Saving land to protect water
With your support, Conservation Florida is working to conserve landscapes that will provide long-term protection for Florida’s Springs. Below, we share two examples of how your support is saving land to protect water.
Manatees in a clear Florida spring. Photo by Mac Stone.
A diver explores Meeting House, a cavern located in the Wakulla Springs Protection Zone. Photo by Andreas Hagberg.
Wakulla Springs
Because of you, Wakulla Caves is now a part of the Wakulla Springs State Park.
Wakulla Caves forms a critical link between other protected lands in the Wakulla Springs Protection Zone.
Wakulla Caves has been a high priority on the State’s land protection list for over two decades. Thanks to you, strong partnerships, a generous landowner, and funding from Florida Forever and the U.S. Forest Legacy Program, this special property will now be protected forever.
Conservation Florida successfully negotiated the acquisition, secured a purchase agreement, worked with partners to obtain funding, and advocated for its protection before the Florida Cabinet. In July, Cabinet members voted unanimously to approve funding to complete the purchase. On November 22, the property became permanently protected!
The 717-acre property is essential to the health of Wakulla Springs. It has at least 13 karst sinks, which store water and feed the springs. Wakulla Springs is a National Natural Landmark and one of the largest and deepest freshwater springs in the world. In addition to providing essential water quality benefits to Wakulla Springs and the Big Bend Seagrasses Aquatic Preserve along St. Mark’s shores in the Apalachee Bay, the sinks provide entry into a vast underground cave and tunnel network that has long been a destination for cave divers. The site also harbors several rare animals, including three crustaceans that live in the aquatic caves, and a historic cemetery.
Our work in the Wakulla Springs Protection Zone isn’t done! Other parcels are vulnerable to development. Your support enables us to continue our work to protect land above the underground conduits that are essential to the long-term preservation of Wakulla Springs.
“After more than 20 years of working with state agencies, Conservation Florida brought a renewed sense of optimism and understanding to negotiations that finally resulted in a deal. I couldn’t be happier for the legacy of my family than to have the amazing water resources of this property in public ownership.”
Silver Springs
Your sustained support is making a big difference for this Florida gem.
With your help over the last five years, Conservation Florida has successfully built a land protection buffer zone for Silver Springs in Marion County. Our latest project is located within the Heather Island/Ocklawaha River Florida Forever Project boundary.
Your ongoing support makes this type of multi-year, multi-phase project possible. This is your support in action!
Silver Springs Forest Conservation Area
Your 2015 Conservation Success
Your support helped us lead efforts to protect the 4,900-acre Silver Springs Forest Conservation Area. To save Silver Springs Forest, we entered into a contract with Rayonier and coordinated with the St. Johns River Water Management District to buy the property. We then raised $488,000 to close a funding gap, save the land, and leverage $11 million in state and federal funds for the purchase. Funding partners included the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, the Forest Legacy Program, the Felburn Foundation, the Moskovitz Foundation, and individual donors like you.
Silver Springs Sandhill
Your 2017 Conservation Success
Thanks again to you, Conservation Florida facilitated its second project within the Silver Springs Protection Zone. Known as Silver Springs Sandhill, the 365-acre property was bought by the state with funding from the Florida Forever program, and it is being managed by Marion County Parks and Recreation. Conservation Florida conducted the negotiations and signed a purchase option with multiple owners of the property, which was slated to be developed with 1600 housing units.
Rainey Pasture is a critical link in Conservation Florida’s Silver Springs Protection Zone project.
Rainey Pasture
Your Support in Action Now
Your ongoing support is helping us close in on the protection of Rainey Pasture. This is the most important “missing piece” in Conservation Florida’s Silver Springs Protection Zone plan. Once protected, a continuous link will be formed between the Indian Lake State Forest, Silver Springs Forest Conservation Area, the Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway, Silver Springs State Park, and the Ocala National Forest! See illustration 4 on the opposite page.
Protection of this 5,200-acre property will also provide a buffer from development on the west side of the Ocklawaha River. Our partners include the Florida DEP, the Florida Forest Service, and the U.S. Forest Legacy Program.
