The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has completed the purchase of 12,243 acres in Bay County, designating the land as Sandy Creek State Forest. This addition expands the state forest system and is part of the Bear Creek Forest Florida Forever Project. The acquisition also extends the Florida Wildlife Corridor and creates a new public recreation area in Northwest Florida.
The property, secured through the Florida Forever Program, helps protect an important section of the St. Andrew Bay Watershed. The conservation of this land is expected to help maintain water quality and reduce flooding risks for nearby communities. The area contains diverse habitats, including longleaf pine forests, wetlands, and floodplains. It is home to wildlife such as gopher tortoises, Florida black bears, and species that are potentially threatened or endangered like the reticulated flatwoods salamander.
“With the creation of Sandy Creek State Forest, we’re not only preserving vital ecosystems and expanding wildlife habitat but also connecting conservation lands from Eglin Air Force Base to Apalachicola National Forest,” said DEP Secretary Alexis A. Lambert."This new state forest will offer meaningful public access while protecting the natural resources that make our state so special.”
Once opened to visitors, Sandy Creek State Forest will provide hiking trails, opportunities for wildlife observation, and outdoor education programs. Management will be overseen by the Florida Forest Service to balance both recreational use and conservation goals within the context of broader landscape initiatives such as the Northwest Florida Sentinel Landscape.
“When opened, Sandy Creek State Forest will provide new outdoor recreation opportunities for families, sportsmen and nature lovers in Northwest Florida,” said Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson. “Through the Florida Forest Service’s stewardship of over 1 million acres of state forest land, we’re expanding access to the outdoors while protecting our natural spaces for future generations to enjoy.”
“The Florida Forest Service is eager to add Sandy Creek State Forest to its conservation efforts alongside our stewardship of 38 other state forests,” said Rick Dolan, Director of the Florida Forest Service. “Florida currently has over 1 million acres of state forest land, protecting some of the state’s most valuable natural resources.”
Governor Ron DeSantis and members of the Cabinet approved this acquisition at 97% of its appraised value during a previous meeting.
Florida continues to lead national efforts in land protection through programs like Florida Forever. These initiatives focus on conserving lands that deliver environmental benefits such as safeguarding water quality and quantity, increasing resilience against storms, providing habitat for species protection, and offering recreational opportunities.
Since 2019, more than $1.4 billion has been allocated to support these efforts through programs like Florida Forever—of which $950 million was specifically directed toward expanding the Florida Wildlife Corridor—and enabled DEP to conserve over 374,000 acres since then.
For further details about ongoing conservation work under this program visit FloridaDEP.gov/Lands.