_District partnering with Sarasota County on purchase_
The "Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board(Governing Board)":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/about/governingboard approved the acquisition of conservation easements on the Walton and Longino ranches in Sarasota County today, which will link a regional corridor of conservation lands between the Myakka and Peace rivers.
The "District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us and its partners, including the state and Sarasota County, currently own two regional conservation areas. These areas stretch from Sarasota to DeSoto County and total 95,000 and 11,840 acres, respectively. Acquiring the Walton and Longino ranches will provide a critical link between the two areas, which will protect the water resources and wildlife of the region as well as provide recreational benefits to the public.
"These lands are a critical piece in an ecosystem puzzle," said Eric Sutton, District Land Resources director. "This purchase not only creates one of the largest conservation areas in the state, but it leaves a legacy for generations to come."
The ranches are located south of State Road 72, west of the Lewis Longino Preserve and north of the City of North Port. Both ranches feature pastures, marshes, prairies, sloughs, pine flatwoods and hardwood hammocks and are home to a variety of wildlife. The District and Sarasota County are acquiring conservation easements and some fee title over the ranches, protecting a total of 7,698 acres of land. Conservation easements protect the natural resources while allowing continued ranch operations that are compatible with conservation and protection of the resources.
"The region has been working on this acquisition for more than 90 years," said Albert Joerger, Governing Board member. "These are keystone pieces; this is really a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."
The acquisition includes a recreational trail corridor along the southern boundary of the properties, which will ultimately create a public trail from the Myakka River to the Peace River. The county is planning a regional nature park with access to the trail.
The total cost of the acquisition is $37.4 million with the county contributing $11.5 million from its Environmentally Sensitive Lands Protection Program. The District's portion of the acquisition is funded through prior year allocations from the state's Florida Forever Trust Fund.
The Sarasota County Commission unanimously approved the Walton Ranch acquisition at its April 14 meeting and the Longino Ranch acquisition at its meeting today.
The "Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board(Governing Board)":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/about/governingboard approved the acquisition of conservation easements on the Walton and Longino ranches in Sarasota County today, which will link a regional corridor of conservation lands between the Myakka and Peace rivers.
The "District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us and its partners, including the state and Sarasota County, currently own two regional conservation areas. These areas stretch from Sarasota to DeSoto County and total 95,000 and 11,840 acres, respectively. Acquiring the Walton and Longino ranches will provide a critical link between the two areas, which will protect the water resources and wildlife of the region as well as provide recreational benefits to the public.
"These lands are a critical piece in an ecosystem puzzle," said Eric Sutton, District Land Resources director. "This purchase not only creates one of the largest conservation areas in the state, but it leaves a legacy for generations to come."
The ranches are located south of State Road 72, west of the Lewis Longino Preserve and north of the City of North Port. Both ranches feature pastures, marshes, prairies, sloughs, pine flatwoods and hardwood hammocks and are home to a variety of wildlife. The District and Sarasota County are acquiring conservation easements and some fee title over the ranches, protecting a total of 7,698 acres of land. Conservation easements protect the natural resources while allowing continued ranch operations that are compatible with conservation and protection of the resources.
"The region has been working on this acquisition for more than 90 years," said Albert Joerger, Governing Board member. "These are keystone pieces; this is really a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."
The acquisition includes a recreational trail corridor along the southern boundary of the properties, which will ultimately create a public trail from the Myakka River to the Peace River. The county is planning a regional nature park with access to the trail.
The total cost of the acquisition is $37.4 million with the county contributing $11.5 million from its Environmentally Sensitive Lands Protection Program. The District's portion of the acquisition is funded through prior year allocations from the state's Florida Forever Trust Fund.
The Sarasota County Commission unanimously approved the Walton Ranch acquisition at its April 14 meeting and the Longino Ranch acquisition at its meeting today.