitude -82.764° to Latitude 28.9355°, Longitude -82.764°, lying southward of a line extending westerly approximately 2.0 miles to Latitude 28.9355°, Longitude -82.798214°, lying westward of a line extending north approximately 4.5 miles to the easternmost point of the southern boundary of the Big Bend Seagrasses Aquatic Preserve at point Latitude 29.001614°, Longitude -82.798921°, and will be continuous with the eastern shoreline of the northern boundary of the Pinellas County Aquatic Preserve, respectively. The boundary of the Nature Coast Aquatic Preserve designated as the shoreline will be the mean high-water line along such shoreline unless otherwise stated and will not supersede the boundaries of currently designated Outstanding Florida Waters, state parks, national wildlife refuges, or aquatic preserves.
History.—s. 1, ch. 2020-136; s. 16, ch. 2021-51.