Florida officials say the proposed site of a new cruise port in Manatee County is not part of the Terra Ceia Aquatic Preserve, contrary to state maps that depict the property inside the preserve’s boundaries.
In a 2024 letter obtained by the Bradenton Herald, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) told a property owner that several privately held Manatee County land parcels, including Rattlesnake Key and the Knott-Cowen Tract, are “adjacent” to the preserve, but not technically inside of it.
However, the private lands are surrounded by protected waters, and development there would undoubtedly have impacts on the broader area. The preserve is designated as an Outstanding Florida Water, which provides an extra layer of protections against dredging and other activities that could lower water quality, even if they occur on private lands…