Commission adopts revised Watermelon Pond Preserve plan; neighbor raises access worry

The Alachua County Board of County Commissioners on June 9 adopted a revised management plan for Watermelon Pond Preserve that adds two parcels to the preserve and updates the county's 2010 management approach.

Susie Hedrick, site manager in the county's Environmental Protection Department, said the revision adds the Metzger tract (a large central parcel) and a smaller Right tract, and that staff circulated a draft to county departments and held a May 4 public meeting in Archer to solicit public comment. Hedrick said public comments and staff input were incorporated and the draft includes exhibit H with written remarks from neighbors.

Neighbor Earl Poucher told the board he and other private landowners support preservation but raised two concerns: (1) multiple fence lines in the area do not always align with legal property boundaries, and (2) a title-search issue means he currently lacks a recorded legal access route to his 162-acre inholding donated by Jason Outler when the county accepted the park property. Poucher asked the county attorney to review whether the county should record an access easement through the park to reach his parcel. County attorney said his office would review the circumstances and follow up.

Commissioner discussion was limited; a motion to move the staff recommendation was made and seconded, and the board approved the plan by voice vote. Staff noted the plan envisions increased public access and new management actions; the county attorney will examine the title/access question and report back if legal action is required.

The decision adopts the management plan and directs county staff and the attorney's office to resolve identified access and fence-line issues as part of implementation.