The Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board Tuesday approved the purchase of two parcels of environmentally sensitive land in the Annutteliga Hammock area of Hernando County.
The first parcel of land is located on the north side of Centralia Road. The 4.43-acre parcel is being purchased for $35,994.
The second parcel of land is also located on the north side of Centralia Road and is 1 mile east of Lalani Lane at the north end of Bareva road in the Royal Highlands area. The parcel is approximately 40 acres and is being purchased for $278,480.
Funding for these purchases comes from the Florida Forever Trust Fund.
Purchasing these parcels of land is consistent with the District’s Florida Forever Work Plan, which specifically identifies the Annutteliga Hammock project. The newly purchased land is near the 2,417 acres of the Annutteliga Hammock currently owned by the District.
The Annutteliga Hammock Project was approved by the District in June 1996. The project consists of environmentally sensitive sand hills and upland hardwood forests (hammocks) in northwestern Hernando County.
This purchase will provide several water management benefits including the preservation or restoration of natural ecosystems and their functions, preservation or enhancement of water quality, and protection of habitats and associated wildlife resources.
The Annutteliga Hammock Project will also create a continuous network of public lands that will be a part of the network including the Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge, the Chassahowitzka Wildlife Management Area, the District’s Chassahowitzka River and Weekiwachee Preserve projects, and the Citrus and Homosassa Tracts of the Withlacoochee State Forest.