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Land deals approved in Southwest Florida, Panhandle
Gov. Ron DeSantis and the state Cabinet agreed Tuesday to spend more than $16.7 million to protect fields in Southwest Florida where federally endangered Florida panthers roam and land in Washington County that will be used for hunting and other recreation.
The deals included purchasing 5,804 acres south of Lake Okeechobee in Hendry County that is part of an area known as Devil’s Garden and 628 acres in the Panhandle’s Washington County that will be managed by the Florida Forest Service.
Both parcels have been targeted for preservation through the Florida Forever land program. Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Noah Valenstein said the Hendry County land, with a $14.625 million price tag, will be managed by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
“This is an area that's critical for western Everglades water quality, Florida panther habitat,” Valenstein told DeSantis and Cabinet members. “It's really part of continued large acquisitions we have to create a hub of ownership in that area that will then allow us to work on easements around it and really have beneficial green infrastructure for the state.”
The state already owns or has agreed to purchase 33,690 acres of Devil’s Garden, which is owned by agribusiness company Alico, Inc.
Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried said she was “excited” by the Washington County land, which will provide opportunities for boating, hiking, camping and hunting and be used for Operation Outdoor Freedom events for disabled veterans.
The property, owned by Washington Crossing LLC, borders the Choctawhatchee River and Pine Log Creek.
The state could recoup up to $1.1 million of the $2.1 million sale price on the Washington County land through a pending U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Recovery Land Acquisition grant.
