Manatee Springs Cave System Protected with State Park Expansion
March 1, 2024
Gainesville, Florida – An extensive cave system connected to Manatee Springs State Park is now under public ownership after a 288–acre acquisition in Levy County completed by Alachua Conservation Trust (ACT) was transferred to the State of Florida last month. The Manatee Springs Addition was purchased by ACT in the final days of 2021 following a major public appeal and hundreds of thousands of dollars incurred by the non-profit land trust to keep it from being sold to developers.
Manatee Springs State Park by Alison Blakeslee.
The addition, which buffers existing state park lands along the southeast boundary, features multiple sinkholes that directly connect to one of the largest known cave systems in Florida with over 20,000 feet of explored and mapped underground conduits. The first-magnitude Manatee Springs is a popular destination for local swimmers, tourists, and cave divers. The spring also serves as a refuge for manatees in the winter months when temperatures in the Suwannee River become too cold for the wildly popular Florida fauna and they pile into the spring for warmth.
With the help of donations, loans and financing from the landowners themselves, ACT was able to secure the property with a long-term plan in place to sell the tract to the State. ACT held the property for more than two years, incurring hefty interest fees on the loans, while working to incorporate this important natural area into the existing park boundary. While the sale was finalized in January, ACT will continue to raise funds towards paying off the remaining loans not covered by the state acquisition.
“We are grateful to every donor and lender who contributed to this conservation effort as we raced against the clock to protect it back in 2021. Together with ACT donors and supporters, the owners of the property, and the State, we were able to see this project across the finish line. Conserving this land benefits our springs, rivers, aquifer, and wildlife. Continued funding for the Florida Forever Program is vitally important for land conservation projects like this one, which not only provide increased public recreation, but also preserve recharge areas around our fragile springs.”
“Since 2019, the Department of Environmental Protection has conserved over 220,000 acres through the Florida Forever Program. Land trusts like ACT continue to play an important role in stewarding projects like the Manatee Springs Addition and working in tandem with DEP to protect the lands that make our state a special place to live and visit. ”
As part of Manatee Springs State Park, these additional 288 acres will allow the park to expand its recreational offerings while working towards restoring the habitat surrounding the spring. The park currently boasts 8.5 miles of hiking trails and a direct connection to the 32-mile Nature Coast State Bike Trail.
For additional information or to support efforts to protect Florida’s natural lands, waterways, and springs, please contact ACT at info@AlachuaConservationTrust.org or (352) 373-1078.
Banner image: Manatee Springs Addition bordering state park lands to the left by Kim Davidson.
