Conservation Expands in the Rainbow Springs Basin

Landowner Peggi Young has practiced and fostered land stewardship activities through several decades to preserve the natural communities found on her GHC Farms. Peggi partnered with Alachua Conservation Trust (ACT) to protect her 197-acre special place in northeastern Levy County. The property boasts diverse native ground cover including wiregrass and five different species of milkweed, mature flat-topped longleaf pines and wildlife species like gopher tortoise and the federally protected eastern indigo snake. Peggi runs a managed cow-calf operation on both native range and on pasture, making it eligible for the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) competitive Agricultural Land Easement (ALE) Program. The conservation easement will keep the property privately-owned and is compatible with working lands. Peggi and ACT joined efforts with multiple state, federal, and private partners to conserve this critical habitat in the Rainbow Springs Basin. 

The permanent protection of this property with a conservation easement buffers state land and protects important regions of aquifer recharge and karst windows in the Floridan Aquifer.

The Rainbow River Basin Management Action Plan (BMAP) recommends maintaining rural and natural areas to ensure the protection of water quality within the basin. This property also shares a boundary with Goethe State Forest in an area of increasing subdivision and development.

Protecting GHC Farms was possible with the assistance of many partners. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s land owner assistance program, U.S. Fish and Wildlife grants to protect federally protected species and the Southwest Florida Water Management District and Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Springs Restoration competitive grant program.

“Utilizing grant funds to purchase a conservation easement not only protects the landscape but is also an investment a landowner can use to further manage and protect their property,” said ACT conservation director Erica Hernandez. “ACT is in a unique position to work with many partners and leverage the resources necessary to help owners hold on to their land and maintain its natural character.”

GHC Farms was once impacted by a severe wildfire in the 1980s that threatened homes. Now with the help of the North Florida Burn Association, prescribed fire is implemented on the landscape encouraging native grasses and flowers to bloom in the natural sandhill habitat. Key to the easement is the preservation of the scenic, open, and rural character of the land. The landowner can continue to make her living on her farm while protecting the special natural areas and wildlife that also share this landscape.

"Over my many years here, I have learned to love and appreciate the sandhills, the endangered longleaf pine/wiregrass community. So much beauty, some of which requires changing the scale of reference and looking more closely. We are so grateful to ACT for ensuring that it will be protected in perpetuity from the staggering growth that is happening to so much of our beautiful state."

— Peggi Young, GHC Farms landowner

Photos: Top right - Landowner Peggi Young with her favorite longleaf pine; middle left - Monarch caterpillar on Antelope horn milkweed; bottom right - NFPBA prescribed burn at GHC Farms.

Photo of Orange Lake Overlook by Kim Davidson.

Conserving land provides climate resiliency for Florida

by Heather Obara

As Floridians, we are no strangers to a varying climate and the intense weather events that accompany it. This summer, we have witnessed shattered heat records only to see them broken by new records the very next day.

In North Central Florida, we experienced a severe drought in the spring that caused river levels to drop dramatically before being doused by summer rains that brought those same waterways dangerously close to flood stage. In April and May, a wildfire in the Ocala National Forest burned more than 4,000 acres and closed roadways while crews battled for weeks to gain control in extremely dry conditions.

Meanwhile, ocean temperatures along our coasts caused additional concern for the long-term survival of already embattled coral. It’s clear that weather and climate conditions are increasing in intensity and Florida and its environment are feeling the effects.

Despite the warnings that it is becoming less than ideal to live here, Florida is growing rapidly. More than 1,200 new residents move here every day. Residents from South Florida continue to shift to more northern parts of the state where there is currently less development and more rural character.

In North Central Florida, where Alachua Conservation Trust (ACT) focuses a majority of its conservation efforts, undeveloped areas are becoming increasingly rare, being snapped up by cash buyers with grand plans to meet growing demand from new and existing residents for the Florida lifestyle.

These undeveloped natural lands are important for climate resiliency. Lush, forested areas across North Central Florida trap and store carbon, mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. Wetlands and surrounding forests provide an array of functions that protect natural resources and buffer homes from storm and flooding effects.

As natural lands are converted to higher density uses, the ecosystem benefits they provide are lost. And while we may not be able to reverse the environmental impacts that we are seeing entirely, we might be able to slow them down through conservation and restoration.

Photo credit: Middle right - Fox Pen Preserve by Alison Blakeslee.

Follow ACT below for additional updates & announcements during its 35 Days of Conservation celebration!

