Analyze and Report

00,000 permits issued for construction projects

Balancing current and future development with conserving wildlife habitats is crucial to ensure smart growth that protects biodiversity and maintains ecosystem services essential for human well-being.

00,000 out of 00,000 acres (000) under planned future land use for uses other than conservation, natural, or rural agriculture.

Since 2019, 00,000 acres have been identified for development in a Site Development Plan, a blueprint for a property depicting project type and general configuration for a development.

Developing lands for roads, homes and businesses is an important part of the county’s future economic sustainability. Balancing that development with the need to protect open spaces and wildlife habitats to ensure wildlife corridor connectivity is just as important for the county’s ecological sustainability.

Impervious surfaces do not allow rainwater to infiltrate into the ground. Large areas of impervious surfaces can contribute to flooding, stream erosion and water pollution. If they are in an aquifer recharge area, they can cause water to run off into streams instead of reaching the aquifer. Stormwater management will need to adapt as climate and rainfall patterns change. Strategies to minimize impervious surfaces will be one way to adapt to the future changes.

Low Impact Development (LID), also referred to as Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI) practices, are nature-based solutions that manage stormwater especially in urban areas by minimizing impervious cover and increasing infiltration. LID/GSI practices help improve water quality, reduce flooding, and enhance beauty. Visit the GSI Photo Library to explore successful GSI projects across Florida and the GSI Impact Hub to help quantify and communicate the multiple benefits of green stormwater infrastructure.

000,000 acres 80-100% impervious
000,000 acres 50-79% impervious
000,000 acres 20-49% impervious
000,000 acres 1-19% impervious

Some major roads in Osceola run through the Florida Wildlife Corridor, including Highway 192, Route 60, State Roads 91 & 15. Interstate 4, a statewide barrier for wildlife, passes through the northwest corner of the county. The Central Florida Expressway Authority’s 2045 Master Plan includes maps of the road network design planned through the wildlife corridor for the areas in Osceola County’s conceptual master plans .

High numbers of vehicles on a roadway can hinder wildlife movement and lead to isolated populations. It also leads to increased emissions of pollutants such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, a major greenhouse gas contributing to climate change.

The Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT) by the Florida Department of Transportation provides essential information for effective transportation planning.

Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT) for major roadways:

Strategies that take into account AADT can develop more targeted and effective measures to reduce wildlife road mortality and protect public health. New road planning should include an analysis of the need and feasibility of wildlife crossings.>Wildlife Corridor

Osceola County is the fastest growing county in Central Florida.

The 2045 Master Plan created by Central Florida Expressway Authority includes maps of the road network design for the areas in Osceola County’s conceptual master plans .

Osceola County’s Environmental Lands Conservation Program , known as SAVE (Save and Value Environment), was established to acquire and manage environmentally significant lands with a voter-endorsed ad valorem funding source. With this funding, the County was able to issue bonds to purchase nearly 3,300 acres of land for water resource protection, wildlife habitat, public green space, and resource-based passive recreation. In November 2024, voters decided to renew funding for the SAVE Program.

00,000 of 00,000 acres (000%) are in the Florida Wildlife Corridor.

Much of the conservation land in Osceola County contributes to the corridor. These sites can provide multiple benefits for people, wildlife, and ecosystems including wildlife and habitat protection, mitigating climate change by reducing greenhouse gasses, protecting water resources, and supporting Florida’s economy.

00,000 acres (000%) are wildlife corridors that could potentially be developed in the next 10 years.

Wildlife corridors are crucial for maintaining biodiversity. Preservation of natural lands near the Florida Wildlife Corridor provides a variety of beautiful areas for recreation, maintaining healthy ecosystems, improving habitat connectivity, reducing flood risks, improving water and air quality, and helping to prevent wildfires.

Losing these corridors hampers quality of life for both people and wildlife.

Visit the Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation to gain insight into the corridor opportunity areas and priority areas for protection across Florida.

00,000 acres (000%) are dedicated to agriculture and ranching.

Agriculture and ranching are important economic drivers for Osceola County. They can also provide ecosystem benefits such as allowing wildlife movement, and they create opportunities for tourism and recreation.

