Alachua Conservation Trust

Alachua Conservation Trust is a local, non-profit land trust that works with landowners to preserve special environmental and historical features of Alachua County, Florida and surrounding areas. Since its incorporation in 1988, ACT has facilitated approximately 16,000 acres of public land purchases and private conservation easements.[1]

Mission statement

The mission of Alachua Conservation Trust (ACT) is to protect the natural, historic, scenic and recreational resources in and around Alachua County, Florida. ACT protects land through purchase, donation, and conservation easements.[1]

History

Since 1988, Alachua Conservation Trust (ACT) has been preserving the special environmental and historical treasures of Alachua County and surrounding areas. Using the proceeds from a joint acquisition (with the Trust for Public Land) and subsequent re-sale of lands along Prairie Creek, ACT immediately began negotiating for additional properties around Paynes Prairie Preserve. The 963-acre Hickory Ranch, the 656-acre Jerevan properties, and half a dozen other parcels around the Prairie – totaling nearly 2500 acres – were acquired through ACT’s negotiations.

With the passage of Florida’s Preservation 2000 land acquisition program, ACT embarked on several sweeping conservation proposals. ACT created the Newnans Lake project, which has resulted in the acquisition of 5000+ acres by the St. Johns River Water Management District. ACT proposed the Watermelon Pond project, now part of the Goethe State Forest, and submitted the proposals creating the Lochloosa Wildlife Management Area, and additions to San Felasco Hammock Preserve State Park. ACT negotiated dozens of purchase agreements on thousands of acres of land that are now part of public park systems.

Besides the “big, wild, and connected” lands, ACT proposed the Hogtown Creek Greenway, which winds through western Gainesville. The project received $3 million from the Florida Communities Trust and the City of Gainesville in 1991, and ACT acquired creek-side lands for this urban greenway connecting the University of Florida with Kanapaha Botanical Gardens several miles away.

In the early 90s, ACT began working regionally, and accepted the donation of a 413-acre conservation easement in Yankeetown to protect the Withlacoochee Culgf Preserve along the rapidly developing Gulf coast. ACT also worked as the acquisition agent under contract to the Suwannee River Water Management District, protecting more than 1000 acres of land in the ten-year floodplain along the Suwannee River. ACT has a major conservation easement at Gum Slough in Sumter and Marion Counties.

Besides land conservation, ACT’s mission includes historic preservation, such as the decade long project to acquire and restore the 1850s Historic Haile Homestead. ACT is also working on the restoration of 19th century farm buildings and a church in Rochelle.

In 2001, ACT submitted a Florida Communities Trust application for Blues Creek Ravine and Fox Pond in partnership with the Trust for Public Land. The $2.9 million grant was funded and both properties are now under permanent protection. ACT currently owns and manages Blues Creek Ravine and will open it to the public in partnership with Alachua County. In 2002, ACT received a conservation easement over 650-acres of a landmark private farm near San Felasco Hammock.

In 2004, with the help of a conservation donor, ACT purchased the last rookery on Lake Santa Fe, protecting 1500 feet of shoreline where osprey, great blue heron, and egret nest every spring. In 2004, ACT also proposed the protection of 600 acres of Lake Tuscawilla in a cooperative project with the Florida Museum of Natural History and the Conservation Trust for Florida. State funds of $2.1 million were awarded and ACT purchased 379 acres in 2006. Using federal funds to protect migratory bird habitat, ACT expects to add an additional 200 acres in 2008-2009.

In 2005, ACT purchased the 643-acre Phifer Flatwoods at an auction, using funds raised and borrowed from 300 supporters. This property, which includes three miles along the Gainesville – Hawthorne State Rail Trail, was sold to the Alachua County Forever program in early 2006 and was opened to the public in 2008.

