CTF Project: 4th Adams Ranch easement protects 3,245 acres

GAINESVILLE, Florida (July 31, 2017) – Today, the Conservation Trust for Florida (CTF), a leader in statewide conservation, announced the protection of 3,245 acres of conservation and ranch lands in Osceola County.

The property contains over 400 acres of rare dry prairie habitat suitable for the federally endangered grasshopper sparrow. Other significant natural areas include, wetland prairie, marsh, freshwater forested wetland, unimproved pasture and mixed scrub habitats.

Adams Ranch, Photo by Randy Batista

The project also supports Florida’s ranching heritage and agriculture industry. According to the Florida Cattleman’s Association, Florida is the nation’s oldest cattle ranching state and ranks in the top 15 for production.

A conservation easement will allow the land to stay in private ownership while permanently protecting its conservation values. The easement was purchased by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (DACS) for $5.4 million. The Florida Forest Service will monitor the property to ensure compliance with the terms of the easement.

“This is the 30th easement on over 28,400 acres that the program has acquired since 2010 on behalf of the Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund of the State of Florida,” said John Browne, land programs administrator with DACS’s Rural and Family Lands Protection Program. “It continues our tradition of sustaining family-owned agricultural properties that also provide significant value to Florida’s large conservation landscapes.”

Conservation easements are voluntary, legal agreements between a landowner and a land trust or government agency that protect conservation values and existing land uses. Landowners may continue to own and use land as permitted by the easement, sell it, donate it, or pass it on to heirs. If the land is inherited or sold the easement and its restrictions stay in place.

Owned by the Adams Ranch, which has been in operation since the 1930s, the property is the fourth parcel the Adams family has placed under a conservation easement.

Mike Adams, president of the Adams Ranch, said that the 24,000-acre ranch has been in his family for four generations. “This is our third time working with CTF, which has played a pivotal role in protecting the land that our entire family, and especially our father, Bud Adams, holds dear.”

“With this closing, CTF will have helped the Adams protect 5,443 acres of their ranch over the last three years. I can think of no other legacy that honors the life and work of Bud Adams better than this, and CTF is proud and grateful to be a part of that,” added Lisa Gearen, CTF’s president.”

CTF prepared the application for the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program, facilitated the appraisal process and easement negotiations, and helped the family navigate the complexities of the transaction.

The Adams Ranch is the 12th largest cow/calf operation in the United States. This latest easement is on their Lake Marian Ranch that lies in the heart of the Everglades Headwaters National Wildlife Refuge and Conservation Area. The Refuge seeks to protect the imperiled habitats and rare species of the Northern Everglades.

According to data from the Florida Natural Areas Inventory, a non-profit organization administered by Florida State University, the property contains suitable habitat for a number of state and federally endangered species. A partial list of species that could be supported by habitat on the site includes: gopher tortoises, Eastern indigo snakes, Everglades snail kites, Florida burrowing owls, Florida Sandhill cranes, Florida grasshopper sparrows, Sherman’s fox squirrels and Florida black bears.

CTF Helps Ranching Family Save 1,375 Acres Near Kissimmee River and Lake Okeechobee

Ralph Pelaez with his daughter, Stephanie Pelaez and grandson McKinley on their 1,375-acre ranch in Okeechobee County. Photo by Randy Batista.

Gainesville, Florida (May 1, 2017) – The Conservation Trust for Florida (CTF), a leader in statewide conservation, announced the protection of a 1,375-acre cattle ranch in Okeechobee County.

A conservation easement, purchased by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (DACS) for $3.25 million, now permanently protects the land’s natural resources and sustains the Peleaz & Sons’ agricultural operation.

“This is the 29th easement on over 21,265 acres that the program has acquired since 2010 on behalf of the Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund of the State of Florida and continues our tradition of sustaining family-owned agricultural properties that also provide significant value to Florida’s large conservation landscapes,” noted John Browne, Land Programs Administrator with DACS's Rural and Family Lands Protection Program.

