Dickey Properties wants to tear down the Cypress Wetlands along Carrollwood Village Run, to put up a new medical building, parking lot and fast food restaurant.

The wetlands deserve our protection. They are a natural habitat for trees, wildlife and birds.

Over the past half-century, North America has lost more than a quarter of its entire bird population, or around 3 billion birds - according to a new estimate published in the journal Science by researchers who brought together information that has been collected on 529 bird species since 1970.

"Wetlands are among the most productive ecosystems in the world, comparable to rain forests and coral reefs." - EPA Website

Tearing down the wetland area in the neighborhood will increase traffic, pollution, noise from Dale Mabry Highway, as well as depreciate the community. In addition it increases the risk of flooding in an already flood-prone area.

"Wetlands within and downstream of urban areas are particularly valuable, counteracting the greatly increased rate and volume of surface water runoff from pavement and buildings. The holding capacity of wetlands helps control floods.

Wetlands store carbon within their plant communities and soil instead of releasing it to the atmosphere as carbon dioxide. Thus wetlands help to moderate global climate conditions." - EPA Website

If Dickey Properties gets their way, this will set a precedent and all other Cypress Dome Wetlands along Dale Mabry (and anywhere else in Hillsborough County with commercial value) will be at risk.

Help us save these beautiful wetlands and ecosystem by signing your name to this petition!

Thanks so much!