Alachua Conservation Trust Incorporated

THE MISSION OF ALACHUA CONSERVATION TRUST (ACT) IS TO PROTECT THE NATURAL, HISTORIC, SCENIC AND RECREATIONAL RESOURCES IN AND AROUND ALACHUA COUNTY, FLORIDA. ACT PROTECTS LAND THROUGH PURCHASE, DONATION, AND CONSERVATION EASEMENTS.

LAND PROTECTION: IN 2021, ACT HAD ONE OF ITS MOST ROBUST LAND PROTECTION YEARS IN HISTORY. ACT ADDED 28 ACRES TO FOX PEN PRESERVE IN EASTERN ALACHUA COUNTY IN THE LOCHLOOSA WILDLIFE CORRIDOR, WHICH IS PART OF THE LARGER FLORIDA WILDLIFE CORRIDOR. ACT PURCHASED THE 195-ACRE LITTLE AWESOME PROPERTY IN COLUMBIA COUNTY ON THE SANTA FE RIVER AT AN ONLINE AUCTION. THE ACQUISITION OF THIS PROPERTY ALONG WITH THE 138 ACRE SAWDUST SPRING ACQUISITION HELPED TO CONSERVE MORE THAN 2 MILES OF RIVER FRONTAGE ON THE SANTA FE AS WELL AS MULTIPLE FRESHWATER SPRINGS, KARST FEATURES, AND CRITICAL FLOODPLAIN ON THE DYNAMIC RIVER. ACT PURCHASED THE 94-ACRE TELFORD SPRING PROPERTY IN SUWANNEE COUNTY, WHICH ALSO HELPED PROTECT MORE THAN A MILE OF RIVER FRONTAGE ON THE SUWANNEE RIVER AS WELL AS THE BEAUTIFUL 2ND MAGNITUDE TELFORD SPRING AND SPRING RUN. IT WILL BE SOLD TO THE SUWANNEE RIVER WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT TO BECOME PART OF THE PEACOCK SPRINGS CONSERVATION AREA. ACT PURCHASED THE 160-ACRE INHOLDING AT RIVER RISE PRESERVE STATE PARK. THIS PARCEL IS CRITICAL TO THE MANAGEMENT OF THE UPLANDS FOR THE STATE PARK. BY ACQUIRING THIS TRACT AND SELLING IT TO THE STATE OF FLORIDA, ACT HELPED THE PARK SERVICE AVOID A FUTURE FILLED WITH MANAGEMENT AND RESTORATION HEADACHES. IN LEVY COUNTY, ACT PURCHASED 288 ACRES THAT WRAPS AROUND MANATEE SPRINGS STATE PARK. THE MAJORITY OF THE CAVE SYSTEM FOR THE 1ST MAGNITUDE MANATEE SPRING IS UNDER THIS TRACT MAKING IT PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT. CONSERVING THIS PROPERTY WILL ALSO BUFFER THE STATE PARK AND THE WILDLIFE THAT CALLS IT HOME FROM URBAN DEVELOPMENT, PARTICULARLY RESIDENTIAL HOMES ON SEPTIC TANKS. ACT ADDED THROUGH ACQUISITION, 133-ACRES IN BRADFORD COUNTY TO ACT'S SANTA FE RIVER PRESERVE. THIS CONSERVATION PROJECT HELPS PROTECT MORE THAN A MILE OF FRONTAGE ON THE SANTA FE RIVER AND WILL HELP ALLEVIATE FLOODING AND MAINTAIN WATER QUALITY ON THE UPPER PORTION OF THE RIVER. FOR MOST OF THESE ACQUISITIONS, ACT RECEIVED INDIVIDUAL DONATIONS, PRIVATE FOUNDATION FUNDING, STATE FUNDING, AND BRIDGE LOANS FROM DONORS TO COMPLETE THESE ACQUISITIONS. ACT CONTINUED ITS OUTREACH IN 2021 TO AGRICULTURAL LANDOWNERS TO PLACE CONSERVATION EASEMENTS ON FARMS LOCATED IN THE FARMLAND PRESERVATION AREA IN MARION COUNTY AS WELL AS IN THE GREATER NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA REGION. ACT ALSO CONTINUED ITS PARTNERSHIP WITH ALACHUA COUNTY TO PROVIDE LAND ACQUISITION NEGOTIATION SERVICES UTILIZING SALES TAX REVENUE THROUGH THE WILD SPACES & PUBLIC PLACES (WSPP) PROGRAM WITH THE SHARED GOAL TO PROTECT AS MUCH OF THE REMAINING ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE LANDS IN THE COUNTY AS POSSIBLE. IN ADDITION, ACT PLACED A CONSERVATION EASEMENT ON 278 ACRES IN ALACHUA & BRADFORD COUNTIES ALONG THE SANTA FE RIVER. ACT ALSO FACILITATED THE ACQUISITION OF THE SANTA FE CANOE OUTPOST IN HIGH SPRINGS BY THE CITY OF HIGH SPRINGS. A PRIVATE DONOR CONTRIBUTED FUNDS TO ACT TO ASSIST WITH THE ACQUISITION AND THE CITY OF HIGH SPRINGS GRANTED ACT A CONSERVATION EASEMENT ON THE CANOE OUTPOST PROPERTY IN RETURN. ADDITIONALLY, ACT RECEIVED A 20-ACRE DONATED CONSERVATION EASEMENT IN MICANOPY IN THE TUSCAWILLA TO ORANGE LAKE CORRIDOR AND A 152 ACRE DONATED CONSERVATION EASEMENT IN OKALOOSA COUNTY ADJACENT TO ANOTHER CONSERVATION EASEMENT HELD BY ACT. FURTHER EXPANDING ACT'S NESTING SEA TURTLE HABITAT PROTECTION EFFORTS, ACT PURCHASED VIA A BARGAIN SALE, A 1.5 ACRE GULF FRONT PROPERTY ON DOG ISLAND IN FRANKLIN COUNTY. FINALLY, ACT RECEIVED A 13-ACRE DONATION OF LAND ADJACENT TO SERENOLA FOREST TO EXPAND THE PRESERVE AND FURTHER EFFORTS TO SOLIDIFY THE WILDLIFE CORRIDOR BETWEEN PAYNES PRAIRIE AND SERENOLA.

PROPERTY MANAGEMENT: ACT ACTIVELY MANAGES TWELVE MAJOR PRESERVES ALONG WITH SEVERAL SMALLER CONSERVATION PROPERTIES ACROSS NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA. ACTS LAND MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES INCLUDE FOREST, GROUNDCOVER, AND WETLANDS RESTORATION, CREATING AND MAINTAINING PUBLIC TRAILS AND INFORMATIONAL KIOSKS, THE APPLICATION OF PRESCRIBED FIRE, AND EXOTIC PLANT SPECIES CONTROL. ACT BENEFITS FROM THE USE OF VOLUNTEERS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA, SANTA FE COLLEGE, MIDDLEBURY COLLEGE, EMORY UNIVERSITY ALUMNI, LOCAL BUSINESSES, AND THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE TO HELP COMPLETE THESE MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES ALONGSIDE STAFF. IN 2021, ACTS WOMEN IN THE WOODS RESOURCE MANAGEMENT INTERNSHIP PROGRAM, WHICH IS SPECIFICALLY TAILORED FOR YOUNG WOMEN (BUT ALSO INCLUDES YOUNG MEN) IN AN EFFORT TO IMPROVE THEIR HIRING PROSPECTS IN THIS TRADITIONALLY MALE ORIENTED CONSERVATION CAREER PATH, SERVED 5 YOUNG WOMEN AND 1 YOUNG MAN OVER THE SPRING, SUMMER, AND FALL SEMESTERS. IN TOTAL, THE PROGRAM HAS SERVED MORE THAN 36 YOUNG WOMEN AND MEN SINCE IT BEGAN IN 2017. IN TOTAL, INTERNS AND VOLUNTEERS