The Florida Department of Environmental Protection announced on Mar. 30 that it has secured a conservation easement over 1,668 acres at Bar-B Ranch in Martin County through the Florida Forever Program. The move protects the working cattle ranch while supporting Everglades restoration and water quality improvements, ensuring the land remains in agricultural use and is not developed.
This action is significant because it helps safeguard natural resources and supports long-term environmental goals for the region. The property’s location near the C-44 Stormwater Treatment Area and Allapattah Flats Wildlife Management Area makes it an important part of efforts to restore natural water storage and improve water quality flowing south through the Everglades system.
Bar-B Ranch has operated as a cattle ranch for decades with about 250 head of cattle. The conservation easement will keep these operations going while protecting critical ecological functions. “Conservation easements through Florida Forever keep working lands in agriculture while protecting the natural functions that support our environment,” said DEP Secretary Alexis A. Lambert. “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.”
The property helps store and filter water before it reaches key downstream ecosystems such as the St. Lucie River Estuary, Indian River Lagoon, Lake Okeechobee, and ultimately the Greater Everglades. Its inclusion within the Florida Wildlife Corridor maintains habitat connectivity across the region.
Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet approved this acquisition during a previous Cabinet meeting. Since 2019, more than $1.5 billion has been committed to Florida Forever by state leaders—enabling DEP to acquire over 500,000 acres for conservation; more than half are under conservation easements.
According to the official website, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection supported efforts to build resilient coasts and communities through restoration initiatives; maintained state parks providing recreational opportunities across Florida; oversaw more than 175 state parks, trails and historic sites; aimed to safeguard air, water and land resources statewide; served all regions with environmental protection programs; and offered services including project permitting as well as waste management regulation.
