Manatee County commissioners approved $16.25 million in land purchases on Oct. 20, permanently protecting about 711 acres across two new preserves in eastern Manatee County and Parrish.

The purchases created the approximately 554.5-acre Myakka Valley Preserve in eastern Manatee County and the approximately 156.4-acre Bunker Hill Preserve along Taylor Grade Road in Parrish, according to Tampa Bay Beacons, which first reported the acquisitions. The board approved three purchase agreements for the two properties.

Commissioners approved a separate $2 million agreement for the Bunker Hill parcel. The purchases are funded through the county's conservation lands program, which was established to protect environmentally sensitive lands, water resources and wildlife habitats.

"These acquisitions are about protecting what makes Manatee County special and making sure future generations have the same opportunities to enjoy our natural environment that we do today," Manatee County Commission Chairman Tal Siddique said, according to a county news release.

Myakka Valley Preserve

The Myakka Valley Preserve sits adjacent to the county's existing Triple Oak Preserve. Together they will form an approximately 661-acre conservation area within the Florida Wildlife Corridor, connecting habitats between Duette Preserve and Myakka River State Park.

The property provides opportunities to restore native habitats and wetlands that support species including the Florida scrub-jay, eastern indigo snake and Florida panther, according to the county. Future recreational uses could include hiking, biking, birdwatching, horseback riding and fishing. The county is also evaluating limited special-opportunity hunts.

The preservation aims to address concerns about overdevelopment within the Myakka River watershed.

Bunker Hill Preserve

The Bunker Hill property includes native hardwood forests, wetlands and pastureland along the South Fork of the Little Manatee River. Its preservation will support efforts to protect the watershed, restore habitats, improve water quality and advance the designation of the Little Manatee River as a National Wild and Scenic River, according to the county.

Future plans include invasive species removal, habitat restoration and recreational access for hiking, biking, picnicking and wildlife observation.

Ranch easements add 1,462 acres

The Oct. 20 purchases followed a Sept. 22 vote in which commissioners approved conservation easements for two working ranches: the approximately 1,042-acre Thundercloud Ranch in Parrish and the approximately 420-acre Mossy Island Ranch in Myakka City. Those easements were a partnership with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) Rural and Family Lands Protection Program.

The two easements represent approximately $15.68 million in permanent land protection. Manatee County contributed no more than $2 million, with FDACS covering the remaining costs.

"This is a great example of how we can take the conservation dollars Manatee County voters entrusted us with and make them go much further," At-Large Commissioner George Kruse said, according to the news release. "By partnering with the state, we're protecting a significant amount of rural Manatee County while keeping these properties in private ownership, in agricultural production and on the tax rolls."

Voter-backed conservation program

The acquisitions come as Manatee County voters on Nov. 3 approved a new $75 million conservation bond referendum by about 76%, according to Your Observer. The measure authorizes a 0.16-mill property tax estimated to cost the median homestead about $34 per year, according to the Trust for Public Land.

A similar referendum passed in 2020 with 71% support and funded a $50 million bond. The Your Observer reported before the Oct. 20 vote that if commissioners followed the advisory committee's recommendations, all but about $1.8 million of that original bond would be spent.

The county's Natural Resources Department will oversee restoration, long-term management and planning for future public access at both new preserves.