Who Owns Land in Coffee Pot Bayou?

A Snell Isle property owner with plans to extend his dock faces a lawsuit from Gov. Rick Scott over ownership of underwater land in Coffee Pot Bayou.

According to the Tampa Bay Times, Attorney General Pam Bondi has filed a lawsuit against Rick and Kelly Ware, arguing that the property is public land.

The Wares own the dock at 181 Brightwaters Blvd. NE, and had planned to extend it.

At issue is an assertion by the Department of Environmental Protection that the submerged land in Coffee Pot Bayou is public. The DEP argues that it is been public land since Florida became a state in 1845.

Ware argues that he can trace private ownership of the property for the past 100 years. 

Ware has asked Mayor Bill Foster and Rep. Jeff Brandes to intervene in his behalf. The city is concerned because submerged land that Ware and other  residents along the Bayou are paying property taxes on may end up being taken off tax rolls.

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