Crooked River Ranch on Manatee River in Parrish receives conservation protection
The Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast recently helped to protect from development 64 acres along the Manatee River in Manatee County known as Crooked River Ranch – located halfway between I-75 and Fort Hamer Road in Parrish.
“We are deeply thankful to the William A. and Janet K. Hunter Family Trust for their decision to protect this special place for the benefit of people and nature,” said Christine Johnson, president of the Conservation Foundation. “We are also delighted to have once again partnered with Manatee County to conserve Southwest Florida’s critical natural areas for the benefit of all.”
The Conservation Foundation represented the Hunter family throughout the protection process, bringing the property to Manatee County as a potential conservation opportunity in early 2023. As one of the last remaining, large, privately owned parcels along the Manatee River, protecting Crooked River Ranch provides opportunities for coastal resiliency, water quality protection, and native habitat restoration.
Conserving the waterfront land also helps safeguard imperiled species such as the West Indian manatee, Eastern black rail, piping plover, smalltooth sawfish, and American bald eagle.
Crooked River Ranch was purchased by Manatee County on Feb. 12 and marks the first acquisition under the 2020 Conservation and Parks Projects Referendum Fund. In 2020, the Conservation Foundation partnered with The Trust for Public Land and the Manatee Fish and Game Association to advocate in support of the referendum, which provides funding for water quality protection, natural areas preservation, and park creation/management.
“This is a huge win for our citizens, our county, and the environment,” said James Satcher, Manatee County District 1 commissioner. “This was an overwhelming decision by the voters in 2020 for this purpose.”
The uniqueness of Crooked River Ranch make it an ideal combination of natural and public recreational opportunities. Manatee County plans to provide community recreation opportunities onsite, including hiking, birding, paddling, and camping.
The Conservation Foundation and Manatee County previously partnered on the protection of two other public-access waterfront properties – the 150-acre Robinson Preserve addition and 44-acre Johnson Preserve on the Braden River.
Party in Paradise fundraiser
In celebration of its 20th anniversary, the Conservation Foundation held a fundraising event, Party in Paradise, on Feb. 3 at the not-for-profit land trust’s Bay Preserve headquarters in Osprey, raising more than $350,000.
Partygoers enjoyed cocktails donated by Siesta Key Rum, coconuts from Surfing Coconut, and food from Michael’s On East. Cornelia Matson was the honorary chair for the event in support of the Conservation Foundation’s mission to protect land and water in Southwest Florida for the benefit of people and nature.
Submitted by Sam Valentin
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Crooked River Ranch in Parrish receives environmental protection