CONTRIBUTED MORE THAN 1,900 HOURS OF SERVICE TO THE ORGANIZATION. DESPITE HAVING TO CANCEL THE IN-PERSON COMPONENT DUE TO THE COVID19 PANDEMIC, THE ANNUAL TREE FEST EVENT ORGANIZED BY SWAMP HEAD BREWERY & SOLAR IMPACT, INC. RAISED ADDITIONAL FUNDS IN 2021 TO PLANT 80,262 TREES AT ACTS LITTLE ORANGE CREEK PRESERVE. ACT UTILIZED PRESCRIBED FIRES TO BURN HUNDREDS OF ACRES IN FURTHERANCE OF ITS LONG-TERM HABITAT RESTORATION GOALS, AND INSTALLED AN ADDITIONAL HIKING TRAILS AT ROCK BLUFF SPRINGS AND FOX PEN PRESERVES AND OTHER AMENITIES TO ENHANCE RECREATIONAL ENJOYMENT FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC FROM ALL ACROSS NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA.

EDUCATION AND OUTREACH: ACT WAS ABLE TO HOST SEVERAL SELECT EDUCATIONAL AND OUTREACH WORKSHOPS AT ITS PRESERVES OUTDOORS AS COVID19 CONTINUED TO IMPACT WHERE AND HOW WE HELD EVENTS. THOSE EVENTS FOCUSED ON VOLUNTEER ENGAGEMENT, PRESERVE CLEAN-UPS AND CONSERVATION ACTIVITIES TO SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATIONS MISSION AND GOALS. FOLLOWING THE COVID19 SHUTDOWN, WHICH PREVENTED ACT FROM CONDUCTING MUCH OF ITS PLANNED PROGRAMMING FOR 2020 & 2021, ACT MOVED MUCH OF ITS EDUCATION AND OUTREACH ONLINE. ACT HOSTE WEBINARS AND GENERATED EDUCATIONAL CONTENT ABOUT CONSERVATION THROUGH ITS KEEP FLORID WILD VIRTUAL SERIES, WHICH STARTED IN 2020. THESE VIDEOS AND WEBINARS REACHED VIEWERS BOTH WITHIN ACTS WORKING AREA AND BEYOND. THROUGH THESE VIRTUAL OUTREACH EFFORTS, ACT WAS ABLE TO PARTNER WITH STATE AND LOCAL AGENCIES, INDIVIDUALS, AND OTHER LOCAL NONPROFITS. IN THE FALL, ACT WAS ABLE TO HOST SEVERAL OUTDOOR PADDLING OUTREACH EVENTS TO ITS SANTA FE RIVER. THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, ACT CONTINUED ITS TRADITIONAL OUTREACH VIA ITS PRINT NEWSLETTER, THE GAZETTEER, AND MAINTAINED A COMPREHENSIVE WEBSITE, WHICH WAS UPDATED REGULARLY THROUGHOUT 2021. ACT ALSO RELIED HEAVILY ON ITS SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS AND REGULAR MONTHLY EMAILS, FIELD NOTES, TO PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL CONTENT TO THE PUBLIC AND PROMOTE ACTS MISSION AND WORK. THESE CHANNELS REACHED OVER 10,000 SUBSCRIBERS IN 2021 ON SUCH TOPICS AS ECOLOGY, WILDLIFE, ORGANIZATIONAL ACTIVITIES, STAFF NOTES FROM THE FIELD, NATURAL HISTORY, AND UPCOMING ACT VIRTUAL EVENTS. DUE TO THE PANDEMIC AND TO ENSURE THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF THE COMMUNITY, ACT WAS NOT ABLE TO HOST SOME OF ITS REGULAR OUTREACH EVENTS. THIS INCLUDED ITS ANNUAL CONSERVATION STEWARDS AWARDS EVENT, WHICH WAS HELD VIRTUALLY IN 2021 DUE TO THE PANDEMIC.

