
Alachua County Forever announced a recent easement purchase located in Alachua from the Rembert family that will protect water quality in the Santa Fe River.
According to an Alachua County press release, Alachua County Forever, the county’s environmental land acquisition program, closed a deal with Davis Rembert and his family on Jan. 18 that will protect 614 acres of land.
The property is located within the Springs Priority Focus Area for Treehouse, Hornsby and Columbia Springs and protects nearly three miles of Bad Dog Branch, which feeds into the Mill Creek Sink. Studies have confirmed that there is a hydrological connection between Mill Creek Sink and Hornsby Spring, which is designated as an Outstanding Florida Spring on the Santa Fe River. Alachua County Forever has marked the Santa Fe River as one of its highest priorities to protect.
The Rembert family, which has six generations of history in Gainesville and Alachua, has allowed the property to be protected from future development while they continue to use the land for agricultural activities, including row crops, timber production and hay. Over 200 acres of the property are designated as “preservation zones,” which will provide greater protection for plants, wildlife and rare habitats that use the waters and land.
“Our family was fortunate to purchase this beautiful property, and we are excited to protect it in perpetuity with the Alachua County Forever program,” said Davis in the release. “This agreement protects this special place’s beauty, hydrology, and diversity. This brings great joy to our family, knowing future generations will enjoy the land and its many attributes.”
This is Alachua County Forever’s first land acquisition of 2024, following county voters’ re-authorization of the Wild Spaces and Public Places initiative in November 2022.
Since its inception in 2000, the program has worked with landowners to protect 34,277 acres.