North Florida Land Trust Has Acquired More Than 575 Acres of Conservation Land in Clay County

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Feb. 5, 2020 - PRLog -- North Florida Land Trust has acquired 577.9 acres of land in its Black Creek Preservation Priority Area in Clay County through the generosity of the property owners, Sandy and Cathryn Sandridge, and NFLT's valued partnership with the St. Johns River Water Management District. Rideout Point Preserve is located across from the Black Creek Ravines Conservation Area and protects over three miles of Black Creek shoreline. It is divided by the First Coast Expressway.

"This is an incredibly important piece of property along Black Creek and we look forward to owning and managing this property and are interested in talking with other landowners who would like to donate or sell their property for conservation," said Jim McCarthy, president of NFLT. "We are thrilled to partner with the District to make this transaction possible and we thank them for their partnership. They were a pleasure to work with and we look forward to partnering with them on future acquisitions."

NFLT purchased a 26-acre parcel for $150,000, and the landowner donated the remainder of the 578-acre property. The District then purchased a conservation easement over the entire property for $150,000.

The property is composed of both upland and wetland areas including cypress, pine flatwoods, and mixed upland forest. It also has several spring seeps, steep bluffs and ravines that overlook Black Creek. NFLT will own and manage the property subject to the terms of an easement, which will be monitored by the District.

"We are excited about the opportunity to conserve these lands and further protect Black Creek," said Dr. Ann Shortelle, executive director of the St. Johns River Water Management District. "This partnership with NFLT and the Sandridges provides the public with future opportunities to enjoy this distinctive property while protecting the land and waterway."

In 2016, NFLT released its Preservation Portfolio which identified more than 112,000 acres of land in Northeast Florida that was most valuable for conservation. They identified approximately 5,000 acres in the Black Creek Preservation Priority Area because of the ecosystem benefits conservation would provide.

About North Florida Land Trust

North Florida Land Trust is a not-for-profit organization that seeks to protect the natural resources, historic places and working lands (farms and ranches) throughout north Florida. Founded in 1999, NFLT has preserved tens of thousands of acres of land through donation or purchase of land as well as conservation easements.  NFLT is funded largely by private and corporate contributions and works closely with willing landowners and public agencies at all levels of government, not-for-profit partners, and foundations. For more information, visit nflt.org (http://www.nflt.org/).