FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Oct. 2, 2017
State of Florida Acquires 465 Acres to Protect Silver Springs and the Ocklawaha River
~Acquisition will protect water quality, benefit water quantity and provide recreational opportunities~
TALLAHASEE, Fla. – The Florida Department of Environmental Protection has finalized the purchase of 465 acres in Marion County, which was approved by Governor Rick Scott and the Florida Cabinet in March. The $4.5 million acquisition will help maintain
the health of Silver Springs, as well as the fish and wildlife species that
depend on the springs. The
property is
within the Florida's First Magnitude Springs Florida Forever Project and is ranked first in the Florida Forever Partnerships & Regional Incentives Projects category.
“DEP is committed to protecting Florida’s incredible natural resources,
such as Silver
Springs,” said DEP Secretary Noah Valenstein. "We’re proud that we
were able to work with our partners to complete this important acquisition,
which will benefit Silver Springs and the Ocklawaha
River, and look forward to continuing to build these types of
partnerships to acquire additional rare and sensitive lands.”
The property will be managed
by Marion County as part of Coehadjoe Park. Along with protecting water
quality, the parcel will also benefit water quantity by aiding in groundwater
recharge, as well as increase recreational opportunities for Floridians and
visitors. The property connects Coehadjoe Park to the Indian River State Forest
and will provide a significant recreational trail opportunity across these
properties. The preliminary site design for the parcel proposes a paved trail,
disc golf and archery courses and improved pasture.
“Marion
County is thrilled that this acquisition project has now been completed,” said
Carl Zalak III, chairman of the Marion County Board of County Commissioners.
“We are grateful for the state’s decision to acquire this 465-acre area and
look forward to managing the site in alignment with the county’s springs
protection goals and our vision for an ever-growing outdoor recreation
program.”
“We are very proud of our work in the Silver
Springs watershed,” said Lisa Gearen, president of the Conservation Trust for
Florida (CTF). “We appreciate the partnerships with Marion County and the Florida
Department of Environmental Protection that made this project possible. It
complements the conservation and recreation value of the adjacent 4,900-acre
Silver Springs Forest Conservation Area, a CTF project completed in 2015 with
the St. Johns River Water Management District. Projects that protect the health
of Florida's springs are among our highest priorities, and we look forward to
future projects in the region.”
Guy Marwick, executive director of the Felburn
Foundation said, “This fills in a gap
and is a great piece to improve the connectivity of all the public lands in
this area.”
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