In 2007, ACT purchased Tuscawilla Preserve, a 600-acre wet prairie south of Micanopy, Florida using Florida Communities trust and US Fish & Wildlife grant funds in addition to private donations. In 2007-2009, ACT purchased 1150 acres near Prairie Creek, and sold 500 to the State of Florida to add onto Paynes Prairie Preserve, and 100 acres to Alachua County Forever. ACT’s projects in 2011-12 include the purchase of the 700-acre Little Orange Creek Preserve in eastern Alachua County, and a portion of the Alachua-to-Lake Butler Rail Trail.

Land acquisition

Land donation and purchase

Donations allow landowners to leave their land as conservation sites into perpetuity. Donations also allow landowners to benefit from income tax deductions and estate tax benefits. ACT prepares grant application for the purchase of conservation lands. The purchases land is then owned by a government agency or ACT directly. ACT partners with other agencies to submit applications. ACT has done this for many projects, such as, Prairie Creek Preserve, Blue Creek Ravine, Hogtown Creek Greenway, Watermelon Pond, Lochloosa Wildlife Management Area, and Newnan’s Lake.[2]

Conservation easement

A conservation easement is a legal agreement between a landowner and ACT or a government agency that permanently limits the use of the land to protect its conservation values. The land owner still owns their land and is able to use it, including agriculture and forestry, sell the land, and/or pass it on to their heirs. Easements can also provide tax benefits to the landowner. ACT has protected more than 1,300 acres in this fashion.[2]

Bargain sale

In a bargain sale, the landowner sells land to ACT or government agency for less than market value. Bargain sales provide a viable option for landowners who value conservation, yet need an immediate income.[2]

Featured project sites

Retirement Home for Horses

Retirement Home for Horses at Mill Creek Farm is a non-profit equine sanctuary located in Alachua, Florida. The sanctuary provides lifelong care for horses that have been neglected, abused or that were unwanted and destined for slaughter. The “retirees” live in spacious, tree-lined pastures where they can roam freely with other horses. Peter and Mary Gregory created this 265-acre sanctuary in 1984. This land is protected by a perpetual conservation easement that prevents the land from being developed, ensuring that the Retirement Home for Horses at Mill Creek Farm will always be a sanctuary for horses in need. There are currently 130 horses retired at the farm.[3]

Hogtown Creek Greenway

A 900-acre area of lowland, creeks, and tributaries protected by Alachua County Conservation Trust in Partnership with the City of Gainesville, with ACT preparing the Florida Communities Trust application and acting as the acquisition agent under contract to the City. Visitors to Hogtown Creek Greenway can experience an array of activities including nature trails and picnic areas. The Greenway connects to the Loblolly Environmental Facility, which encompasses 49 acres and includes restrooms and parking. Access to Hogtown is off of NW 8th Avenue, between NW 34th Street and NW 22nd Street, across from Westside Park. The Greenway can also be accessed from the Loblolly Environmental Facility, located at 3315 NW 5th Avenue, on the east side of NE 34th Street between West University Avenue and NW 8th Avenue.[4]

Historic Haile Homestead

The Historic Haile Homestead at Kanapaha Plantation is a former a 1,500-acre Sea Island cotton plantation. Enslaved craftsmen for the Haile family completed the 6,200 square foot homestead in 1856. The homestead stands today as one of the few remaining antebellum homes in North Central Florida. A unique feature of this homestead is the “Talking Walls”. The Haile family wrote on the walls of their home – over 12,500 words in almost every room and closet.[5]

ACT prepared the grant to restore the house to the State of Florida, and managed the building restoration and site work. ACT is now the co-owner of the homestead, along with the Haile family.[1]

