Martin County announces new paddling access, 10,000 acres advanced under Martin County Forever and Barbee Ranch conservation easement

John Mayle, Martin County environmental resource administrator, told the joint meeting the county received a Florida Inland Navigation District grant that will fund a paddling-only access point and boardwalk near Jensen Beach as part of the Blueways paddling network.

“It's paddling only,” Mayle said, describing a boardwalk landing and a small mid‑boardwalk hut; the project will use a historically dredged channel that became apparent after removing exotic vegetation and will begin construction in the coming months.

Mayle also reported two landmark developments for the Martin County Forever program. He said the county’s citizens environmental lands oversight committee approved 16 properties — roughly 10,000 acres — to move forward as Martin County Forever projects; these will go to the Martin County Board for final approval before staff begins due diligence, appraisals and partnership negotiations.

Separately, Mayle said the governor and cabinet approved a conservation easement on Barbee Ranch, a roughly 1,600‑acre property near the C‑44 Stormwater Treatment Area. He said Florida Forever will close on a $17,000,000 easement for the property and the county will commit $5,000,000 from the Martin County Forever sales tax toward that acquisition.

Mayle outlined shoreline resilience work at Indian Riverside Park: after shoreline hardening and living‑shoreline components are complete, the county will construct a series of offset breakwaters in the lagoon to encourage oyster growth, sand accumulation and subsequent seagrass plantings to support habitat restoration.