USDA Awards $25 Million for Lake to Lagoon

Regional Conservation Partnership Program

ACT, in collaboration with Volusia County and Stetson University, has been awarded $25 million from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in support of the “Lake to Lagoon” conservation program in Volusia, Lake, and Flagler counties. The new award is part of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP), and one of 81 funded projects totaling $1.1 billion nationwide. This USDA award supports the adoption of research-based land management practices and advances land protection to promote the coastal and inland resilience of East Central Florida.

ACT leads the Lake to Lagoon partnership, which includes state and federal agencies, local government, nonprofit organizations, academic institutions and private stakeholders. Volusia County is the largest contributor, with significant commitments from the County’s Volusia Forever program. The Lake to Lagoon RCPP builds on existing State and County land protection programs to leverage Federal funding for conservation easements to protect environmentally sensitive lands. In addition, it will accelerate Volusia County’s working lands protection program, and will spearhead a new land management program available to regional landowners. Collectively, the RCPP partner organizations bring over $25 million in match contributions to this five-year program, for a combined total commitment of over $50 million. This is the third RCPP award granted to ACT, and builds on existing partnership projects elsewhere in North Central Florida.

"We are thrilled to receive this RCPP award. As one of Florida’s fastest growing areas, the Lake to Lagoon region will benefit from expanded conservation efforts for land and resource protection. We look forward to working with Volusia County, NRCS, Stetson University, and all of the partners to implement this program. It takes the combined efforts of public and private partners to implement large-scale conservation and this project provides the foundation for that effort." - Tom Kay, ACT Executive Director

Land Conservation Projects Receive Springs Funding

In November, the Suwannee River Water Management District (SRWMD) announced that it will receive $13.5 million for projects that will aid in the recovery and protection of Florida's springs within the District. Three land acquisition projects submitted by ACT were approved for funding:

• Bobwhite Sandhill Land Acquisition (Suwannee County) – This 622-acre conservation easement acquisition will help preserve the Troy Peacock Lafayette Blue Falmouth Springshed and benefit the Suwannee Basin Management Action Plan (BMAP).

• Hornsby Horse Pasture Land Acquisition (Alachua County) – This 99-acre conservation easement in the Columbia Hornsby Treehouse Priority Focus Area contains five sinks and will support aquifer recharge efforts near Mill Creek.

• Suwannee River Sandhill Land Acquisition (Suwannee County) – This 630-acre conservation easement acquisition consists of sandhill, wetlands, and restorable uplands in the Troy Peacock Lafayette Blue Falmouth Springshed and provides high recharge to the Floridan Aquifer. 

Our partners at Alachua County were also awarded funding for the acquisition and restoration of 250 acres adjacent to Poe Springs. Overall, seven projects were approved for funding within the District. Of the 23 statewide projects, four approved projects for land acquisition will protect springs along the Suwannee and Santa Fe rivers as well as a critical recharge area near Mill Creek.

REI Recognizes ACT's Efforts to Create Space Outdoors

ACT recently received the exciting news that it was selected as the recipient of a $15,000 grant from the REI Cooperative Action Fund in recognition of its efforts towards creating a more equitable and accessible outdoors. While there is still more work ahead to make our preserves and programs more equitable and accessible for all, we are working towards this goal every day. ACT's Keep Florida Wild Scholarship has awarded eleven scholarships to Black, Indigenous, Latinx, and Multiracial People of Color interested in pursuing a career path in natural resources management or protection of the environment of Florida. Land Management staff and interns have worked to widen trails and boardwalks as well as apply for additional funding to purchase trail vehicles that will make our preserves more accessible to individuals living with disabilities. The annual Pride at Prairie Creek event has become a place for all to come together in nature and in support of the LGBTQIA+ community.

“The REI Cooperative Action Fund was founded on the principle that we can do more together than we can as individuals. Thanks to the generosity of the co-op community—who have collectively made more than a million contributions to the REI Fund—we’ve been able to scale and localize our impact.” - Kristen Ragain, REI Cooperative Action Fund Managing Director

This year, the REI Fund provided a total of $10.1 million in grants to local non-profits. ACT was one of 200 recipients awarded during the fall grant cycle. Click on the button below to read the full press release from REI and learn more about the Cooperative Action Fund.

Walk & Talk at Santa Fe River Preserve (Main Entrance)

Friday, December 1st from 3-4 p.m.

Join ACT staff for a hike of Santa Fe River Preserve featuring an interesting mix of flora which in turn support a wide diversity of wildlife along the upper Santa Fe River.

Trees & Treats: Plant a Pine & Decorate a Holiday Cookie with ACT

Saturday, December 2nd from 9 a.m.-12 p.m.

Happy Holidays! Join us at Little Orange Creek Preserve with the whole family to plant longleaf pine seedlings and decorate holiday cookies.

Wellness Walk with Laurel Nesbit at Tuscawilla Preserve

Monday, December 4th from 4-5 p.m.

Join us for a Wellness Walk at Tuscawilla Preserve lead by licensed mental health counselor Laurel Nesbit. This hike will focus on the benefits of nature on your wellness.

Annual Holiday Mingle at Prairie Creek Lodge

Sunday, December 10th from 2-5 p.m.

Bring your friends and family for an outdoor celebration of this year's conservation victories! Enjoy light food, drinks, and plenty of holiday cheer will be on tap.

Stewardship Saturdays at Serenola Forest Preserve

Saturday, December 16th from 8:30-11:00 a.m.

Join us for a special volunteer-led workday at Serenola Forest Preserve. No R.S.V.P. required.

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: Northern harrier by Tedd Greenwald.