Highlighting Some of Conservation Florida’s Recent Land Protection Projects and Initiatives

The H2O: Headwaters to Okeechobee

The Everglades Headwaters Watershed forms the boundary for H2O, a regional protection initiative in the Florida Everglades that’s all about water.

With your support, Conservation Florida is conserving landscapes that span Orange, Osceola, Lake, Highlands, Glades, St. Lucie, Martin, and Polk counties. All are vital for the long-term protection of Florida’s freshwater supply.

Land protection and water protection are intertwined in Florida’s landscapes. At a time when Florida is facing intense development pressures, ranchlands are sought for conversion into large housing developments and planned communities. As a result, Conservation Florida is working with ranchers to protect water, wildlife, and wildlife corridors. Ranchlands in the Northern Everglades remain a top protection priority within H2O: Headwaters to Okeechobee.

Conservation Florida is protecting thousands of acres in the Northern Everglades. The conservation projects that our efforts are targeting in this region help filter surface water flowing from the north before it reaches Lake Okeechobee. In addition to contributing to the clean-drinking water supply for millions of people, the land provides shelter for many species of neotropical birds during their spring and fall migrations. It is also estimated that more than 50% of all habitat used by panthers in the Northern Everglades is on private lands.

Gissy Springs & Rainbow River Ranch

Located within the Rainbow River Corridor, these two privately owned properties span 4,620 feet of undeveloped shoreline and contain at least 13 springs that flow into the Rainbow River. Overuse, septic waste, and pollution pose serious threats to the health of this river, which is one of the longest spring runs in the world.

While not open to the public, Gissy Springs is located between Rainbow Springs State Park and State Campground. Once protected, it will connect the current northern and southern parcels of the park. The Rainbow River Ranch is located along the park’s southern boundary.

Conserving these parcels offers a rare opportunity to complete a corridor of protected lands along the beautiful Rainbow River. Further, the project will provide potential restoration of altered habitats along the riverbank to support wildlife and maintain water quality.

Eagle Haven

Eagle Haven is an ecological gem, spanning 2,909 acres that include four miles of Lake Kissimmee shoreline. Formerly named Lost Oak, this area contains six different habitats for roughly 200 species, including the beloved Florida scrub-jay. Meanwhile, 300-year-old live oaks dot the landscape while Eagle Haven’s swamps and marshes work around the clock to purify water for the Kissimmee River. Conservation Florida is currently seeking donations to acquire a conservation easement and ensure the permanent protection of this critical habitat.

Santa Fe River

Thanks to a generous donation and conservation easement by landowners Dale and Helen Lundgren, Alachua County has gained a new 236-acre preserve held by two land trusts. After years of negotiations, Conservation Florida, Alachua Conservation Trust, and Alachua County have been able to make the Lundgrens’ dream of protecting their cherished family land a reality. This remarkable, pristine habitat in the Upper Santa Fe River basin will be enjoyed as a public preserve by many generations to come.

Lake Marion Preserve

In 2021, an anonymous conservation buyer allowed Conservation Florida to quickly outbid a developer to purchase 700+ acres of high-priority property on Lake Marion in Polk County. The significance of this location cannot be overstated. Lake Marion Preserve falls within the boundaries of Conservation Florida’s H2O: Headwaters to Okeechobee and contains federally listed and state-listed plants and animals, including a rare habitat known as Rosemary Scrub. As habitat management is undertaken on the Preserve, experts predict more listed species will return to the area.

Arbuckle Creek Ranch

Arbuckle Creek Ranch is important to protect and beneficial to the public because it helps filter and replenish drinking water within the Lake Istokpoga watershed, which drains into the Kissimmee River and on to Lake Okeechobee. It also supports local agriculture, aids military readiness at Avon Park Air Force Range, and provides habitat for native plants and wildlife. At 1,250 acres and with over a mile of creek frontage, Arbuckle Creek contributes to the health of the entire Greater Everglades Ecosystem and adds to the Florida Wildlife Corridor.

XL Ranch Lightsey Cove

With exceptional habitat, such as wet prairie, scrub, and cutthroat grass, this 537-acre property is a high protection priority. Located on the northwest edge of Lake Istokpoga, the landscape offers a glimpse of prehistoric Florida with ancient oak hammocks and sand pine scrub scattered among vibrant marshes and endangered grasslands.

AP Ranch

The protection of AP Ranch will add 1,009 acres of critical conservation land to the Florida Wildlife Corridor. In addition to being a working family ranch, this outstanding property contains a mosaic of natural habitats. Towering longleaf pine covers swaths of wire grass and saw palmettos. The area’s dominating flatwoods intertwine with native grasses and rare plant species to create a classic example of Florida’s natural beauty.

D Ranch Preserve

Once a historic cattle ranch, D Ranch Preserve is now a haven for wildlife. Thanks to a generous donation, Conservation Florida owns the 476-acre preserve in Volusia County and has completed a plan for its future and the restoration of its important native habitats. Restoration is underway, and work has begun to prepare the land for a controlled burn, which will help the native plant communities on the property thrive. In addition, our team is working to remove invasive species, plant native plants, and create trails.

D Ranch Preserve is not open to the public, but Conservation Florida regularly hosts guided tours and public events on the property. To receive special event invitations and to be notified of volunteer opportunities at the preserve, visit our website at conserveflorida.org, and sign up for email updates.

Learn more about D Ranch Preserve

Every drop of water and acre saved helps secure Florida’s Conservation Future.

Your support is vital in the mission to keep Florida wildly beautiful. Help Conservation Florida save our state’s natural habitats by donating today! Call (352) 376-4770 for more information, or email info@conserveflorida.org.