Commission approves two land acquisitions to expand Watermelon Pond and Lake Alto public preserves

On July 14 the Board of County Commissioners approved two land-protection actions intended to strengthen habitat corridors and public access to county preserves.

Watermelon Pond / Whitehurst: Land Conservation Program Manager Andy Christman described a fee-simple option contract with Whitehurst Cattle Company to acquire two parcels totaling approximately 635 acres adjacent to the state'managed Watermelon Pond Wildlife Environmental Area. The property contains sandhill, wet prairie, upland lakes and a revegetated former borrow (phosphate) pit; staff emphasized connectivity to a southern conservation corridor. Purchase price is $5,500,000; due-diligence costs were estimated at $80,763 and staff requested a total appropriation of $5,855,639 (including a 10% contingency). Commissioners voted unanimously to approve the option and the funding request.

Lake Alto / Eagle Shores: The board authorized assignment of a contract that Alachua Conservation Trust had secured for a 19.37-acre parcel within the city limits of Waldo adjacent to the county'owned Lake Alto Preserve. Staff noted the parcel includes upland habitat unusual for that lakeshore and provides an opportunity to establish local recreational access for Waldo residents. The county approved assignment of the conservation contract to incorporate the parcels into Lake Alto Preserve and additionally authorized staff to explore potential alternate uses (including public-private partnership or reimbursing conservation funds) for one parcel near Fire Station 40 if the city of Waldo or a partner had an interest in a different community use.

Both conservation acquisitions were presented as priorities in the county's wild-spaces program and were approved unanimously.

What happens next: Staff will complete title, environmental and survey due diligence and proceed to closing per the approved terms. For the Lake Alto parcel, staff will coordinate with the city of Waldo on easements and possible alternate-use arrangements for one frontage parcel and report back.