ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – St. Johns County residents are opposing a land swap of about 600 acres of the Guana River Wildlife Management Area for about 3,065 acres of land from four separate parcels throughout Florida.
The proposed acres of the Guana River include mesic hammock, xenic hammock, scrub, mesic flatwoods, scrubby flatwoods, maritime hammock, depression marsh and basin swamp.
The four separate parcels include:
- Lafayette Timber Site in Lafayette County - 1,392 acres
- Morgan Alderman Road Site in Volusia County - 252 acres
- Holopaw Groves Site in Osceola County - 1,201 acres
- County Road 13 Site in St. Johns County - 220 acres
St. Johns County residents who oppose the land swap created a petition to stop the swap and protect the land from potential development.
The petition states the swap would eliminate public use of an existing trail by hikers and hunters, convert wildlife habitat that was restored by taxpayer dollars, and place development adjacent to the popular waterfowl management area on Guana Lake.
“I think it’s absolutely devastating and incredibly selfish of both the private owner and the state to do that to the community,” Matthew Chipperfield said. “This is a world-class fishery. It’s a great spot for hunting, for outdoorsmen, for birders, for trail hikers. I run Fishing Charters in here. Been running charters in here for about 10 years, and we target large trophy spectrum trout ready fish.”
The petition also says the meeting agenda item was made public less than seven days before the surprise meeting of the Acquisition and Restoration Council.
The organizers also said the item doesn’t detail the ecological benefits of the trade besides the gained acres. It will also prevent the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission from doing prescribed fires to prevent the build up of flammable plants.
“There’s over 200 species of birds in here at any given time. Some of the endangered species are protected species,” Chipperfield said. “Whether it be a golf course or homes that affluent could get into this lagoon and cause algae blooms, which could absolutely decimate the ecosystem.”
Conservationists said the river is already showing signs of strain.
“The Guana River, that’s undergoing high nutrient levels,” Chris Farrell said. “It’s been impaired by the state. We need to do restoration activity, not put new neighborhoods next to it. If we have people living in the middle of conservation lands, it really affects our ability to manage them properly.”
Conservationists hope the public pushback is enough to protect what they see as one of the last untouched gems of wild Florida.
A protest will be held on May 17 at the intersection of A1A and Mickler Road from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.