Logo design by Anabel Anderson.

Over $43,325 Raised for Restoration of the Ollie Huff Citrus Shop at Orange Lake Overlook during Give4Marion

The 33-hour Give4Marion campaign wrapped up on September 20th and your donations towards the restoration of the Ollie Huff Citrus Shop that sits atop Marjorie A. Hoy Memorial Park at Orange Lake Overlook (OLO) exceeded our wildest expectations.

Can you believe that this community just pooled together gifts that exceed $43,000 in less than 2 days? Not only did you answer the call to meet our two Match Challenges during Give4Marion, but you also helped ACT win the 5-6 p.m. Power Hour! Thanks to you, ACT won an additional $1,000 towards its fundraising goal!

With your generous contributions combined with Match Challenges, Power Hours, and an overall special matching donation, ACT is well on its way towards fully restoring this historic property to its former glory.

We couldn’t have done it without your support! And while this is just the beginning of the road to restoring OLO, we’re off to a great start!

THANK YOU!

Click on the video image below to hear from visitors to the preserve as they recount memories of visiting OLO over the years.

Special thanks to ACT supporter Barbara Hooper who filmed and produced several videos about Orange Lake Overlook and the efforts to save and restore the property. You can watch the videos on ACT's YouTube page here.

Walk & Talk at Tuscawilla Preserve

Friday, October 6th from 3-4 p.m.

Join ACT for a special CrEEK Family Day at Tuscawilla Preserve.

Freshwater Fish & Critters of North Central Florida at Santa Fe River Preserve (Main Entrance)

Saturday, October 7th from 9 a.m.-12 p.m.

Join us at Santa Fe River Preserve to learn about the freshwater fish and critters of North Central Florida with retired U.S. Geological Survey Research Fish Biologist, Howard Jelks! Space is limited. R.S.V.P. here.

Stewardship Saturdays at Serenola Forest Preserve

Saturday, October 7th from 8:30-11:30 a.m.

Join us on the first and third Saturday of the month for a special volunteer-led workday at Serenola Forest Preserve. No R.S.V.P. required.

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

Friday, October 13th from 3-4 p.m.

Join the non-profit Our Santa Fe River, Inc. (OSFR) on this Walk & Talk led by Colette Jacono, OSFR botanist and advisor, to explore/discuss the flora provided by this unique habitat of the Santa Fe River watershed.

Visit ACT's Booth at the McIntosh 1890s Festival

Saturday, October 14 from 8 a.m.-4 p.m.

Come celebrate the 50th anniversary of the festival and visit the ACT table to learn more about current efforts to Keep Florida Wild. Click here for festival info.

Walk & Talk at Tuscawilla Preserve

Friday, October 20th from 3-4 p.m.

Join ACT and The Pride Community Center of North Central Florida for a Pride Walk & Talk at Tuscawilla Preserve.

Stewardship Saturdays at Serenola Forest Preserve

Saturday, October 21st from 8:30-11:30 a.m.

Join us on the first and third Saturday of the month for a special volunteer-led workday at Serenola Forest Preserve. No R.S.V.P. required.

Pumpkin Spice & Everything Nice at Rockwood Park

Sunday, October 22nd from 1-3 p.m.

Join ACT for pumpkin carving and tasty treats at Rockwood Park for ACT’s annual Pumpkin Spice & Everything Nice event. Reservations are NOT required for this free event. Pumpkins will be available on a first come, first serve basis.

Walk & Talk at Blues Creek Ravine Preserve

Friday, October 27th from 3-4 p.m.

Join ACT staff for a hike of Blues Creek Ravine Preserve featuring steeply incised stream banks and unique seepage slopes that create a dramatic and beautiful natural setting.

Haunted Orange Lake Overlook Full Moon Festival

Saturday, October 28th from 5-8:30 p.m.

Join ACT for a spooky night of fun under the full moon! We will have Halloween-themed games and activities for the whole family to enjoy as well as a haunted hayride around the preserve! A $5-$10 donation is appreciated and will support restoration of the historic structures at OLO.

Visit ACT's Booth at the 48th Annual Micanopy Fall Festival

October 28th from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. & October 29th from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

Enjoy the fall weather as you browse local vendor booths throughout downtown Micanopy. Visit the ACT table to learn more about nearby nature preserves and ongoing programs and projects. Click here for festival info.

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: Tuscawilla Preserve by Kim Davidson.