Donation of Land Adds Protection to Santa Fe River

Published on 5/14/2021

Last updated: 5/14/2021 11:45 AM

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.

Learn about donating land to Alachua County Forever.

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