ACT's Latest Conservation Easement Protects

Olustee Creek and Santa Fe River

Donald Graham’s family has been farming the same stretch of land along the Olustee Creek just above the confluence with the Santa Fe River since the 1860s. Donald and his wife, Janie wanted to make sure that it continues to be the case for generations to come. Last week, they protected their 416-acre farm located in Columbia and Union counties by granting a conservation easement to Alachua Conservation Trust (ACT). This was made possible with funding through the Florida Department of Environmental Protection's (DEP’s) Alternative Water Supply and Accelerating Suwannee grant programs, which the Suwannee River Water Management District (SRWMD) administers. Protection of the Graham family farm expands a network of connected conservation lands along the Upper Santa Fe River.

The property features rolling topography and shoulders both sides of Olustee Creek for 1.3-miles. This section of the creek contains multiple sinkholes and boils. Located within the Devil’s Ear Springshed, an impaired first-magnitude Outstanding Florida Spring designated by DEP, Olustee Creek is a major tributary to the Santa Fe River. The property connects to existing state and local conservation lands, including O’Leno State Park and ACT’s Santa Fe Springs Preserve.

Over the last 160 years, the Graham family has farmed a wide array of commodities including tobacco, hogs, corn, soybeans, peanuts and cattle. The sale of the conservation easement will allow the Graham’s to transition the farm to less intensive agricultural operations, including cover cropping and rotational grazing.

"The Santa Fe River is the emerald necklace of North Central Florida, both ecologically and culturally,” stated ACT’s Executive Director Tom Kay. “Conserving this property along Olustee Creek contributes to river and springs protection, safeguards wildlife habitat, and expands an existing conservation corridor in the region.”

SRWMD Executive Director, Hugh Thomas, added, "Conservation easements reflect a lasting commitment to protect our region’s natural beauty and water resources. This project shows the power of local partnerships and state support working together to preserve environmentally sensitive areas. By preserving these lands today, we’re ensuring that both ecosystems and communities thrive well into the future.”

ACT thanks the Graham family for their commitment to seeing their farm and land conserved and the Suwannee River Water Management District for their partnership in providing the necessary funding to make this project a reality.

The conference also provided continuing education for the ACT staff members in attendance, allowing them to grow their skills in land protection and land management while also meeting and interacting with natural resources professionals from outside of ACT’s traditional working area.

ACT is an accredited member of the Land Trust Alliance and we look forward to continuing to represent Florida and the Southeast at future Alliance events like this one!

LEAFS Preserve: A Local Gem for Fall Wildflower Viewing

In North Central Florida, fall rarely comes in a bold flourish. To most, it might seem like nothing changes at all—no sudden leaf drop, no crisp air. But if you know where to look, the shift in seasons reveals itself in rich, subtle ways. At LEAFS Preserve, October brings a quiet brilliance to the longleaf pine flatwoods. Starting later this month, the forest floor begins to shimmer with late-season color as native wildflowers burst into bloom.

Formerly the home of the Longleaf Ecology and Forestry Society (LEAFS), this 208-acre preserve was lovingly tended for decades by John and Mary Lou Winn to demonstrate the power of low-impact, ecologically sound land management. In 2022, the property was donated to Alachua Conservation Trust, ensuring the continuation of this remarkable legacy.

Thanks to years of prescribed fire, thoughtful timber management, and habitat restoration, LEAFS now

offers one of the finest examples of mesic flatwoods in the region. And October is arguably its most enchanting month.

On your visit, watch for these wildflower highlights that light up the landscape:

• Blazing Stars (Liatris spicata) – Tall purple spires that paint the understory in vibrant color and draw clouds of pollinators.

• Swamp Sunflower (Helianthus angustifolius) – A burst of gold in wetter areas, these sunflowers bloom boldly as summer fades.

• Florida Paintbrush (Carphephorus corymbosus) – Dainty, lavender-hued blooms rise from dry, recently burned sandhills, echoing the artistry of fire-managed landscapes.

• Lopsided Indiangrass (Sorghastrum secundum) – A showy native grass with golden, one-sided seed heads that sway like autumn’s own banner.

Beyond their beauty, these blooms tell the story of an ecosystem in balance—one shaped by fire, time,

and care. Come with a camera, a notebook, or simply your open senses.

Featured Event

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

Friday, October 3, 2025, 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM

Join ACT staff and volunteers for a guided hike at Santa Fe River Preserve (South Entrance).

Weekly Walk & Talk at Orange Lake Overlook

Friday, October 10, 2025, 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM
Join ACT staff and volunteers for a guided hike at Orange Lake Overlook (OLO).

Freshwater Fish and Critters of North Central Florida

Saturday, October 11, 2025, 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM

Come and join ACT out at Santa Fe River Preserve (Main Entrance) to learn about Freshwater Fish and Critters of North Central Florida!

Weekly Walk & Talk at LEAFS Preserve (North Entrance)

Friday, October 17, 2025, 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM

Join ACT staff and volunteers for a guided hike at LEAFS Preserve.

2025 Pride at Prairie Creek

Sunday, October 19, 2025, 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM

Join us for Pride at Prairie Creek where we celebrate the LGBTQ+ community in the outdoors. There will be preserve tours and other nature-based activities at the preserve. Food vendors as well as other community groups will have booths set up for you to visit and learn more about their efforts to support the LGBTQ+ community.

Pumpkin Spice & Everything Nice

Sunday, October 26, 2025, 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM

Join us for pumpkin carving and tasty treats at Rockwood Park for ACT’s annual Pumpkin Spice & Everything Nice event.

Weekly Walk & Talk at Tuscawilla Preserve

Friday, October 31, 2025, 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM

Join ACT staff and volunteers for a guided hike at Tuscawilla Preserve.

Cover Photo by Alison Blakeslee

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!