State Protects More Land In Peace River Basin

 

An agreement by the Florida Cabinet in coordination with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the Southwest Florida Water Management District will protect 11,958 acres in Hardee and DeSoto counties via a conservation easement in the Horse Creek corridor, a tributary of the Peace River.

The vote came on the same day of a primary election that is a prelude to the Nov. 8 general election in which Gov. Ron DeSantis and other members of the Florida Cabinet will be up for re-election.

This follows an action by Swiftmud’s Governing Board in July to secure a 4,357-acre conservation easement on the Carlton Ranch, which is also part of the Cabinet’s effort.

Horse Creek is a 25.2-mile stream that flows through portions of Hardee and DeSoto county before joining the Peace River south of Arcadia.

The conservation easement appears to limit phosphate mining, which has been a major issue in DeSoto County as Mosaic continues to seek permits to mine thousands of acres there despite intense public opposition.

Also approved Tuesday was a 1,883-acre conservation easement on a portion of the 6,754-acre Buck Island Ranch in Highlands County and a 663-acre conservation easement on the Hendrie Ranch in Highlands County.

 

 

 

Posted in Group Conservation Issues.