The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) has announced the preservation of a Florida family farm through their Rural and Family Lands Protection Program (RFLPP). Lowder’s Gulf Hammock, a 691-acre working timber and wetland property in Levy County, is being preserved through a rural land protection easement for $691,200.
The RFLPP purchases the development rights to the agricultural properties through voluntary rural land protection easements, which prevent the future development of the land and allow agriculture operations to continue to contribute to Florida’s economy and the production of food, timber, and other resources vital to the prosperity of Florida.
Lowder’s Gulf Hammock is a timberland located west of the town of Gulf Hammock in Levy County. The tract contains 691 acres about 5.5 miles southeast of Otter Creek. The working timber operation features 306 acres in timber production and the remaining acreage supports a vibrant wetland community that protects the area’s water resources. The lower Waccasassa River passes through much of the western side of the property on its way to the Gulf, contributing to protection of the rich estuary. The Lowder family has been involved with agriculture, timber, and conservation projects since the 1990s, primarily in North Carolina. The entire property is within Florida black bear range, and a number of wading bird species forage in the wetlands.
“The safeguarding of Lowder’s Gulf Hammock through the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program marks another significant achievement for Florida agriculture, ensuring its ongoing productivity and its tradition of environmental stewardship,” saidFlorida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson. “By securing this land from future development, we are not only conserving a crucial natural asset but also paying tribute to the generations who have cultivated it. This effort guarantees that future Floridians will continue to reap the economic and environmental benefits provided by our state’s agricultural heritage.”
A story map of all completed RFLPP projects can be viewed by clicking here.