LAND PROTECTION: IN 2021, ACT HAD ONE OF ITS MOST ROBUST LAND PROTECTION YEARS IN HISTORY. ACT ADDED 28 ACRES TO FOX PEN PRESERVE IN EASTERN ALACHUA COUNTY IN THE LOCHLOOSA WILDLIFE CORRIDOR, WHICH IS PART OF THE LARGER FLORIDA WILDLIFE CORRIDOR. ACT PURCHASED THE 195-ACRE LITTLE AWESOME PROPERTY IN COLUMBIA COUNTY ON THE SANTA FE RIVER AT AN ONLINE AUCTION. THE ACQUISITION OF THIS PROPERTY ALONG WITH THE 138 ACRE SAWDUST SPRING ACQUISITION HELPED TO CONSERVE MORE THAN 2 MILES OF RIVER FRONTAGE ON THE SANTA FE AS WELL AS MULTIPLE FRESHWATER SPRINGS, KARST FEATURES, AND CRITICAL FLOODPLAIN ON THE DYNAMIC RIVER. ACT PURCHASED THE 94-ACRE TELFORD SPRING PROPERTY IN SUWANNEE COUNTY, WHICH ALSO HELPED PROTECT MORE THAN A MILE OF RIVER FRONTAGE ON THE SUWANNEE RIVER AS WELL AS THE BEAUTIFUL 2ND MAGNITUDE TELFORD SPRING AND SPRING RUN. IT WILL BE SOLD TO THE SUWANNEE RIVER WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT TO BECOME PART OF THE PEACOCK SPRINGS CONSERVATION AREA. ACT PURCHASED THE 160-ACRE INHOLDING AT RIVER RISE PRESERVE STATE PARK. THIS PARCEL IS CRITICAL TO THE MANAGEMENT OF THE UPLANDS FOR THE STATE PARK. BY ACQUIRING THIS TRACT AND SELLING IT TO THE STATE OF FLORIDA, ACT HELPED THE PARK SERVICE AVOID A FUTURE FILLED WITH MANAGEMENT AND RESTORATION HEADACHES. IN LEVY COUNTY, ACT PURCHASED 288 ACRES THAT WRAPS AROUND MANATEE SPRINGS STATE PARK. THE MAJORITY OF THE CAVE SYSTEM FOR THE 1ST MAGNITUDE MANATEE SPRING IS UNDER THIS TRACT MAKING IT PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT. CONSERVING THIS PROPERTY WILL ALSO BUFFER THE STATE PARK AND THE WILDLIFE THAT CALLS IT HOME FROM URBAN DEVELOPMENT, PARTICULARLY RESIDENTIAL HOMES ON SEPTIC TANKS. ACT ADDED THROUGH ACQUISITION, 133-ACRES IN BRADFORD COUNTY TO ACT'S SANTA FE RIVER PRESERVE. THIS CONSERVATION PROJECT HELPS PROTECT MORE THAN A MILE OF FRONTAGE ON THE SANTA FE RIVER AND WILL HELP ALLEVIATE FLOODING AND MAINTAIN WATER QUALITY ON THE UPPER PORTION OF THE RIVER. FOR MOST OF THESE ACQUISITIONS, ACT RECEIVED INDIVIDUAL DONATIONS, PRIVATE FOUNDATION FUNDING, STATE FUNDING, AND BRIDGE LOANS FROM DONORS TO COMPLETE THESE ACQUISITIONS. ACT CONTINUED ITS OUTREACH IN 2021 TO AGRICULTURAL LANDOWNERS TO PLACE CONSERVATION EASEMENTS ON FARMS LOCATED IN THE FARMLAND PRESERVATION AREA IN MARION COUNTY AS WELL AS IN THE GREATER NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA REGION. ACT ALSO CONTINUED ITS PARTNERSHIP WITH ALACHUA COUNTY TO PROVIDE LAND ACQUISITION NEGOTIATION SERVICES UTILIZING SALES TAX REVENUE THROUGH THE WILD SPACES & PUBLIC PLACES (WSPP) PROGRAM WITH THE SHARED GOAL TO PROTECT AS MUCH OF THE REMAINING ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE LANDS IN THE COUNTY AS POSSIBLE. IN ADDITION, ACT PLACED A CONSERVATION EASEMENT ON 278 ACRES IN ALACHUA & BRADFORD COUNTIES ALONG THE