ACT & Alachua County Forever Team Up to Conserve 128 Acres along the Upper Santa Fe River

The acquisition protects land in Alachua and Bradford counties along both sides of the river where it first channelizes out of the swamps.

On January 31, ACT and its partners at Alachua County Forever purchased 128 acres of conservation land along the upper Santa Fe River. The property is located on both sides of the river along with a bottomland hardwood forest and is in close proximity to two other properties under conservation easements held by either Alachua County or ACT.  What is especially unique about this property is that it is where the Santa Fe River transitions from small braids of water coming out of the swamps to the east into a distinct channelized, albeit narrow, river. 

The Santa Fe River is an Outstanding Florida Waterway that flows for 75 miles through 7 counties in North Florida before merging into the Suwannee River. The Santa Fe River is a unique system, fed by hundreds of freshwater springs and home to a diversity of wildlife, some endemic only to this area. Protection of the Santa Fe River has been a top priority not only for ACT, but also many of our partners including Alachua County. Protecting land along the Santa Fe River from development not only safeguards North Florida’s drinking water supply, it also protects the water quality of the river itself and the springs that flow into it, and creates a corridor of land for wildlife to roam freely.

Preserving this property adds additional water resource protection along the river, restoration opportunities for longleaf pine habitat, continued management of the existing bottomland hardwood forest, and further expands conservation lands that will protect critical habitat from development. 

Partnerships are often key when potential conservation land becomes available for purchase, especially when the property is located in multiple counties. ACT regularly works with Alachua County Forever to protect land within Alachua County as well as land that has an impact in the area on natural resources that exist throughout multiple counties. As part of this acquisition, ACT raised funds to protect 25 acres in Bradford County, while Alachua County Forever staff utilized funding from the recently renewed Wild Spaces & Public Places Program to acquire the remaining 103 acres located in Alachua County.

“ACT is thankful to our partners at Alachua County Forever for recognizing the importance of conserving land along the Santa Fe River,” said ACT executive director Tom Kay. “Being able to partner with local, state, and federal agencies helps leverage funding sources, such as the Wild Spaces & Public Places Program, with private funds to ensure that Florida’s natural lands and waterways are conserved forever. This acquisition moves us one step closer to protecting all of the remaining large tracts along the Santa Fe River and its tributaries - the key East West wildlife corridor in our region.”

Future plans for the property include longleaf pine habitat restoration and passive public recreation. Thank you to all those who helped make this conservation win for the Santa Fe River possible!

Above Right: Photo of the upper Santa Fe River by Kim Davidson.

ACT Welcomes Seven New Natural Resources Interns for the Spring Semester

In January, ACT welcomed seven new Natural Resource Management Interns for the spring semester! Our interns and their areas of study include:

• Amy N., Natural Resource Conservation & Anthropology
• Courtney C., Sustainability Studies & Criminology
• Tristen L., Wildlife Ecology & Conservation
• Peyton K., Natural Resource Conservation
• Maxwell G., Environmental Science
• Owen K., Sustainability Studies
• Angelica S., Environmental Management

These interns meet twice a week for the duration of the semester, and within this first month, they have accomplished so much, including training and practice with safe chainsaw use and maintenance; herbicide training, and treating hardwoods on Tuscawilla and Prairie Creek preserves; repairing and painting a boardwalk at Prairie Creek; and participation on a prescribed fire.

The goal of the Natural Resources Management Internship is to provide future natural resource professionals with the skills, experiences, tools, and networks that will build a foundation for a career in Natural Resources/Conservation. Our Women in the Woods project is also part of the Natural Resources Internship Program and seeks to provide skills training and networking for women pursuing a career in the Natural Resources field. Throughout the semester, interns will gain experience in invasive species management, trail work, use of power and hand tools, safe herbicide application, carpentry, general preserve maintenance, and prescribed fire. They will also have a chance to network with natural resource professionals through ACT staff and our partners.

