The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has acquired 21,600 acres in Levy County as part of the Waccasassa Watershed Florida Forever Project. This addition expands Goethe State Forest and secures a significant area within the Florida Wildlife Corridor.
According to DEP, the new land connects existing conservation areas and opens more space for public activities such as hiking, hunting, fishing, and wildlife observation. The area is home to species like nesting bald eagles, gopher tortoises, and swallow-tailed kites.
“This acquisition is a major step in protecting Florida’s natural landscapes at scale,” said DEP Secretary Alexis A. Lambert. “By connecting this 21,600-acre property to Goethe State Forest and neighboring conservation lands, we are filling critical gaps in the Florida Wildlife Corridor and creating continuous habitat for wildlife to thrive.”
Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson added: “As Senate President, I worked to ensure Florida made a lasting commitment to protecting and connecting our natural lands through the Florida Wildlife Corridor, and I’m proud to see continued progress in protecting these critical lands. This expansion of Goethe State Forest shows how responsible land management and conservation can work hand in hand to preserve wildlife habitat, protect water quality, and ensure that Florida’s natural resources remain productive and accessible for future generations.”
The acquired property borders Goethe State Forest at its southeastern edge and shares boundaries with Devil’s Hammock Wildlife Management Area as well as the Upper Waccasassa Conservation Area. It contains two tributaries of the Waccasassa River—Magee Branch and Otter Creek—which will help protect water quality flowing into downstream estuaries like those found in Big Bend Seagrasses Aquatic Preserve.
The land also contains historical artifacts from Florida’s turpentine industry, including rare rectangular turpentine pot fragments. The Division of Historical Resources notes there may be additional unrecorded sites on the property.
Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet approved this purchase during a previous meeting. Rayonier Inc., which sold the land after starting restoration work in 2021 by replanting native species, previously owned it. DEP will collaborate with the Florida Forest Service on management efforts for this newly acquired section of Goethe State Forest.
Doug Long, executive vice president and chief resource officer at Rayonier Inc., said: “Our sustainable forest management practices not only cultivate healthy, productive forests but also enable us to transfer that environmental stewardship to other entities when a property is identified for its unique public conservation value. This helps achieve vital long-term conservation goals in meeting the needs of society.”
More information about related initiatives can be found at https://floridaforever.org/.