Lake Tuscawilla Preserve/ Tuscawilla Prairie

Formerly a cattle ranch,[6] this 600 acre preserve has returned to a prairie/marsh lake system surrounded by prairie hammock. The Lake Tuscawilla Preserve came under ACT’s management through $3 million in grants from Florida Communities Trust, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, and donations from private landowners and project supporters.[7] The Preserve is home to alligators, amphibians, fish, and small mammals.[8] It also provides a key habitat for wading and migrating birds, including the sandhill cranes, great egrets, herons, ducks, sparrows, and white-faced ibises,[6][8] The opening celebration of the Tuscawilla Preserve was October 30, 2009. The north rim of the Preserve is across the road from Micanopy’s Native American Heritage Park, and is open to the public.[7] Resource-based recreation is available on the property and activities include trail walking, birdwatching, wildflower viewing, and picnicking public.[7] Environmental Education classes are also held at Tuscawilla Preserve for both adults (see Education and Public Participation) and children (see Tuscawilla Learning Center).

Lochloosa Wildlife Management Area (LWMA)

Alachua Conservation Trust facilitated the protection of over 27,000 acres in the Lochloosa Forest and Lochloosa Lake by resubmitting the proposal to Florida Conservation and Recreation Lands (CARL), now Florida Forever.[9] The property is managed by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the St. John Water Management District. LWMA protects watershed quality, pine plantation, and water and live oak ridges.[10] The Management Area also provides a habitat to at least eighteen listed species, including the Florida black bear, fox squirrel, eastern indigo snake, wood stork, and sand hill crane.[10] Gopher tortoises, bobcats, white-tailed deer, opossums, wild hogs, and wild turkeys can also be found within the LWMA [11]

The Lochloosa Wildlife Management Area provides numerous opportunities for resource-based recreation. Activities include seasonal hunting, fishing, hiking, bicycling, horseback riding, canoeing, wildlife viewing, and primitive camping in designated areas.[9] The area is also a site of the Great Florida Birding Trail, a 2,000-mile, self-guided highway trail is designed to conserve and enhance Florida's wildlife habitats by promoting bird watching and wildlife viewing activities, conservation education and economic opportunity [12]

Environmental benefits

Community involvement

There are several opportunities to assist Alachua Conservation Trust in their mission to protect natural, historic, scenic, and recreational resources, and to provide environmental education.[13]

Volunteers

ACT relies on volunteers to do much of the land management of their properties. This includes building amenities such as boardwalks and kiosks, laying out and maintaining miles of trails, and landscape restoration including prescribed fire and exotic plant control. ACT welcomes professional expertise, such as legal, engineering, surveying, and accounting skills. ACT is usually in need of help during fundraisers, and at festivals and special events.[13]

Research and education

ACT projects are direct results of someone identifying an opportunity, and being willing to research the options. If someone has an idea of what should be saved or how it could be done, ACT hopes it will be brought to their attention. ACT is also committed to environmental education, and they work with a variety of organizations, such as the Audubon Society, Scouts, the Florida parks Service, Santa Fe College, the University of Florida, and local agencies to provide environmental education programs. ACT provides internships to allow students to experience an alternative career path in the non-profit conservation sector.[13]

Donate or bequeath

ACT has received donations of special family lands and conservation easements that they will protect forever. Some donors have a life estate agreement, retaining the use of their property during their lives. Planned bequests, not only of conservation land, but also of other assets, are a way to assist the ACT mission. ACT can receive the donation of appreciated assets, such as stock, art, or other investments for which the donor may reduce or avoid capital gains or estate taxes. ACT can convert some assets into an annuity payment for the donor during their lifetime, with the principal going to ACT at the end of the donor’s life to create a lasting legacy. For every $3 ACT spends in their operations, they conserve $100 worth of land.[13]

Tuscawilla Learning Center

Tuscawilla Learning Center (TLC) is a volunteer-run outdoor education program held at the Tuscawilla Preserve in Micanopy, Florida. TLC was launched in the fall of 2010 after a chance meeting of two strangers at a local farmer's market. They decided that the children of Micanopy and surrounding communities would benefit from an outdoor classroom that taught them ecology basics and introduced them to a unique habitat.

