The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) has announced the preservation of more Florida farmland through their Rural and Family Lands Protection Program (RFLPP). Hard Labor Creek, a 2,336-acre property located in Washington County, is being preserved through a rural lands protection easement for $4,995,000.
Hard Labor Creek is 2,336 acres of rolling pinelands and forested wetlands in Washington County that includes portions of Holmes Creek and Hard Labor Creek. The dominant agricultural activity on this property is silviculture and it is managed for improved wildlife habitat. Hard Labor Creek has three main surface water bodies that flow through the property and serve as recharge areas. The property is within two miles of Choctawhatchee River Water Management Area and abuts the Haddock Conservation Easement along Holmes Creek.
The management of Hard Labor Creek has helped encourage a great diversity in both plants and animals on the property. The upland pine stands are managed for wildlife and timber. Wildlife species include whitetail deer, turkey, quail, otters, red-tailed hawks, and striped skunks. Hard Labor Creek is within the Wildlife Corridor and has a significant historic site on the property where the Battle of Vernon occurred during the American Civil War.
“This investment in Hard Labor Creek is another example of Florida’s commitment to keeping agriculture strong, protecting private property rights, and preserving the way of life that built this state,” said Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson. “Programs like the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program ensure that Florida’s farmers and ranchers can continue producing the food, fiber, and resources we depend on while safeguarding our natural lands from unchecked development. This is a commonsense, conservative approach to conservation – protecting working lands, supporting our economy, and securing Florida’s future.”
The RFLPP purchases the development rights to agricultural properties through voluntary rural lands 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.
Click here to see a story map of all completed RFLPP projects.