For more information on the Natural Resource Management Internship, check out our internships page here or contact Amy Compare at amy@AlachuaConservationTrust.org.

Above: Logo design by Anabel Anderson.

ACT to Honor Community Educators at 2023 Conservation Stewards Awards

Join ACT on Saturday, March 25, 2023, from 5:00-9:00 p.m. for the Annual Conservation Stewards Awards at Prairie Creek Lodge. This event honors individuals in our community who are influential in a wide variety of ways – the arts, historic preservation, and particularly, in protecting our wildlife and natural resources. Past Conservation Stewards Awards have been some of the largest gatherings of community leaders and supporters of wild Florida in the region.

Our theme this year celebrates the profound impact of community educators and their work to inspire future generations. Their devotion to providing educational opportunities to all and empowering young people to find their passion in conservation and their local communities is inspirational. The future of conservation would not be possible without community educators, who work tirelessly to ensure that those they serve have a meaningful understanding of the natural world, its history, and the opportunities for enacting change. Whether in outdoor classrooms at local nature preserves, community centers, or lecture halls, our honorees have made conservation and preservation a component of their work. Please join us in honoring their efforts and recognizing their passion and persistence to shape the past, present, and future of conservation.

2023 Conservation Steward Honorees

Randi Cameon

Richard Hamann

Vivian Filer

All funds from the event will support Alachua Conservation Trust's work towards land conservation. Tickets to the general public will go on sale in mid-February. Tickets will be sold for $80 and include dinner, drinks and a musical performance from Gainesville-based Sooza Brass Band. Become a Conservation 365 Member for early access and discounted tickets here.

Weekly Walk & Talk at Fox Pen Preserve:

Friday, February 3rd from 3 pm - 5 pm

Join ACT staff and partners on a hike of our different nature preserves each week and learn about the ecology, history, and current and future restoration plans.

Full Moon Hike at Orange Lake Overlook (waitlisted)

Saturday, February 4th from 6 pm - 8 pm

Join ACT for a Full Moon Hike at Marjorie A. Hoy Memorial Park at Orange Lake Overlook. There is currently a waitlist for this event.

Weekly Walk & Talk at Prairie Creek Conservation Cemetery:

Friday, February 10th from 3 pm - 5 pm

Join ACT staff and partners on a hike of our different nature preserves each week and learn about the ecology, history, and current and future restoration plans.

Volunteer Workday at Little Orange Creek Preserve:

Saturday, February 11th from 9 am - 12 pm

Join ACT for a volunteer workday to help prep the preserve for the 2023 Swamp Otter Trail Race! Sign up here.

Weekly Walk & Talk at Santa Fe River Preserve:

Friday, February 17th from 3 pm - 5 pm

Join ACT staff and partners on a hike of our different nature preserves each week and learn about the ecology, history, and current and future restoration plans.

Weekly Walk & Talk at Serenola Forest Preserve:

Friday, February 24th from 3 pm - 5 pm

Join ACT staff and partners on a hike of our different nature preserves each week and learn about the ecology, history, and current and future restoration plans.

Great Invader Raider Rally at Serenola Forest Preserve:

Friday, February 25th from 9 am - 1:30 pm

Be a part of the Great Invader Raider Rally by volunteering to remove invasive coral ardisia at Serenola Forest Preserve and enjoy a fun filled after-party at Morningside Nature Center.

Conservation Stewards Awards at Prairie Creek Lodge:

Saturday, March 25, 2023 from 5 pm - 9 pm

Join us for the biggest conservation event of the year! Tickets on sale later this month.

You make conservation possible! 

Thank you for donating your time, money, and energy to making ACT's work a success.

Please donate today - or consider including ACT in your estate planning - to save wild spaces, train the next generation of land stewards, and open up new public preserves to your community.

THANK YOU!

Banner Image: Drip torches at a prescribed burn. Photo taken by ACT Staff.