CTF's role

The Conservation Trust for Florida helped the landowner navigate the transaction process, provided real estate expertise and facilitated the easement purchase. The Florida Forest Service will monitor the property to ensure compliance with the terms of the conservation easement.

Pelaez & Sons history

The Pelaez & Sons cow/calf ranch has been in continuous operation since the 1950s when Abel Pelaez came to the United States from Colombia. His son, Ralph Pelaez, now owns the land where he and his family use best management practices to raise their cattle.

“My family has always been committed to ranching and the conservation of this land,” said Pelaez. “I am very grateful to the Conservation Trust for Florida and the Rural and Family Lands Program for helping me establish this legacy for my children and grandchildren.”

Their ranching operation is a model and is visited annually by the University of Florida beef production class for educational purposes.

In addition to its agricultural features, the property has high conservation value. Ecological communities include pastureland, wet prairie, prairie hammock and freshwater marsh.

Conservation values

Located east of the Kissimmee River and eight miles north of Lake Okeechobee, the property is in a key location for watershed protection. It is adjacent to a federal wetlands reserve program easement and is near South Florida Water Management District conservation lands.

It is also home to, and contains suitable habitat for, many species such as the Eastern Indigo snake, Crested Caracara, Sandhill Crane, Gopher Tortoise, Sherman’s Fox Squirrel, Bald Eagle, Southeastern American Kestrel, Burrowing Owl, Wood Stork, and Florida Grasshopper Sparrow.

What is a conservation easement?

Conservation easements are voluntary, legal agreements between a landowner and a land trust or government agency that protect conservation values. Landowners may continue to own and use land, sell it, donate it, or pass it on to heirs, but the easement ‘runs with the land.’ If the land is inherited or sold the easement and its restrictions stay in place.

CTF Project: Cabinet approves purchase of 365 acres in Marion County

The Conservation Trust for Florida announced today a second land conservation victory in Marion County. Thanks to today’s approval by Governor Rick Scott and the Florida Cabinet, 365 acres in Ocala will be acquired with funding from the Florida Forever program.

The site, known as Silver Springs Sandhill, will be purchased by the state and managed by Marion County Parks and Recreation. The application to Florida Forever was submitted by Marion County.

In January, the Conservation Trust for Florida finalized negotiations and signed a purchase option with the multiple owners of the Silver Springs Sandhill site, which was slated to be developed with 1600 housing units. The option will now be assigned to the state and the purchase will be completed later this year. In 2015, the land trust negotiated a similar deal with Rayonier and the St. John’s River Water Management District to protect the 4,900-acre Silver Springs Forest Conservation Area in Marion County.

Silver Springs Sandhill is a crucial piece of Central Florida’s larger conservation puzzle. The property adds to a protective buffer around the iconic Silver Springs — one of the largest artesian spring systems in the world. The property also connects to Indian Lake State Forest and Marion County's Coehadjoe Park.

As its name implies, the property’s soil is sandy, making it an excellent aquifer recharge site. In addition to benefiting water quality and quantity, the site will offer public recreation opportunities and contribute to Ocala’s growing popularity as an ecotourism destination.

Central Florida is becoming one of Florida’s largest conservation hubs, where an estimated 500,000 acres of connected, publicly-owned conservation lands entice visitors and protect springs, rivers, groundwater and wildlife.

Lisa Gearen, president of the Conservation Trust for Florida’s board of directors said, “This is exactly the kind of project that we love. It brings together partners around a common goal and truly enhances the conservation value of surrounding lands. It’s exciting to be part of this success and partner with local government. We expect to be doing more of that in the future.”

CTF Announces Addition to Everglades Headwaters Refuge

Adding Pieces to the Puzzle

The Conservation Trust for Florida announced the protection of 2,198 acres of important habitat and working ranchland in the Everglades Headwaters National Wildlife Refuge and Conservation Area by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Florida Forest Service, a division of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

Adams Ranch, Inc. provides stewardship of a landscape-sized wildlife corridor connecting other managed lands. Photo by Carlton Ward / carltonward.com

The USFWS purchased a 662-acre conservation easement from Adams Ranch, Inc., in a transaction facilitated by the Conservation Trust for Florida. The purchase protects one of the last remaining grassland and longleaf pine savanna landscapes in eastern North America. It was funded by the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which was recently reauthorized by Congress.

