Sarasota County preserves 25 acres along Myakka River

Earle Kimel, Sarasota Herald-Tribune
·2 min read

Sarasota County brought its  portfolio of land protected through its Environmentally Sensitive Land Protection Program to 40,250 acres with a purchase of 25 acres on the west bank of the Myakka River, just south of the Tarpon Point Grill and Marina and the Playmore Subdivision. The site is next to the Myakka State Forest.

Earlier:80 percent say yes to Sarasota lands tax

The program, which began in 1999, was funded after a voter referendum to authorize the sale of $53 million in bonds that could be paid off with money raised from a small property tax.

The land, consists of tidal salt marsh, tidal strand, mangrove swamp, mesic and hydric flatwoods, and hydric hammock habitats on the west bank of the Myakka River near North Port and Venice.
The land, consists of tidal salt marsh, tidal strand, mangrove swamp, mesic and hydric flatwoods, and hydric hammock habitats on the west bank of the Myakka River near North Port and Venice.

Related:Sarasota County to preserve 228 acres of environmentally sensitive land in Old Miakka

A subsequent vote in 2005 extended the program through 2029, raised the bonding limit to $250 million and created a sister program to buy park land.

Sarasota County recently purchased 25 acres of environmentally land on the west bank of the Myakka River near North Port and Venice.
Sarasota County recently purchased 25 acres of environmentally land on the west bank of the Myakka River near North Port and Venice.

What’s New?

The county bought the 25 acres for $752,500 from Bankers Insurance Company. Once part of Taylor Ranch, it was envisioned as a potential office park before the Great Recession.

Mesic flatwood habitat located on the new 25-acre parcel purchased by Sarasota County through the Environmentally Sensitive Land Protection Program. The land is adjacent to the Myakka State Forest.
Mesic flatwood habitat located on the new 25-acre parcel purchased by Sarasota County through the Environmentally Sensitive Land Protection Program. The land is adjacent to the Myakka State Forest.

The land has tidal salt marsh, tidal strand, mangrove swamp, mesic and hydric flatwoods and hydric hammock habitats.

Brie Ondercin, land acquisition coordinator for Sarasota County Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources, said Sarasota County tries to purchase land along the wild and scenic Myakka River for preservation to improve the environment and protect native habitat for wildlife.
Brie Ondercin, land acquisition coordinator for Sarasota County Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources, said Sarasota County tries to purchase land along the wild and scenic Myakka River for preservation to improve the environment and protect native habitat for wildlife.

“We always try to buy properties along the river to provide further protection to both the water quality of the river and also the shoreline and to create a greenway corridor,” said Brie Ondercin, the land acquisition coordinator for Sarasota County Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources.

Did someone say wildlife?

Sarasota County recently purchased 25 acres of environmentally land.
Sarasota County recently purchased 25 acres of environmentally land.

The property expands a protected wildlife corridor and is home to gopher tortoises, otters, wading birds like the green heron, little blue heron and reddish egret, and manatees and alligators.

Can anybody play?

Because the land was purchased with preservation funds only passive recreation amenities like walking trails are likely, though in the near term, Ondercin said, the county has to clear debris and remove invasive species and some fencing.

Hydric flatwood habitat located on the new 25-acre parcel purchased by Sarasota County through the Environmentally Sensitive Land Protection Program. The land is adjacent to the Myakka State Forest.
Hydric flatwood habitat located on the new 25-acre parcel purchased by Sarasota County through the Environmentally Sensitive Land Protection Program. The land is adjacent to the Myakka State Forest.

Sen. Bob Johnson’s Landing, 9083 S. Tamiami Trail, was purchased with funds from the sister program and offers canoe and kayak launches, as well as a paved trail and restrooms.

Earlier:Senator Bob Johnson’s Landing opens on the Myakka River

The best place to put in on the Wild and Scenic Myakka River may be Snook Haven, Ondercin said.

“It’s easier to go south than north,” she added.

Sarasota County recently purchased 25 acres of environmentally land that will have some passive recreation amenities like walking trails.
Sarasota County recently purchased 25 acres of environmentally land that will have some passive recreation amenities like walking trails.

Want to learn more?

More than 21,000 of the acres preserved by Sarasota County are done so through conservation easements, which allow continued use but preclude future development.

A committee advises the County Commission everything from sites to purchase and land management.

This aerial map shows the location of the new 25-acre parcel purchased by Sarasota County through the Environmentally Sensitive Land Protection Program. There are currently no public access points to the parcel from Playmore Drive.
This aerial map shows the location of the new 25-acre parcel purchased by Sarasota County through the Environmentally Sensitive Land Protection Program. There are currently no public access points to the parcel from Playmore Drive.

To learn more about the land preservation program, including the nomination process, visit http://bit.ly/3iY3OnT.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Sarasota County preserves 25 acres adjacent to Myakka State Forest