Trust for Public Land Helps Increase Public Recreation Access While Supporting National Defense Operations with Protection of Big Coldwater Creek Property

Trust for Public Land (TPL) is proud to announce the successful protection of the Big Coldwater Creek property, a significant conservation achievement preserving 102-acres within the Blackwater River State Forest. This key property, named after the swift-flowing, sandy-bottomed, spring-fed Big Coldwater Creek, has been conserved to provide better management of the habitat within the State Forest while ensuring the continued protection of the region.

Big Coldwater Creek is a state-designated paddling trail suitable for all ages. The Creek flows for nearly 20 miles through primarily protected lands, making the conservation of this property crucial for maintaining the ecological integrity of this unique waterway.

"We are thrilled to be part of the effort to protect this incredible natural resource," said Doug Hattaway, Southeast Region Land Protection Director for Trust for Public Land. "Preservation of the Big Coldwater Creek property ensures the protection of a vital ecosystem and provides recreational opportunities for future generations. TPL is grateful for the continued support of our partners and the community in making this project a reality."

TPL was contacted in early 2023 to help safeguard this critical inholding and in October 2023, TPL entered into an agreement to purchase the property from the landowner. The state of Florida will include the land in the Blackwater River State Forest, where it will be managed by the Florida Forest Service.

"The Big Coldwater Creek property is a welcomed addition to our stewardship of Blackwater River State Forest, Florida's largest state forest," said Rick Dolan, Director of the Florida Forest Service. "Not only does it offer another great recreational opportunity, but it also furthers our efforts to preserve one of the world's largest remaining longleaf pine ecosystems."

"Florida Forever is excited about our continued partnership with Trust for Public Land and for the robust protection of the Wolfe Creek Forest Florida Forever Project Area," said Callie DeHaven, Director of Division of State Lands, Florida Department of Environmental Protection. "This addition protects critical habitat and provides additional public access to Florida's stunning lands."

Protection of this property not only safeguards critical habitat for diverse plant and animal species but provides the community - including the servicepeople at Naval Air Station Whiting Field - additional access to hiking, nature-watching, boating, fishing, and more.

The Big Coldwater Creek property will safeguard the largest contiguous stretch of longleaf pine forest in the world while furthering the goals of Northwest Sentinel Landscape, a federally designated footprint that aims to protect military mission assurance through the conservation of forested lands to provide compatible land uses and military base buffering.

Funding for the purchase has been secured through a combination of Forest Legacy Funds from the U.S. Forest Service, administered by the Florida Forest Service, and Florida Forever Funds, a state-based funding initiative that TPL helped establish that is administered by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

Over the past two decades, TPL has collaborated with various partners to protect more than 13,500 acres in this area, utilizing over $40 million from a combination of Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration, Florida Forever, Santa Rosa County, Forest Legacy, and private funds.

In Florida alone, TPL's impact includes the protection of over 180,626 acres of land and the completion of more than 470 projects. TPL invites the public to join in celebrating the conservation milestone by exploring Big Coldwater Creek and the Blackwater River State Forest. To make a donation to support TPL's work to connect everyone to the outdoors in Florida, please contact TPL's Florida Director of Philanthropy, Elizabeth Giguere at [email protected].

About Trust for Public Land
Trust for Public Land (TPL) is a national nonprofit that works to connect everyone to the benefits and joys of the outdoors. As a leader in equitable access to the outdoors, TPL works with communities to create parks and protect public land where they are needed most. Since 1972, TPL has protected more than 4 million acres of public land, created more than 5,420 parks, trails, schoolyards, and iconic outdoor places, raised $94 billion in public funding for parks and public lands, and connected nearly 9.7 million people to the outdoors. To learn more, visit tpl.org.