Additionally, the Florida Forest Service purchased a 1,536-acre conservation easement from the ranch, which builds upon previous protection efforts funded by the Rural and Family Lands Program.

About the Adams Ranch

The 24,000-acre Adams Ranch is located between the Three Lakes Wildlife Management Area, Avon Park Air Force Range, Kissimmee Prairie State Preserve and the St. Johns River. The property is situated within the heart of the national wildlife refuge and the Kissimmee River Basin, where significant hydrologic restoration is ongoing to improve water resources critical for Everglades ecological functioning and safe drinking water for South Floridians.

Protected habitat on the ranch includes pine flatwoods, dry prairie and a large forested hammock known as Barber Hammock. Dry prairie is a globally-imperiled habitat found only in subtropical Florida and is characterized by nearly treeless plains rich in grassy vegetation. Home to the endangered Florida grasshopper sparrow and other species of special concern, the quality and extent of remaining dry prairie habitat continues to decline as a result of conversion to other land uses.

In addition to being part of a growing network of protected lands forming a large wildlife corridor, these recent purchases could help with recovery of the Florida panther. The ranch also has resources related to historical events dating back to the Civil War.

Collaborating with Ranches

Privately owned ranches in Florida, such as the Adams Ranch, are becoming increasingly more valuable for conservation as the state's population continues to climb. Many ranchers have preserved the natural resources and ecological sustainability of their land for generations. The Conservation Trust for Florida works with landowners whose properties are located within a network of conservation priority areas to implement projects that protect agricultural, wildlife and water resources.

"Florida's ranch families are leading the way in terms of how Florida's natural resources are being protected for future generations."
– David Houghton, president, National Wildlife Refuge Association

The Conservation Trust for Florida was joined in its work with the Adams Ranch and the USFWS by the National Wildlife Refuge Association, which supports the Everglades Headwaters National Wildlife Refuge and Conservation Area in Florida and other wildlife refuges nationwide by working in Washington D.C. to secure funding and support for the USFWS.

"This is land and water conservation at its best," said David Houghton, president of the National Wildlife Refuge Association. "Florida's ranch families are leading the way in terms of how Florida's natural resources are being protected for future generations."

"It's an honor for Adams Ranch to protect land as part of the Everglades Headwaters National Wildlife Refuge" said Mike Adams, president of Adams Ranch, Inc. "We take pride in our management of Florida's natural resources, as well as our cattle, and conservation easements will allow our succeeding generations to enjoy this heritage as well."

"The Conservation Trust for Florida congratulates the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in its efforts to build a network of conservation lands in the Kissimmee River basin that will protect scenic landscapes, water resources and the ranching heritage for future generations" said Susan Carr, executive director of the Conservation Trust for Florida. "Families like the Adams are leaders in the ranching industry, which is important to our economy. Their dedication to keeping these large ranches intact will preserve Florida's unique ranching lifestyle and provide essential habitat for wildlife."

"Our agency is proud to have worked with the Adams and three other ranches in this Everglades Headwaters region to protect historic, environmentally significant ranchlands in the path of development so that Florida may enjoy its agricultural successes and secure its landscapes and open space,"
– Jim Karels, director, Florida Forest Service

"These conservation easement partnerships leverage resources and enhance efforts to protect Florida's natural habitat while helping farmers and ranchers keep their land in agriculture," noted Roney Gutierrez, assistant state conservationist for the Natural Resource Conservation Service's Florida Easements Program.

Rural and Family Lands Protection Programs in Action

The Conservation Trust for Florida collaborated with the Florida Forest Service on its Adams Ranch conservation easement purchase using Florida's highly successful Rural and Family Lands Protection Program. Additional funding for this transaction was provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service's Agricultural Conservation Easement Program.

Created in 2001, the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program protects Florida's valuable agricultural lands through conservation easements that ensure sustainable agricultural practices and reasonable protection of the environment without interfering with the continued economic viability of agricultural operations.