SANTA FE RIVER. ACT ALSO FACILITATED THE ACQUISITION OF THE SANTA FE CANOE OUTPOST IN HIGH SPRINGS BY THE CITY OF HIGH SPRINGS. A PRIVATE DONOR CONTRIBUTED FUNDS TO ACT TO ASSIST WITH THE ACQUISITION AND THE CITY OF HIGH SPRINGS GRANTED ACT A CONSERVATION EASEMENT ON THE CANOE OUTPOST PROPERTY IN RETURN. ADDITIONALLY, ACT RECEIVED A 20-ACRE DONATED CONSERVATION EASEMENT IN MICANOPY IN THE TUSCAWILLA TO ORANGE LAKE CORRIDOR AND A 152 ACRE DONATED CONSERVATION EASEMENT IN OKALOOSA COUNTY ADJACENT TO ANOTHER CONSERVATION EASEMENT HELD BY ACT. FURTHER EXPANDING ACT'S NESTING SEA TURTLE HABITAT PROTECTION EFFORTS, ACT PURCHASED VIA A BARGAIN SALE, A 1.5 ACRE GULF FRONT PROPERTY ON DOG ISLAND IN FRANKLIN COUNTY. FINALLY, ACT RECEIVED A 13-ACRE DONATION OF LAND ADJACENT TO SERENOLA FOREST TO EXPAND THE PRESERVE AND FURTHER EFFORTS TO SOLIDIFY THE WILDLIFE CORRIDOR BETWEEN PAYNES PRAIRIE AND SERENOLA.

PROPERTY MANAGEMENT: ACT ACTIVELY MANAGES TWELVE MAJOR PRESERVES ALONG WITH SEVERAL SMALLER CONSERVATION PROPERTIES ACROSS NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA. ACTS LAND MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES INCLUDE FOREST, GROUNDCOVER, AND WETLANDS RESTORATION, CREATING AND MAINTAINING PUBLIC TRAILS AND INFORMATIONAL KIOSKS, THE APPLICATION OF PRESCRIBED FIRE, AND EXOTIC PLANT SPECIES CONTROL. ACT BENEFITS FROM THE USE OF VOLUNTEERS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA, SANTA FE COLLEGE, MIDDLEBURY COLLEGE, EMORY UNIVERSITY ALUMNI, LOCAL BUSINESSES, AND THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE TO HELP COMPLETE THESE MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES ALONGSIDE STAFF. IN 2021, ACTS WOMEN IN THE WOODS RESOURCE MANAGEMENT INTERNSHIP PROGRAM, WHICH IS SPECIFICALLY TAILORED FOR YOUNG WOMEN (BUT ALSO INCLUDES YOUNG MEN) IN AN EFFORT TO IMPROVE THEIR HIRING PROSPECTS IN THIS TRADITIONALLY MALE ORIENTED CONSERVATION CAREER PATH, SERVED 5 YOUNG WOMEN AND 1 YOUNG MAN OVER THE SPRING, SUMMER, AND FALL SEMESTERS. IN TOTAL, THE PROGRAM HAS SERVED MORE THAN 36 YOUNG WOMEN AND MEN SINCE IT BEGAN IN 2017. IN TOTAL, INTERNS AND VOLUNTEERS CONTRIBUTED MORE THAN 1,900 HOURS OF SERVICE TO THE ORGANIZATION. DESPITE HAVING TO CANCEL THE IN-PERSON COMPONENT DUE TO THE COVID19 PANDEMIC, THE ANNUAL TREE FEST EVENT ORGANIZED BY SWAMP HEAD BREWERY & SOLAR IMPACT, INC. RAISED ADDITIONAL FUNDS IN 2021 TO PLANT 80,262 TREES AT ACTS LITTLE ORANGE CREEK PRESERVE. ACT UTILIZED PRESCRIBED FIRES TO BURN HUNDREDS OF ACRES IN FURTHERANCE OF ITS LONG-TERM HABITAT RESTORATION GOALS, AND INSTALLED AN ADDITIONAL HIKING TRAILS AT ROCK BLUFF SPRINGS AND FOX PEN PRESERVES AND OTHER AMENITIES TO ENHANCE RECREATIONAL ENJOYMENT FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC FROM ALL ACROSS NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA.

