Florida approves 14,000-acre conservation plans in Walton, Bay counties
By Collin Bestor| Northwest Florida Daily News
WALTON COUNTY — The governor and Florida Cabinet on Tuesday approved major state investments to conserve over 14,000 acres of land in Walton and Bay counties.
“Florida’s natural resources are vital to our way of life and are a cornerstone of our economy," state CFO Jimmy Patronis said in a news release. "Investing in land conservation protects our environment and ensures that our children and grandchildren can enjoy Florida’s natural resources for generations to come."
In Walton County, 2,483 acres have been purchased from The Trust for Public Land to create Floirda's newest state park. The land is located roughly one mile north of Eglin Air Force Base and is part of the Upper Shoal River watershed and the Northwest Florida Sentinel Landscape.
The new park will provide camping, hiking, biking and other low-intensity land uses that are compatible with Eglin, the release says.
The state says that property preservation will also support aquifer recharge and help maintain the quality and natural functions of local water bodies. The land will be managed by the state Department of Environmental Protection's Division of Recreation and Parks.
In Bay County, 12,243 acres were purchased from Bear Creek Timber, LLC. That land is six miles north of Tyndall Air Force Base in the St. Andrews Bay Watershed.
The land, mostly planted pine trees ranging from 2 to 5 years old, lies within a wildlife corridor of the Florida Ecological Greenways Network and the Northwest Florida Sentinel Landscape, the news release says. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Florida Forest Service will manage the land, which will be referred to as Bear Creek Forest.
State approves land conservation purchases in Bay, Walton counties