Created in 2014, the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program provides nationwide financial assistance to partners for purchasing conservation easements that protect the agricultural use and conservation values of eligible land, helping farmers and ranchers keep their land in agriculture.

Conservation Florida Negotiates Acquisition of Silver Springs Forest

Gainesville, Fla., Sept. 8, 2015 - Conservation Florida, a nonprofit land trust, has negotiated the acquisition of almost 4,900 acres directly north of Silver Springs State Park as part of its statewide strategy to protect land with high conservation value.

The property, called Silver Springs Forest, is within the Silver Springs watershed and will help recharge the Floridan Aquifer and reduce nutrient pollution entering the Silver and Oklawaha rivers. It will also provide a vital link between other protected lands, creating more habitat for wildlife and recreational opportunities for visitors to Florida's parks.

Other benefits include hydrologic restoration that will result in water quality improvement and opportunities for water storage. The property provides habitat for the Florida black bear and other wildlife and links Indian Lake State Forest, Silver Springs State Park, the Cross Florida Greenway and District-managed lands to the Ocala National Forest.

The St. Johns River Water Management District will purchase the property from Rayonier Inc. and manage the land in accordance with the District's mission to protect and ensure the sustainable use of water resources.

To complete the $11.5 million land deal and create Silver Springs Forest, Conservation Florida must raise nearly $1 million to assist the District with acquisition costs.

"The Silver Springs Forest project is a huge step forward in the Conservation Florida's effort to protect private forests close to Silver Springs," said president Susan Carr. "Partners are essential to the success of large conservation initiatives and, in this case, we are fortunate to have the District's strong commitment to improving the health of Florida's springs and Rayonier's history of placing its most environmentally significant lands into conservation."

"The Silver Springs Forest project is a huge step forward in the Conservation Trust for Florida's effort to protect private forests close to Silver Springs," – Susan Carr, President of the Board of Directors

Funding for the project will come from the District, with additional financial support from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection's springs protection program and from Conservation Florida's fundraising efforts.

"This partnership acquisition allows us to contemplate restoration projects that will benefit Silver Springs and provides a valuable opportunity to preserve and possibly enhance groundwater recharge close to the spring," said Board Vice Chairman Fred N. Roberts Jr., of Ocala. "Also, linking thousands of acres of public lands will provide additional recreational opportunities in the region and creates a 20-mile migratory corridor that will enhance wildlife habitat."

"Collaboration between state and local partners is key to reaching our restoration goals. DEP is proud to be a partner on this important acquisition that will reduce nitrate loading to Silver Springs, as well as provide vital aquifer recharge to benefit the springs' flow," said DEP Secretary Jon Steverson. "Addressing both water quality and quantity will further our efforts to protect this spring."

"Rayonier is proud to have partnered with the District and Conservation Florida to make the conservation of this land permanent. Florida's forests are important to the health of its aquifers, springs and rivers, and maintaining the health of these systems is critical to the vibrant future of Florida," said Callie DeHaven, conservation manager for TerraPointe Services, Rayonier's real estate services subsidiary. "Land, stewarded by Rayonier foresters for many years, provides a key piece in this conservation landscape connecting the state forest, state park, greenway and a national forest - an important win for Silver Springs and for all Florida citizens."

"In 2006, Marion County supported the purchase of the Indian Lake State Forest as a critical step in the protection of Silver Springs," said Marion County Commission Chairman Stan McClain. "Today, the county stands with Conservation Florida and our agency partners in celebrating the next phase of protecting the springs - a land purchase that will connect the currently isolated state forest with a vast network of public conservation lands for our area's wildlife and world-class outdoor recreational opportunities."

"Today, the county stands with Conservation Florida and our agency partners in celebrating the next phase of protecting the springs - a land purchase that will connect the currently isolated state forest with a vast network of public conservation lands for our area's wildlife and world-class outdoor recreational opportunities." – Marion County Commission Chairman Stan McClain

The protection of the property has national significance. The Silver Springs Forest project ranked fourth nationally out of more than 50 competing projects in the President's 2016 budget proposal for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Legacy Program, which supports state efforts to protect forestlands.

