Creation of a Northern Access Point to the Guana Preserve utilizing the Old Oar House Restaurant property, St. Johns County.
Click here to view the website for North Guana Landing to learn more and donate to this campaign.
March 3, 2009, NFLT received a pledge of $275,000 toward this acquisition from the Board of County Commissioners of St. Johns County. The funds were obtained from a restricted Tree Mitigation Fund. The property will become a northern access point to the Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve (GTMNERR). This acquisition is a public/private partnership with NFLT and St. Johns County sharing ownership. There is the potential to renovate the existing structure using LEED building and restoration techniques, creating an eco-friendly showcase for education and daily use. NFLT will launch the project in three phases. While real estate appraisals still need to be conducted, the NFLT anticipates that it will need community support to raise almost $800,000 toward Phase I. For more information on fundraising events and to make a donation, visit www.northfloridalandtrust.org.
Pumpkin Hill, Duval County. Miscellaneous parcels in Timucuan Preserve. The North Florida Land Trust is focused on fundraising to acquire critical watershed properties in Pumpkin Hill, a small area inside the Timucuan Preserve.
Funds raised through events, private and corporate donations will be used to perform the due diligence necessary to secure contracts on private landholdings with focused fund-raising efforts for acquisition to follow. Your contribution is needed to ensure these properties are protected.
"Our emphasis is to protect lands with access to water. These particular parcels are critical to water quality as tributaries to the St. Johns River," said Mark Middlebrook, President of the North Florida Land Trust. "We are conducting private tours of the lands for donors that want to experience the breathtaking beauty that solidifies the importance to Northeast Florida for conserving these lands."
NFLT does occasional walking and bicycling tours of Pumpkin Hill. If you would like to schedule a tour, please call 904-827-9870 or email info@northfloridalandtrust.org.
Bailey Landing, St. Johns County. Looking at a potential kayak/crew facility on Julington Creek.
Basala Chico (Delightful Riverbank), St. Mary's River, Nassau County. A conservation easement on 160 acres from a 345 acre parcel with approximately 5,000 feet of frontage on the St. Mary's River, a relatively unspoiled blackwater river forming the boundary between Florida and Georgia and considered to have qualities to be eligible for "Wild and Scenic River" status. This property has ecological importance, with a diverse riparian habitat including relatively mature and pristine floodplain forest with freshwater streams and sloughs. The subject property contains a large floodplain lake and several plant species of special concern including needle palm (Rhapidophyllum hystrix), green-fly orchid (Epidendrum conopseum), climbing hydrangea (Decvumaria barbara), and bluff oak (Quercus austrina). The subject property provides natural habitat for the American alligator and wood duck, and potential habitat for Florida black bear.
Yokowe Preserve, Nassau/Duval County line, Nassau County, adjacent to the Timucuan Preserve. The North Florida Land Trust, in partnership with Nassau County, applied for a Florida Communities Trust grant this year.
"This parcel would provide a wonderful connection to the Timucuan Preserve, bordering the Nassau River at US 17 and the Nassau/Duval county line," said Walter Fudifio, Director of Growth Management in Nassau County. "The property contains critical watershed marshlands and could, in future years, have a boat access to the river."
North Florida Land Trust received agreements from the landowners, that if a grant application is approved, they will donate ten percent of the project price to the North Florida Land Trust to increase the potential for acquisition by the state. Even though the Land Trust and Nassau County are not required to provide a match, the extra points are important to the process.
Strategic planning for the North Florida Land Trust (NFLT) evolved from a candid and realistic assessment of our current situation and critical resources, including an overview of the perception of our strength and the challenges, as well as a realistic appraisal of resources available to accomplish new initiatives and to continue stable, ongoing programs.
While the project list represents the NFLT's goals and objectives for the short-term, we have a larger vision for the organization. Much of what is described here is a continuation of on-going efforts to strengthen the NFLT's holdings and to position the NFLT as a leader in the field of private land conservation in North Florida.
The timing does represent some interesting challenges for the NFLT. The mission of the NFLT faces a new urgency, given the current economy, the environment, and national demographic trends. Now is the time to move forward on major acquisitions. We are experiencing opportunities never before presented as landowners and developers are looking to divest some of their holdings.
This list of projects is the NFLT's response to all of these challenges. This plan will be a framework for the NFLT's management decisions and initiatives and performance measures for the next few years. Ultimately, our success will be measured by the success of our protection efforts, landowner relationships, and our ability to maintain conservation values on protected properties.
The NFLT Board and staff look forward to the next five years with confidence, energy, optimism, and the belief that the organization can continue its upward trajectory - moving from a good organization to one that is excellent: mission-driven, innovative, dynamic and open to change, partnering with dedicated landowners in one of the most beautiful places in the world.
The North Florida Land Trust has helped to protect almost 1,000 acres in North Florida. We currently hold three Conservation Easement and are actively fundraising for acquisitions in Duval, St. Johns and Nassau counties.
Be sure and check out the currently protected properties of the North Florida Land Trust.
"A true conservationist is a man who knows that the world is not given by his fathers but borrowed from his children."
- Audubon