Conserving Nassau’s Future: CLAM Committee Wraps Up August Reranking Session

Did you know Nassau County has its very own “CLAM”? Not the shellfish, but the Conservation Land Acquisition and Management (CLAM) Program. CLAM is the County’s conservation engine, designed to identify, evaluate, acquire, and manage environmentally sensitive lands that protect our water, wildlife, and quality of life.

On August 21, 2025, the CLAM Committee met for a reranking session. This is where the magic happens. Committee members, staff, and partners come together to evaluate nominated conservation projects across the county.

How CLAM Ranks Land
Every nominated property gets scored using a criteria-based system that looks at habitat, water quality, working lands, and recreation potential. Properties are grouped into Projects, and those projects are ranked as Priority, Eligible, or Non-Eligible. The Priority List means staff can start working with willing landowners, but it is important to note that being on the list does not guarantee funding or acquisition. Instead, it opens the door for conservation conversations.

Public Voices Matter
The August meeting included opportunities for public comment, landowner input, and subject matter expert feedback. These perspectives, combined with updated property scores and conservation network considerations, help the Committee shape its recommendations.

What’s Next
The CLAM Committee finalized a new set of Priority, Eligible, and Non-Eligible projects. This updated list is a recommendation to the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC), who will ultimately decide which projects move forward for negotiation and potential acquisition.

Why It Matters
Every ranking session helps Nassau County focus its limited resources on the lands that provide the biggest benefit, whether that is protecting drinking water, connecting wildlife corridors, preserving working farms and forests, or creating new recreational opportunities.

Want to dive deeper? You can explore CLAM’s interactive conservation map and learn more about the program here: Conservation Land Acquisition & Management (CLAM).

Together, we are building a stronger, greener Nassau County for generations to come.