The Florida Department of Environmental Protection announced on March 30 that it has secured a 1,668-acre conservation easement over Bar-B Ranch in Martin County through the Florida Forever Program. The agreement protects the working cattle ranch while supporting water quality improvements and Everglades restoration efforts.
The conservation easement ensures that Bar-B Ranch will remain in agricultural production and prevents future development. This move is seen as important for both environmental protection and sustaining local agriculture, as it allows landowners to continue ranching while preserving natural resources.
Located near the C-44 Stormwater Treatment Area and Allapattah Flats Wildlife Management Area, Bar-B Ranch supports approximately 250 head of cattle. The property was identified for acquisition under the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan because its strategic location helps restore natural water storage and improve water quality flowing south through the Everglades system. “Conservation easements through Florida Forever keep working lands in agriculture while protecting the natural functions that support our environment,” said Alexis A. Lambert, Secretary at DEP. “At Bar-B Ranch, protecting a working ranch also protects critical water flows, wetland functions and wildlife corridors, showing how agricultural lands and Everglades restoration can support each other.”
Bar-B Ranch plays a role in storing and filtering water before it reaches downstream ecosystems such as the St. Lucie River Estuary, Indian River Lagoon, Lake Okeechobee, and ultimately the Greater Everglades region. Its inclusion within the Florida Wildlife Corridor also helps maintain habitat connectivity across central Florida.
This acquisition was approved by Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet during an earlier meeting. Since 2019, more than $1.5 billion has been committed to the Florida Forever Program—enabling DEP to acquire over 500,000 acres for conservation purposes; about 55 percent of these are conservation easements.
According to the official website, DEP supports resilient coasts through restoration initiatives; maintains state parks offering recreational opportunities; oversees more than 175 state parks, trails and historic sites; aims to safeguard air, water and land resources statewide; provides services such as project permitting and waste management regulation; and serves all regions of Florida with environmental protection programs.