CTF Projects Make Top Tier

A Great Day for Projects!

On September 3rd, the Florida Forest Service’s Rural and Family Lands Protection Program (RFLPP) Selection Committee met all day in Bartow to rank 70 applications for funding next year.

The Rural and Family Lands program protects agricultural lands from conversion to non-agricultural land uses, and secondarily protects conservation values important to the landowner and the Florida Forest Service.

The Conservation Trust for Florida was affiliated with 11 of the 70 applications. Of these 11 projects, which total over 54,800 acres, seven properties were ranked in the top tier and will be eligible for funding next year.

We worked with the landowners of these seven top-tier properties, which total over 45,000 acres. These projects are dispersed throughout Peninsular Florida and include forests surrounding north Florida springs and ranches in the Everglades Headwaters region.

We are one step closer to achieving our goal of protected rural lands and intact wildlife corridors!

Our ranked projects are:

• Adams Ranch, Osceola County (24,000 acres)
• Rainey Pasture, Marion County (5,100 acres)
• Heart Bar IV Ranch, Osceola County (5,000 acres)
• Double C Bar Ranch, Osceola County (4,100 acres)
• Sampala Lake Ranch, Madison County (2,200 acres)
• Canaan Ranch, Gilchrist County (3,200 acres)
• Todd Clemons Unit One, Okeechobee County (1,900 acres)

These seven projects were selected by the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program for their top tier, which makes them eligible for funding next year.

Advocate for Amendment 1

Legislation Needed to Fulfill Amendment 1

Solitude at Sunrise • Silver River State Park. ©John Moran, johnmoranphoto.com

In November, Florida voters overwhelmingly approved Amendment 1, the Water and Land Conservation Amendment. The Amendment dedicates 33% of the existing excise tax on documents for the next 20 years to the Land Acquisition Trust Fund to acquire, restore, improve and manage conservation lands.

This was an incredible win for conservation in Florida, but the victory will not be complete until elected leaders implement legislation that will fund land conservation using this dedicated stream of funding.

You can help!

Right now your legislative leaders are gearing up for the upcoming Legislative Session, which begins on March 3. They are holding committee and planning meetings now and need to hear from their constituents on this issue.

Please take a moment to contact your state representative and senator and tell them that you, along with 75% of all voters in the state of Florida, agree that the purpose of Amendment 1 is to revive state spending to its highest allowable limits for existing land and water conservation programs that has not been supplied by the Legislature in recent years.

Find Your Legislators

You can find contact information for your state representative and senator here: http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Representatives/myrepresentative.aspx

More Resources

The Conservation Trust for Florida is a member of Florida’s Water and Land Legacy. This coalition of civic organizations and businesses maintains an excellent website with tools, background information, and updates.

• For talking points, click here: http://floridawaterlandlegacy.org/sections/page/talkingpoints
• For a legislative toolkit, which includes helpful tips on setting up effective meetings with your legislators, click here: http://floridawaterlandlegacy.org/sections/page/legitoolkit
• For sample text, click here: http://floridawaterlandlegacy.org/sections/action/takeaction

Little Orange Creek Preserve

The 1,900-acre Little Orange Creek Preserve (LOCP) is located just northeast of the City of Hawthorne. Much of LOCP is basin swamp with cypress, tupelo, and red maple trees. The uplands were historically sandhill and flatwoods, but were converted to planted pine many years ago. The varied habitats support a wonderful diversity of animals and plants. Bears have often been photographed by trail cameras, and they are known to traverse the preserve. Other predators that roam freely include bobcats, coyotes, and otters. The freshwater marshes and swamps add to important stopovers for migratory birds along the Atlantic Flyway. They also provide critical year-round habitat for many wetland-dependent plant and animal species.

Although recreational opportunities on the property are extremely limited, eventually there will be a network of trails that connect with the adjacent City of Hawthorne’s Little Orange Creek Nature Park. There also is considerable work ahead to return these lands to a more natural state. The restoration and management of LOCP will be coordinated between the various government and non-profit organizations involved. Uplands restoration will include thinning, prescribed burns, and planting.

