54 Acres Along Santa Fe River Near Worthington Springs Permanently Conserved by Alachua Conservation Trust
August 1, 2025
Gainesville, FL - Alachua Conservation Trust (ACT) has directly purchased 54 acres of land along the upper part of the Santa Fe River in Union County, Florida. The property, purchased from the Rimes Family, will become part of ACT's Santa Fe River Preserve system of protected lands. With this purchase, approximately three-quarters of a mile along the river is also protected from development and more intense land uses. Funding for this project was provided by the River Branch Foundation and private donors. ACT also received donations from the public during the Amazing Give campaign earlier this year.
The land includes large, intact bottomland forest along the upper reaches of the Santa Fe River, which is one of the largest rivers in North Florida and home to many freshwater springs. The Santa Fe River is also the largest tributary to the Suwannee River. Protection of the property safeguards habitat for imperiled species, including the threatened alligator snapping turtle and various rare species of mussels.
““These 54 acres will join an existing network of protected lands along the Santa Fe and Suwannee rivers. The area includes ACT preserves, nearby county-owned conservation lands, as well as conservation easements. This purchase will also strengthen watershed protection efforts for the region’s rivers and springs.” ”
““We’ve seen firsthand how special and ecologically important this part of the river is. Protecting it felt like the right thing to do, not just for us, but for the health of the river and the species that depend on it.””
For additional information about this or related projects, please contact ACT at info@alachuaconservationtrust.org or (352) 373-1078.
