ACT Facilitates Sale of Over 1600 acres to the State of Florida Through Florida Forever Program

Alachua Conservation Trust (ACT) has facilitated the permanent protection of over 1,600 acres in Columbia County located within the Ocala to Osceola Wildlife Corridor (O2O). This significant transaction will protect vital wetlands, enhance wildlife habitat, and contribute to the preservation of key conservation corridors in the state. The acquisition was facilitated in collaboration with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and other partners, through the state’s premier land acquisition program, Florida Forever.

The property, comprised of 1,620 acres owned by the Lord family, lies on the east side of the Suwannee River about 30 miles north of Lake City. The land will serve to further link conservation lands along the river and the Pinhook Swamp conservation area, which borders the Osceola National Forest. Conservation of this property contributes to protecting the O2O Corridor, a critical linkage of the larger Florida Wildlife Corridor - a network of over 18 million acres designated as high conservation priority by the Florida legislature. The O2O Corridor is one of the State’s priority conservation areas with over $400 million appropriated for land protection in the State’s 2023 budget.

Read the Full Press Release

A Successful Expansion Celebration

Last Friday, on February 28th, Alachua Conservation Trust officially opened an expanded section of Orange Lake Overlook in McIntosh, Florida!

Over 70 attendees joined ACT staff for a ribbon-cutting ceremony and refreshments to celebrate the preserve's growth from 71 to 156 acres.

Orange Lake Overlook is open daily from dawn until dusk and has picnic tables, benches, and three miles of trails.

Directions to Orange Lake Overlook

Photos by Sean Dowie

Less than 100 Tickets Left for the 2025 CSAs!

ACT will host its annual Conservation Stewards Awards (CSAs) on Saturday, March 15th. The event will take place at Prairie Creek Lodge in Gainesville from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

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.

This year, we celebrate the conservation impacts and lasting legacies of Freddie Johnson and the Greene Family of Lake City, who have shaped the land through a deep-rooted passion for conservation and a unique approach that re-envisions how humans connect with nature.

The event will include dinner, drinks, and a musical performance by The Wire Birds. All funds from the event will support Alachua Conservation Trust's work toward land conservation.

Tickets are now available for purchase

Operation Round Up for the Kids

Clay Electric recently donated $1,500 to ACT's Creekside Environmental Education for Kids (CrEEK) program through their Operation Round Up. This is part of Clay Electric's efforts to improve the quality of life of their members and strengthen communities.

Clay Electric implemented Operation Round Up in 2016. The program “rounds up” each participating member’s bill to the nearest dollar, and that tax-deductible amount goes directly to the Clay Electric Foundation. The goal of Operation Round Up is to address the charitable needs and provide financial assistance to improve the quality of life in the fifteen (15) counties Clay Electric Cooperative serves.

Last year, the CrEEK program served more than 1,200 students from Alachua & Putnam Counties. Thanks to Clay Electric and our many partners, we hope to bring even more kids out into nature to learn and explore. Text Li

Upcoming Events

Featured Event

2025 Conservation Stewards Awards at Prairie Creek Lodge

Saturday, March 15, from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM

This event honors individuals in our community at one of the region's largest gatherings of leaders and supporters of wild Florida. It will include dinner, drinks, and a musical performance.

More Details and Ticket Purchase

Weekly Walk & Talk at Prairie Creek Preserve

Friday, March 7, 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM

Join ACT staff for a guided hike at Prairie Creek Preserve.

Weekly Walk & Talk at Little Awesome Preserve

Friday, March 14, 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM

Join ACT staff for a guided hike at Little Awesome Preserve.

Weekly Walk & Talk at Tuscawilla Preserve

Friday, March 21, 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM

Join ACT staff for a guided hike at Tuscawilla Preserve.

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

Friday, March 28, 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM

Join ACT staff for a guided hike at Santa Fe River Preserve (Main Entrance)

All Upcoming Events

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 by Kim Davidson

Alachua Conservation Trust

Phone: 352-373-1078

Email: info@alachuaconservationtrust.org

Website: www.alachuaconservationtrust.org

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