Property a part of county’s Lemon Bay Blueway Padding Trail
This week, Big Waters Land Trust announced the permanent protection of 34 acres on Sandpiper Key in Englewood.
“Part of Sarasota County’s Lemon Bay Blueway Paddling Trail, the newly conserved land is located within Lemon Bay Aquatic Preserve — an Outstanding Florida Waterbody — and is part of Charlotte Harbor — an estuary of national significance,” a news release explains.
In 2022, Big Waters staff began working with Scott Polisar, “the property’s conservation-minded” Realtor, to protect the 34 coastal acres, the release points out. Big Waters leaders then worked with representatives of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) “to incorporate the parcels in Florida Forever priority boundaries,” the release adds. FDEP purchased the property for conservation in January, using Florida Forever Funds, the release notes. The land will be managed by the Charlotte Harbor Aquatic Preserves.
Protecting this property “strengthens resiliency for the barrier island community of Manasota Key,” the release explains. “The extensive mangrove forests and seagrass beds of the property naturally reduce erosion, store excess nutrients, and improve water quality. The newly conserved land also helps safeguard the adjacent development and infrastructure — “especially along Manasota Key’s Beach Road, which provides the primary ingress/egress” to the Key — “by protecting shorelines from storm-driven waves and flooding,” the release says.
“If the community had not banded together to champion the protection of these 34 acres, they would not be conserved today,” said Christine P. Johnson, president of Big Waters Land Trust, in the release. “We thank local residents, Scott Polisar, and the State of Florida for working together to protect this special place — future generations will thank you too!”
“Big Waters Land Trust is committed to helping landowners navigate conservation programs and find opportunities to achieve their conservation goals,” the release explains. “Landowners interested in learning how land conservation might work for them are encouraged to contact Big Waters” by calling the office at 941-918-2100 or completing the online inquiry form at bigwaterslandtrust.org/savemyland.