Drew Dixon
The North Florida Land Trust (NFLT) has added another 385 acres of environmentally sensitive land to its conservation portfolio.
The land conservation advocacy group secured the tract of land for protection near Orange Springs. The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) collaborated with the NFLT to purchase the conservation easement on property owned by the O’Connor family. The land is adjacent to the Etoniah and Cross Florida Greenway and connects lands already protected within the state’s Ocala to Osceola (O2O) wildlife corridor.
The O’Connor family had previously sold some 855 acres of land that was dedicated for conservation by the NFLT, which became part of the O2O and the Florida Forever conservation program. That program is also devoted to acquiring tracts of land and converting them into conservation areas.
The latest NFLT purchase of the Putnam County tract from the O’Connor family cost $850,000, and Florida Forever provided the funding for the DEP purchase.
“It was a pleasure working with the O’Connor family once again to ensure their land is protected from the threat of development and will remain natural forever. It is now or never,” said Allison DeFoor, President and CEO of NFLT.
“We brought the property to the attention of DEP, who helped make the preservation possible. This is another example of a willing landowner, a nonprofit, and a government entity working together to preserve a piece of old Florida for generations to enjoy.”
While the majority of the property will be protected, there will be some recreational opportunities on the four parcels of land. The area is a combination of wetlands and uplands, which adds to the aquifer. There are also habitats for a wide variety of wildlife, including the Florida black bear.
The property has been in the O’Connor family for about a century and was initially part of the Ocklawaha Valley Railroad, which ran from Silver Springs Junction to Palatka. As part of the deal, the family will continue some agricultural activity, and one residential structure will be allowed to be constructed on the property.
The NFLT was founded in 1999 as a nonprofit operation with the mission of acquiring and protecting natural habitat throughout a wide area.
