A vote on the purchase of about 11,000 acres of land for conversation has been postponed. Tuesday’s cabinet meeting has been canceled due to Hurricane Matthew. Despite the delay the Trust for Public Land’s Will Abberger is still excited about the possibility of the state acquiring the parcel.
“This is the first Florida forever acquisition of its type that we’ve seen the Governor and cabinet consider in many, many years. We urge them to approve it and we hope it’s a sign the department of environmental protection is going to be bringing more of these types of projects to the Governor and cabinet in the future.”
The purchase would cost the state about $16 million. The parcel is known as Horn Spring Woods. Abberger says it’s the type of project voters wanted when they approved an amendment directing money toward purchasing land for conservation.
“The acquisition of this property will not only protect Florida’s drinking water sources, including numerous springs. But it provides a link between lands already protected by the state of Florida, providing a very important wildlife corridor.”
The parcel contains 10 natural springs, runs adjacent to the St. Marks River and could help finish an environmental corridor stretching from St. Marks River state park to Natural Bridge Battlefield Historic State Park.