EDUCATION AND OUTREACH: ACT WAS ABLE TO HOST SEVERAL SELECT EDUCATIONAL AND OUTREACH WORKSHOPS AT ITS PRESERVES OUTDOORS AS COVID19 CONTINUED TO IMPACT WHERE AND HOW WE HELD EVENTS. THOSE EVENTS FOCUSED ON VOLUNTEER ENGAGEMENT, PRESERVE CLEAN-UPS AND CONSERVATION ACTIVITIES TO SUPPORT THE ORGANIZATIONS MISSION AND GOALS. FOLLOWING THE COVID19 SHUTDOWN, WHICH PREVENTED ACT FROM CONDUCTING MUCH OF ITS PLANNED PROGRAMMING FOR 2020 & 2021, ACT MOVED MUCH OF ITS EDUCATION AND OUTREACH ONLINE. ACT HOSTE WEBINARS AND GENERATED EDUCATIONAL CONTENT ABOUT CONSERVATION THROUGH ITS KEEP FLORID WILD VIRTUAL SERIES, WHICH STARTED IN 2020. THESE VIDEOS AND WEBINARS REACHED VIEWERS BOTH WITHIN ACTS WORKING AREA AND BEYOND. THROUGH THESE VIRTUAL OUTREACH EFFORTS, ACT WAS ABLE TO PARTNER WITH STATE AND LOCAL AGENCIES, INDIVIDUALS, AND OTHER LOCAL NONPROFITS. IN THE FALL, ACT WAS ABLE TO HOST SEVERAL OUTDOOR PADDLING OUTREACH EVENTS TO ITS SANTA FE RIVER. THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, ACT CONTINUED ITS TRADITIONAL OUTREACH VIA ITS PRINT NEWSLETTER, THE GAZETTEER, AND MAINTAINED A COMPREHENSIVE WEBSITE, WHICH WAS UPDATED REGULARLY THROUGHOUT 2021. ACT ALSO RELIED HEAVILY ON ITS SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS AND REGULAR MONTHLY EMAILS, FIELD NOTES, TO PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL CONTENT TO THE PUBLIC AND PROMOTE ACTS MISSION AND WORK. THESE CHANNELS REACHED OVER 10,000 SUBSCRIBERS IN 2021 ON SUCH TOPICS AS ECOLOGY, WILDLIFE, ORGANIZATIONAL ACTIVITIES, STAFF NOTES FROM THE FIELD, NATURAL HISTORY, AND UPCOMING ACT VIRTUAL EVENTS. DUE TO THE PANDEMIC AND TO ENSURE THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF THE COMMUNITY, ACT WAS NOT ABLE TO HOST SOME OF ITS REGULAR OUTREACH EVENTS. THIS INCLUDED ITS ANNUAL CONSERVATION STEWARDS AWARDS EVENT, WHICH WAS HELD VIRTUALLY IN 2021 DUE TO THE PANDEMIC.