Water needs for different crops vary widely. Future water demand for irrigation and ranching under a changing climate needs to be considered as a component of holistic water resource management. Visit the Florida Statewide Irrigation Demand Storymap by the Balmoral Group to understand what future water use for agricultural lands looks like for Osceola County and beyond.

00,000 of 00,000 acres (000%) are part of TNC’s Resilient and Connected Network but not yet protected.

TNC’s Resilient and Connected Network is a representative, connected network of climate-resilient sites forming a landscape that, if conserved, could help us sustain biodiversity into the future.

The Network prioritizes conserving biodiverse habitats in different geophysical settings by their capacity to allow movement of species, and so adapt to a changing climate. In Osceola County, it substantially overlaps the Florida Wildlife Corridor.

The Disney Wilderness Preserve is located in Poinciana, Osceola County. An essential part of the Everglades headwaters ecosystem, the preserve is home to more than 1,000 species of plants and animals, and 3,500 acres of restored wetlands that act as nature’s “sponges,” capturing rain and filtering out nutrients. Although the preserve is not affiliated with Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, The Walt Disney Company provided funds for restoration and wildlife monitoring on the preserve and continues to partner on a number of on-site projects. Continued conservation investments in wetlands, natural and working lands to establish preserves and refuges support wildlife habitat, enhance connectivity and provide critical ecosystem services and benefits to residents, wildlife and the local economy.

iNaturalist biodiversity observations updated monthly. iNaturalist is an online platform where people can share biodiversity observations and information in the spirit of helping crowdsource data of organism occurrences. For more information about the platform and their work visit the iNaturalist website .

000,000 species observed in Area Name

To protect wildlife in Osceola County, the exact names of imperiled species are not mentioned to prevent poaching or other interference.

000,000 acres of natural communities in Area Name

Natural communities sustain species diversity and wildlife refuge. Even remnant patches in urban areas can be important links in sustaining biodiversity.

Of the 000,000 acres of natural communities in this area, approximately 000% are species types of ecosystems or habitat that are uncommon or less frequently protected compared to others in the area.

Some of the natural communities found in Florida are considered to be inadequately represented in conservation. Defined by Florida Natural Areas Inventory , this designation applies if less than 15% of the original extent of that community is currently found on existing conservation lands. These habitats should be included in conservation and land management planning to preserve and maintain their unique biodiversity of plants and animals.

Osceola County is home to Florida black bears and the iconic Florida Panther. These wide-ranging species need large open areas with diverse habitats to survive and thrive. Those same habitats contribute to the county’s economy through ecotourism and outdoor recreation.

Several other threatened and endangered species: the Crested Caracara, Eastern Black Rail, Everglade Snail Kite, Red-cockaded Woodpecker and Wood Stork. The Eastern Indigo Snake and Florida Bonneted Bat are also found here. Osceola County contains designated critical habitat for the Bonneted Bat. To learn more, see the Osceola County dashboard for threatened and endangered species.

000,000 acres (000) in South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD)

000,000 acres (000) in St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD)

SFWMD flows to the Everglades and SJRWMD flows to St. Johns River, one of the most significant and the longest river in Florida with its headwaters in Indian River County to its mouth in the Atlantic Ocean near Jacksonville.

Proper water management supports recreational activities, tourism, and local economies dependent on healthy aquatic environments. It can also contribute to community resilience against droughts, hurricanes, and other natural hazards.

000,000 acres of lakes and wetlands

000,000 miles of rivers and streams

The Kissimmee Chain of Lakes is in Osceola County and is comprised of four major lakes: Kissimmee (the largest lake in Osceola County), Tohopekaliga, Cypress, and Hatchineha. The chain forms the headwaters of Lake Okeechobee, the Everglades, and Florida Bay.

Proper management of lakes can help reduce debris and pollutants and protect and improve water quality. Visit the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to learn about the plan that would help guide future management of the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes.

Visit the Florida Atlas of Lakes to learn about the water quality of lakes in and near Osceola County.

A sufficient and clean water supply is important for our individual health, and the health of our communities and ecosystems. Investments in water planning and management ensure safe recreational activities, support local agriculture and maintain biological diversity.

The 2020 Central Florida Water Initiative (CFWI) Regional Water Supply Plan (RWSP), covering a 5,300 square mile area, was jointly developed by three water management districts and various stakeholders to address water supply planning. Read the full report to learn about strategies to ensure our water supply meets future needs.

