ACT Protects 40 Acres of Land Near Ichetucknee Springs in Columbia County
July 1, 2025
Gainesville, FL - Alachua Conservation Trust directly purchased 40 acres in Columbia County, Florida, north of Ichetucknee Springs. The acquisition will protect approximately 25 acres of hardwood forest and 15 acres of planted pine in an area of vital importance for local conservation efforts. Funding for the project was provided by Atira Conservation, as well as individual donors and a private foundation.
The acres of hardwood feature live oaks, hickories, swamp white oaks, magnolias, and numerous karst features. The remaining acres of the property are old field and planted pine. According to historical aerial imagery dating back to at least the 1930s, the area was historically longleaf pine sandhill. Big Tree 40 provides suitable habitat for numerous species, including the gopher tortoise, a keystone species in Florida.
The property is located within the Ichetucknee Trace, an area between Lake City and the Santa Fe River, where the Ichetucknee River once flowed. The property is also in the Ichetucknee Springs Priority Focus Area, the Santa Fe Basin Management Action Plan (BMAP), and the Ichetucknee Springs State Park Optimum Boundary
““ACT has been looking to purchase the Big Tree 40 property since it was identified by The Ichetucknee Alliance back in 2021. ACT Staff observed little to no invasive plant species during site visits and incredible old growth. Its
protection creates better connectivity, as well as reduces future development and agricultural pressures on the river and its springs.””
ACT expects to restore the property and is exploring making a section open to the public for passive recreation in the future. For additional information about this project, please contact ACT at info@AlachuaConservationTrust.org or (352) 373-1078.