The program is designed for children ages 3 through 7, accompanied by their parent or guardian. TLC classes are held during the fall and spring on the third Thursday of each month and the Wednesday prior. Each class features a seasonally appropriate lesson, related crafts and activities, and relevant songs, each reinforcing the material covered in the class. The program reaches about fifteen to twenty children each month. Topics have included Shapes of Leaves, Predators and Prey, and the Magic of Migration. Tuscawilla Learning Center is a “place-based” education program, and as such, centers lessons on the Tuscawilla Prairie habitat. For instance, since Tuscawilla is an important stopover for migrating birds, during the Migration unit, the children wear sand hill crane face paint and play a game to illustrate the obstacles encountered as the cranes make their long journey.

“Our mission is to inspire curiosity and help our children connect with the natural world. We want to immerse ourselves in the outdoors, experiencing the natural and changing world of the Tuscawilla Prairie. While playing games and engaging in creative activities, the students learn to listen to their surroundings, look closer and deeper, and grasp the inner workings of a specific habitat.” -TLC founder and environmental educator [14]

Events

Spring 2011 Environmental Education upcoming classes: Birding with Alachua Audubon Society; Birding by Ear; Edible & Medicinal Plants; Butterflies of Alachua County.

Conservation Stewards Awards Ceremony & Banquet 2011: Located at Prairie Creek Lodge Friday, March 18, 2011. The Sandhill Stage Concert Series: All Concerts $20 to benefit Alachua Conservation Trust and Conservation Burial, Inc.

Melrose Open Air Arts 2010: March 10–20 Hosted by Bellamy Road Fine Arts, Melrose Bay Art Gallery, and Shake Rag Artists; Collective will host the 4th Annual Melrose Open Air Arts.

Tuscawilla Pottery: Holiday Open House December 12 at Ana Varela’s Studio in Micanopy. A portion of all sales go to benefit Alachua Conservation Trust.

BioBlitz at Prairie Creek Preserve: To reveal the biodiversity of plants at Prairie Creek Preserve, with the support of UF’s Department of Biology, ACT held a BioBlitz. Groups of experts and newcomers ventured into the preserve to survey the flora, collect samples, and take pictures.

Book Reading: “An Interrogative Mood: A Novel?” by Gainesville author Padgett Powell at Prairie Creek Lodge. [15]

Future projects

Land conservation

Alachua Conservation Trust and its partners have a wide range of land conservation purchases planned, including property along the Santa Fe River and on every major water body. Cities will be acquiring “nearby nature” amenities as refuges from urban life, and rural landowners will continue to seek ways to preserve the character of their landscape. All the conservation organizations, public and private, are working together on initiatives of regional scale to join ACT’s wild spaces with landscape linkages. The north-south Ocala Forest - to - Osceola Forest connector is one; another is the mosaic of wetlands and sandhills being linked in eastern and southern Alachua County and beyond.

Historic preservation

ACT will preserve historic structures and cultural sites, in continuation of efforts that began with the protection and restoration of the Historic Haile Homestead. Buildings from the 1800s in Rochelle, Micanopy, Windsor, and other areas will be stabilized and restored whenever adequate resources and cooperative partners are available.

Greenways and trails

The network of trails for hiking, biking, horseback riding, and paddling will continue to grow in Alachua County. ACT and its many partners will continue to link existing trails and greenways into a comprehensive network for commuting, recreation, and wildlife.

Education and public participation

ACT is committed to providing high quality environmental education on our preserves. Special interests is focused on providing better opportunities for children to have unstructured outdoor experiences in nature. ACT also understands that land conservation is attainable through smart public policy. Besides other conservation agencies and organizations, ACT works with our schools and colleges, the criminal justice system, and many civic, business, social, and faith-based organizations to achieve the mutual goals of a more sustainable community.

Alachua Conservation Trust has become a community institution entrusted with the extraordinary responsibility to protect the land and heritage, and to pass on the best of this cherished place’s natural resources to future generations. [16]

References

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External links

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