Florida Conservation Group locks in 8,500 acres to shield water, wildlife and working lands

In a significant achievement for working lands and conservation, the Florida Cabinet has approved two projects from the Florida Conservation Group (FCG) through the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ (FDACS) Rural and Family Lands Protection Program^[1] (RFLPP).

These approvals will permanently preserve 2,559 acres at Bentley Ranch in southeastern Hardee County and nearly 6,000 acres in Okeechobee County.

Bentley Ranch features over six miles of frontage along Oak Creek, a tributary of the Peace River in Hardee. The property’s natural landscape supports clean water flow, aquifer recharge, and flood mitigation, essential for maintaining water quality for over one million residents in Hardee, DeSoto, Manatee, and Charlotte counties who rely on the Peace River as their primary source of drinking water.

The easement ensures that this working cattle ranch remains undeveloped, preserving its vital role within the Peace River Watershed, one of southwest Florida’s most important and sensitive freshwater systems.

“Protecting the wildlife and water connections between our rural ranchlands and our Gulf Coast is a defining goal of FCG,” said Julie Morris, executive director of FCG. “We are dedicated to working with our state partners and landowners like the Bentleys to protect Florida’s family farms and our rural heartland. We’re grateful to FDACS and Commissioner (Wilton) Simpson for their commitment to this shared mission.”

The property is situated within a critical linkage zone of the Florida Wildlife Corridor, making it a high-priority conservation area. The ranch enhances connectivity between protected lands in Hardee and Highlands counties.

With only 6% of land in Hardee County preserved, protecting Bentley Ranch is crucial for maintaining habitat connectivity and supporting the region’s rich biodiversity. The ranch’s improved pastures and forests are vital for creating an ecologically functional corridor for various species, including the Florida black bear, Florida panther, and eastern indigo snake.

Downstream, the Peace River flows into Charlotte Harbor, an Estuary of National Significance that supports commercial fisheries and recreational activities. Preserving lands like Bentley Ranch is essential for sustaining freshwater flow into the estuary and maintaining the health of the Outstanding Florida Waters^[2] in the region.

“We’re very fortunate to live in the middle of so much natural beauty and earn our living from this land,” said Jason Bentley, the owner of Bentley Ranch, whose family has run agricultural operations here since the 1940s. “Sometimes it’s not the easiest occupation, but we enjoy what we do, and it’s gratifying to be out here sharing this land with all the wildlife.”

The permanent preservation of nearly 6,000 acres of ranchland in Okeechobee County complements the network of protected lands in the Great Florida Prairie — a key focus area of FCG’s conservation — and the headwaters of the Everglades. Conserving this land will protect the integrity of the Kissimmee River, the health of Lake Okeechobee, and the drinking water for millions of Floridians downstream.

Together, the permanent preservation of these properties, totaling 8,500 acres, represents a strategic advancement in safeguarding Florida’s water resources, wildlife habitats, and working ranchlands that support local communities and the state’s agricultural economy.

“We want to conserve these natural resources, our agricultural legacy, and the local agricultural economy,” Bentley noted. “The development that’s moving closer to us has encouraged us to think about the incredible water resources of this area. We want to ensure we can continue our multigenerational family operation so that it remains sustainable and can help provide food security for future generations.”