Donation of Land Adds Protection to Santa Fe River

Alachua County has received a major donation of land on the Santa Fe River from Dr. Dale A. and Helen C. Lundgren. The property will be managed under the Alachua County Forever program and will add permanent protection to the Santa Fe River.

The 236-acre Lundgren property was a joint gift by the Lundgrens to Alachua County, Alachua Conservation Trust (ACT), and Conservation Florida, two local land trusts. ACT and Conservation Florida were granted a conservation easement over the property before ownership was transferred to the County. The donors requested this arrangement to ensure that their beloved property would remain undeveloped, further protecting their conservation legacy.

The property lies in the Upper Santa Fe River basin, about five miles northwest of Waldo. It has almost a mile of frontage on the Santa Fe River and includes the Moccasin Branch, a pristine tributary of the river. There are a variety of natural communities in good to excellent condition, including sandhill, floodplain forest, and dome swamp.

The property will provide numerous environmental benefits, including protecting water quality, storing floodwaters, and providing wildlife habitat. It will be managed as a preserve by the Office of Land Conservation and Management under the Alachua County Forever program. Development of public access and recreational amenities is anticipated once the management planning process is complete.


For more information, contact Office of Land Conservation and Management Director Charlie Houder at 352-275-2050 or chouder@alachuacounty.us.

Related News

Big: Culture and Arts Festival co-founder Laila Fakhoury

Big: Culture & Arts Festival Co-founder Laila Fakhoury on Alachua County Talks

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed porttitor tempor posuere. Etiam eu suscipit tellus.

equipment rodeo

Alachua County Public Works Hosts Regional Heavy Equipment ROADeo

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed porttitor tempor posuere. Etiam eu suscipit tellus.

Cuscowilla Summer Day Camps

Cuscowilla Day Camp Open House

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed porttitor tempor posuere. Etiam eu suscipit tellus.

recycle and reuse

Community Reuse & Recycle Day

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed porttitor tempor posuere. Etiam eu suscipit tellus.

Read All About It: Alachua County News and Updates

Keep up-to-date with all news and developments in your community, delivered to your inbox.

Subscribe