14.5-acre tract sits on Little Sarasota Bay
In an ongoing effort to protect environmentally sensitive lands, Sarasota County staff has secured a 14.5-acre conservation easement on the Elling Eide property, which borders Little Sarasota Bay, the county has announced.
Made through the Environmentally Sensitive Lands Protection Program (ESLPP) for $821,666, the acquisition “will safeguard critical habitats and wildlife corridors,” a news release points out.
The property has Little Sarasota Bay on its western border and Bayonne Preserve to the north, the release says. “It lies within the Bayonne Protection Priority Site, a designated priority area under the ESLPP since 1998,” the release explains.
“The conservation easement preserves diverse ecosystems, including scrubby flatwoods, coastal hammock, mesic hammock and wetlands,” the release continues. “These habitats support native wildlife such as white-tailed deer, bobcats, bald eagles, swallow-tailed kites, great horned owls and gopher tortoises,” along with a variety of native vegetation, such as Florida slash pine, live and laurel oak, cabbage palm, Southern red cedar, Southern magnolia, saw palmetto, prickly apple cactus, giant airplant, wild cinnamon, coontie, and black, red and white mangroves, the release adds.
Ownership of the land remains with the Elling O. Eide Charitable Foundation Inc., the release notes. “The property will not be open to the public, but it will be monitored annually to ensure compliance with conservation values outlined in the deed,” the release adds.
“This acquisition reinforces the county’s commitment to protecting vital natural resources while maintaining responsible land stewardship through the Land Acquisition and Management Program,” the release says.
“This year marks the 25th anniversary of ESLPP,” which has protected 41,130 acres of land and 123 properties, through purchases and conservation easements, the release points out. (See the related article in this issue.)
For more information, visit: SarasotaCountyParks.com/LandAcquisitions or call 311.