Conservation Trust for Florida (CTF) and Alachua Conservation Trust (ACT) with help from other partners associated with the North Florida Wetlands Conservation Project (NFWCP) acquired an important 390-acre addition to the 1,900-acre complex of conservation lands known as Little Orange Creek Preserve early in 2013. CTF, ACT, the Putnam Land Conservancy (PLC), and the City of Hawthorne are members of the Little Orange Creek Partners Land Management Committee. The purchase was made possible with federal funds from the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA), and represents another successful partnership of the NFWCP to apply this funding source in the region. To date, more than 8000-acres have been protected in the first four phases of the NFWCP, which will complement tens of thousands of acres of nearby conservation lands, including Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park (~21,000 acres), Lochloosa Wildlife Conservation Area (~28,000 acres), and others. Previous NFWCP phases include: Kanapaha Prairie Preserve, Tuscawilla Preserve, Barr Hammock Preserve, Levy Lake/Whitehurst tract, and Little Orange Creek Preserve (western part).

Nayfield Acres Conservation Easement

The conservation easement on the Nayfield’s property helps protect the Suwannee River watershed. Your support helps CTF manage such conservation easements across the state.

The 136-acre Nayfield Acres Conservation Easement adds to protected lands within the Suwannee River corridor. The land is adjacent to the Big Shoals Conservation Area, and contains a seepage spring and creek system that drains into the Suwannee River. These lands serve as a buffer to the protected state lands by providing additional wildlife habitat, protecting water quality, and preventing soil erosion, as well as providing scenic amenity to the hiking trails located within Big Shoals Conservation Area.The Nayfields have begun to restore the cleared portions of the property by planting long leaf pine. The property is used for recreational activities such as camping, hiking, hunting, and wildlife viewing.

Harzig Santa Fe Conservation Easement

Large, privately held, undeveloped parcels with significant river frontage on the Santa Fe River are a rarity today. These parcels are significant for many reasons, including protecting water resources, providing habitat to important species, and providing scenic amenity and open space in an increasingly developed landscape. The Hartzogs chose to donate a conservation easement on their 117-acre parcel on the Santa Fe River to protect these qualities on their land.

The Hartzogs are working to restore native long leaf pines to part of the property, and plan to use the property in a recreational and educational manner. They hope to be able to share their property with individuals who have limited contact with nature or who are handicapped.

Webber Cedar Lakes Ranch & Nature Preserve

The Webber Cedar Lakes Ranch and Nature Preserve Conservation Easement, donated to CTF on December 23, 2008, is a 54-acre parcel owned by Dr. Raymond T. Webber. The karst topography and nature of the property makes it a significant contributor to protecting water quality and quantity in Levy County, Florida, and the surrounding region. The property is adjacent to Devil’s Den, a spring, and popular diving destination.

One of the management goals is to maximize wildlife habitat of the woods and eliminate invasive exotic vegetation.

CTF Project Moves Forward: Cabinet Approves Adams Ranch

Photo by Carlton Ward

The Conservation Trust for Florida, Inc. is excited to announce that the Governor and Cabinet approved the option to purchase a conservation easement on 1,536 acres of the Adams Ranch on Tuesday, December 9th!  
The Conservation Trust facilitated a joint acquisition project for the Florida Forest Service and the Natural Resource Conservation Service to purchase the conservation easement on the ranch. 

Adams Ranch, Inc. is the 12th largest cow/calf operation in the United States.  Their 24,000-acre Lake Marian Ranch lies in the heart of the recently authorized Everglades Headwaters National Wildlife Refuge and Conservation Area.  This refuge seeks to protect the imperiled habitats and rare species of the Northern Everglades, much of which is on some of Florida’s largest ranches.
   
Adams Ranch not only manages a world-class cow/calf operation, but they are also tremendous stewards of a native landscape of hammocks, southern longleaf pine flatwoods, rare dry prairie, and a landscape-sized wildlife corridor connecting other managed lands.