Lee County added 309.69 acres to the Alva Scrub Preserve on July 6. The acquisition, negotiated by the Division of County Lands for $1,749,749, was funded by the Conservation 20/20 Program and comprises a group of parcels along a portion of the southern boundary that make up a preserve corridor already managed by the program.

The property includes native plant communities that are relatively intact, which will conserve the expenditure of restoration funds. Hickey’s Creek Canal runs along the property and offers an opportunity for flow-way restoration for floodplain protection on both sides of the canal. Wetlands would be rehydrated after the restoration of Hickey’s Creek Extension to improve water quality.

The Conservation 20/20 program buys environmentally important lands for preservation. It is funded by a property tax that was approved by referendum in 1996, at 50 cents for every $1,000 of taxable property value. Since 1997, the program has made 115 land purchases; current land inventory is now 24,781 acres.

For more information, call 239-533-8833 or visit Conservation2020.org.