The Southwest Florida Water Management District's Governing Board Tuesday approved an agreement with Polk County as part of a plan to protect and preserve thousands of acres of environmentally sensitive land.
The District and the county have agreed to jointly acquire the parcel, which is approximately 3,509 acres, for $7.369 million. Polk County will provide $2 million while the District will provide $5.369 million. Funds for the District's portion of the purchase are available through the Florida Forever Trust Fund. The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) had previously purchased a conservation easement for much of the land. The NRCS will close on an easement for the remaining portion of the land before the District and Polk County can acquire the entire parcel.
The tract of land is located in the important aquifer recharge area in Polk County known as the Lake Wales Ridge within the headwaters of the Crooked Lake drainage basin.
The property provides a number of water resource and ecological benefits to the Ridge region, including aquifer recharge, flood storage, water quality protection and a relatively undisturbed habitat buffer to Crooked Lake, which is one of the largest lakes within the Lake Wales Ridge and is the only designated Outstanding Florida Water in Polk County.
This acquisition will allow for the restoration of the natural flow on the property by filling ditches that discharge to Crooked Lake, which will enhance flood storage, groundwater recharge and water quality.
“This agreement allows the District and County the opportunity to further protect an existing Outstanding Florida Water and restore and enhance important water and natural resources,”" said Eric Sutton, Land Resources Department assistant director.