Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson announced Thursday the preservation of Lowder’s Gulf Hammock, a 691-acre family-owned timber and wetland property in Levy County, through the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Rural and Family Lands Protection Program. The land will be protected under a rural land protection easement valued at $691,200.
“The preservation of Lowder’s Gulf Hammock through the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program is a major win for Florida agriculture,” said Commissioner Simpson. “By securing this land from future development, we not only protect an important natural resource but also honor the generations who have worked it. This ensures that future Floridians will continue to benefit from its agricultural productivity and environmental contributions.”
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The Rural and Family Lands Protection Program aims to protect Florida’s agricultural lands by purchasing development rights through voluntary easements, allowing agriculture operations to continue while preventing future development. These efforts help sustain Florida’s economy through the production of essential resources like food and timber.
Lowder’s Gulf Hammock, located west of the town of Gulf Hammock in Levy County, spans 691 acres, with 306 acres dedicated to timber production and the remaining land supporting wetlands that protect local water resources.
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The lower Waccasassa River flows through the property, contributing to the protection of the rich estuary on its way to the Gulf of Mexico. The Lowder family, involved in agriculture and conservation since the 1990s, has played a key role in maintaining this land, which is also home to Florida black bears and various wading bird species.
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