The National Risk Index (NRI), developed by FEMA, assesses community vulnerability to natural hazards like hurricanes. Understanding the physical, social, economic, and environmental factors helps reduce risk, enhance resilience, and improve community safety during natural disasters.

How vulnerable to natural hazards is Osceola County compared with the rest of the U.S.?

Hurricane Risk Index
Osceola County’s Hurricane Risk Index rating is CALCULATING when compared to the rest of the U.S. 000% of U.S. counties have a lower Risk Index.

Expected Annual Loss due to Hurricane
The expected yearly loss due to Hurricanes for Osceola County is CALCULATING with a total value of $000,000,000.

Social Vulnerability
Vulnerable social groups in Osceola County, such as those 150% below the poverty line or aged 65 & older, have a CALCULATING susceptibility to the adverse impacts of natural hazards when compared to the rest of the U.S.

Community Resilience
The ability of communities in Osceola County to prepare for natural hazards and recover rapidly from disruptions from natural disasters is CALCULATING.

00,000 of 00,000 acres (000%) are in a 100-year flood plain, a designation used to assess flood risk and inform land use planning, insurance rates, and disaster preparedness efforts.

00,000 of those 00,000 acres are in low- or moderate-income areas.

00,000 of 00,000 acres (000%) are in a 500-year flood plain.

00,000 of those 00,000 acres are in low- or moderate-income areas.

Intense rainfall and higher chances of severe weather events due to climate change may increase the frequency and extent of potential floods.

To address these growing risks, communities must strengthen their flood resilience and preparedness measures.

00,000 of 00,000 acres (000%) are in the Wildland Urban Interface and may be more vulnerable to fire risks and hazards.

00,000 of those 00,000 acres are low- or moderate-income areas.

The wildland urban interface is where people and wildlands mix. Wildfire is a presence in most natural landscapes. Fire plays an important role in many ecosystems, including some species that depend on periodic fire for regrowth and renewal. Where people live alongside wildlands, we face the challenge of protecting homes and businesses from fire while allowing natural processes to unfold.

Using native plants that require less water and are more resistant to local climate conditions can provide a buffer for the wildland-urban interface. Fuel management and controlled burns can also help return fire to its beneficial role.

Florida is one of the leading states with the greatest number of houses in the wildland urban interface and is at risk of wildfire all year-round.

The Florida Forest Service oversees one of the most active prescribed fire programs in the country. The Nature Conservancy in Florida partners with the Forest Service to implement prescribed fire burns that keep our ecosystems alive and restored.

00,000 HUD-designated Opportunity Zones in Area Name

00,000 people are estimated to live in those Opportunity Zones.

HUD Opportunity Zones have been identified by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for economic investment because they are typically in low-income communities with high poverty and unemployment rates . Implementing strategies that ensure the well-being of communities such as those that reduce displacement and gentrification and create access to recreational space areas for exercise and relaxation are vital to spurring economic development.

00,000 miles of pedestrian trails in Area Name

00,000 acres (000%) lands are used for parks and recreation.

There are 000,000 parks in Area Name.

The 3 biggest parks in the area are:

The following agencies manage parks in the area:

000% of this area was identified as having High or Very High park need by the Trust for Public Land’s ParkServe program. ParkServe analyzes park access within cities and towns across the county.

000,000 acres of lakes may be open for fishing in Area Name.

There are 000,000 lakes in Area Name.

Fishing can help manage species populations and balance ecological services and functions with economic and recreational benefits. For more information about Fish Management Areas, visit the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission .

Osceola County’s Lake Tohopekaliga — Lake Toho — is world renowned for fishing and considered one of the top fishing destinations in the country. Popular species in Lake Toho include largemouth bass, bluegill, redear sunfish, and black crappie.

000,000 acres out of 00,000 (000%) of land dedicated to recreation are used for hunting in Area Name.

Hunting can help manage wildlife populations, preventing overpopulation and maintaining ecological balance. However, in some cases hunting can disturb non-target wildlife and other recreational users of conserved lands.

Proper management can help balance the negative impacts and create a balanced experience for all individuals using conserved lands for recreation.

For more information about Wildlife Management areas, please visit the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Hunting Information page .