The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has acquired 21,600 acres within the Waccasassa Watershed Florida Forever Project in Levy County. This addition expands Goethe State Forest and secures a significant section of land within the Florida Wildlife Corridor.
According to DEP, the new property connects existing conservation areas and offers opportunities for public recreation such as hiking, hunting, fishing, and wildlife observation. The area is home to species including 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 commented on the project’s significance: “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 newly acquired land is situated in central Levy County. It 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. The property includes two tributaries of the Waccasassa River—Magee Branch and Otter Creek—and serves as an upland buffer helping protect water quality in both the river and downstream estuaries of the Big Bend Seagrasses Aquatic Preserve.
In addition to environmental benefits, the site contains historic remnants from Florida’s turpentine industry. Notably, rare rectangular turpentine pot fragments have been found there. The Division of Historical Resources at the Florida Department of State has identified potential for more unrecorded sites on this land.
Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet approved this purchase during a previous meeting. Rayonier Inc., which sold the property to DEP, began restoration efforts in 2021 by replanting native species. The DEP will manage these lands alongside the Florida Forest Service as part of Goethe State Forest.
Doug Long, executive vice president and chief resource officer at Rayonier Inc., stated: “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 details about this initiative can be found at https://floridaforever.org/.
