The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has completed the purchase of 21,600 acres within the Waccasassa Watershed Florida Forever Project in Levy County. This acquisition expands Goethe State Forest and adds permanent protection to a key area within the Florida Wildlife Corridor.
According to DEP officials, the newly acquired land links existing conservation areas and opens additional space for public recreation such as hiking, hunting, fishing, and wildlife observation. The site 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 state’s ongoing commitment: “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 tract lies in central Levy County adjacent to Goethe State Forest’s southeastern corner. It borders Devil’s Hammock Wildlife Management Area and Upper Waccasassa Conservation Area. Two tributaries—Magee Branch and Otter Creek—cross the property before joining the Waccasassa River. The land will serve as an upland buffer that helps safeguard water quality for both the river system and downstream estuaries like those found at Big Bend Seagrasses Aquatic Preserve.
The site also holds cultural significance due to remnants from Florida’s turpentine industry era; rare rectangular turpentine pot fragments have been identified there. The Division of Historical Resources at the Department of State has indicated there may be more unrecorded historic sites present.
Governor Ron DeSantis and members of the Florida Cabinet previously approved this acquisition during a cabinet meeting. Rayonier Inc., which sold the property after beginning restoration efforts—including replanting native vegetation—in 2021, transferred ownership with an agreement that DEP will collaborate with the Florida Forest Service on future management 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.”
Further details about this program are available at FloridaForever.org.
