The Florida Department of Environmental Protection announced on Mar. 30 that it has secured a 1,668-acre conservation easement over Bar-B Ranch in Martin County through the Florida Forever Program. This action protects a working cattle ranch while supporting water quality improvements and Everglades restoration efforts.
Bar-B Ranch is located near the C-44 Stormwater Treatment Area and Allapattah Flats Wildlife Management Area, and has been operated as a cattle ranch for decades. The new conservation easement will keep the land in agricultural production with approximately 250 head of cattle, while permanently preventing future development.
The property was identified as an important part of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan because protecting lands like Bar-B Ranch helps restore natural water storage and improves water quality flowing south through the Everglades system. “Conservation easements through Florida Forever keep working lands in agriculture while protecting the natural functions that support our environment,” said Alexis A. Lambert, Secretary at DEP. “At Bar-B Ranch, protecting a working ranch also protects critical water flows, wetland functions and wildlife corridors, showing how agricultural lands and Everglades restoration can support each other.”
Bar-B Ranch plays a role in storing and filtering water before it reaches downstream ecosystems such as the St. Lucie River Estuary, Indian River Lagoon, Lake Okeechobee, and ultimately the Greater Everglades region. The property is also within the Florida Wildlife Corridor to help maintain habitat connectivity across this area.
This acquisition was approved by Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet during a previous meeting.
According to the official website, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection supported efforts to build resilient coasts and communities through restoration initiatives; maintained state parks offering recreational opportunities; oversaw more than 175 state parks, trails and historic sites; aimed to safeguard air, water and land resources; served all regions with statewide environmental protection programs; and offered services including environmental project permitting and waste management regulation.
Since 2019, more than $1.5 billion has been committed to Florida Forever by the state government enabling DEP to acquire over 500,000 acres for conservation—55% under conservation easements.
