Mission: The CREW Land & Water Trust was established in 1989 as a nonprofit organization to coordinate the land acquisition, land management, and public use of the 60,000-acre Corkscrew Regional Ecosystem Watershed. This watershed straddles Lee and Collier counties and provides aquifer recharge, natural flood protection, water purification, preservation of wildlife habitat, and public recreation. Since 198990, CREW has coordinated the purchase of over 27,000 acres the CREW Project now has over 46,000 acres in preservation. The CREW Land & Water Trust was the first public/private partnership approach to an ecosystem-based acquisition project in Southwest Florida. When the Trust was founded, the concept of land acquisition for preserving a largely rural and lightly populated area was considered visionary. Since then, a decade of explosive development in Southwest Florida has proven the initiative was just in time.
Target demographics: preserve and protect the Corkscrew Regional Ecosystem Watershed
Direct beneficiaries per year: 47,282 people
Geographic areas served: Southwest Florida
Programs: through engaging the public in environmental education programs, citizen science, and wildlife conservation
The CREW Land & Water Trust does a fabulous job of educating SW Florida citizens about the importance of conserving local water recharge areas and wildlife habitat. They bring together diverse organizations and entities in a public-private partnership that serves a unique purpose. They are fiscally responsible and provide amazing opportunities for adults and children in our area.