Tall Timbers was awarded over $7 million by the Natural Resources Conservation Service to do conservation work in the region. The project is through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP), a five-year, partner-driven effort that leverages funds to solve challenges on both natural and agricultural lands.

The project includes improving water quality, wildlife habitat, and economic opportunities in the Aucilla River watershed, which starts in Thomas County. It includes a variety of practices to help achieve these goals.

First, it will help with the purchase of conservation easements from the headwaters of the river near Thomasville down to the Gulf of Mexico. Conservation easements are voluntary agreements made with private landowners that can offer financial benefits for them to continue forestry and farming operations, while ensuring that the natural values of their land are conserved for the future. 

The project also will help pay for management of both private and public lands. Land management such as prescribed burning, brush reduction, and invasive plant treatment will reduce wildfire risk, improve wildlife habitat, and benefit water quality by allowing greater recharge of the Floridan aquifer. 

“We know that long-term land conservation must take the local economy into account,” said Dr. Bill Palmer, president and CEO of Tall Timbers. “That’s one of the reasons we are so excited about leveraging our partnerships to bring this level of new money to the region.” 

Prior to receiving this grant, Tall Timbers developed a coalition of partners to conserve the Aucilla River watershed starting in Thomasville. These partners include Golden Triangle RC&D and the Friends of Lost Creek Forest, both of whom have worked extensively to protect water quality and natural landscapes Thomas County.

“As a naturalist and environmentalist, I find this grant to be one of the most exciting opportunities for our community in my almost 50 years of living here,” said Beth Grant, founder and president of Friends of Lost Creek Forest. “The headwaters of both the St. Marks and the Aucilla rivers are in Thomas County, so we play a significant role in their conservation and protection, and we have the opportunity to promote the natural beauty of our area, as well as our cultural heritage.”

The Aucilla River Watershed Coalition will join other RCPP partners such as the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge, U.S. Forest Service, Apalachee Audubon Society, Wakulla Environmental Institute, and numerous private landowners in the Red Hills region towards making this project a reality. The long-term stewardship actions of private landowners in the Red Hills, in particular, were crucial in attracting these new funds. 

“It’s been great working with so many private landowners in the Red Hills to help bring this money to the region for conservation.  But now I’m ready to put these new resources to work,” said Peter Kleinhenz, the Aucilla River Watershed Coalition coordinator for Tall Timbers.

If you are a landowner or agricultural producer and would like to get involved with this project, contact Peter Kleinhenz at pkleinhenz@talltimbers.org or Shane Wellendorf at swell@talltimbers.org. Project activities are expected to begin in fall of 2020.