Land Acquisition

The District is committed to protecting and preserving the water resources of North Central Florida. The majority of District-owned fee and conservation easement lands are located along rivers and streams, headwaters, and water recharge areas.

All land purchases must be approved by the Governing Board and are subject to available funding. The District maintains a list of current projects that have been ranked by the Governing Board. Projects are completed as funding is identified and secured. 

Land purchases are prioritized based on several factors, including to the extent which the lands provide protection for water resources, such as springs, wetlands and streams; provide flood protection; may support water resource development projects; are adjacent to other District lands; or enhance current land management activities. 

Land purchases and exchanges are prioritized relative to: 

  1. The extent to which the lands provide protection for Outstanding Florida Springs, Priority Focus Areas, and other springs (either directly or indirectly);
  2. The extent to which the lands provide protection of surface waters (wetlands, lakes, springs, and streams);
  3. The extent to which the lands provide flood protection;
  4. The extent to which the lands are needed for implementation of water resource development projects, restoration, or other projects;
  5. The extent to which the lands benefit existing acquisition holdings; and
  6. The extent to which the lands enhance land management objectives.

Review & Approval Process

The land acquisition process consists of the following phases: 

Application: Applications for the FY 2026 funding year are due by July 31, 2025. Submittals received after this time will be considered for future funding years. Only complete applications packets will be considered. 

Review:  Land applications are evaluated by staff experts who may request follow-up information to prepare a complete packet. Lands that do not meet the District's primary focus areas will not be pursued. 

Ranking:  Favorable applications will be presented to the Lands Committee and Governing Board in the Fall 2025 for ranking and funding. Funding is limited and only top-ranked land projects will be pursued.

Detailed Assessment: Top projects will begin detailed assessment which includes appraisals. If price is agreed upon, a survey, environmental site assessment, baseline documentation and other closing terms will be conducted. 

Application

If you have property you would like to offer the District for purchase, please complete the application. 

**THE CURRENT FUNDING CYCLE HAS CLOSED. APPLICATIONS RECEIVED AFTER JULY 31 2025 WILL BE REVIEWED FOR FUNDING FOR NEXT FISCAL YEAR, BEGINNING OCTOBER 01, 2026.**

Land Acquisition Application

Did You Know? 

When the District purchases lands in fee simple (all ownership rights), the lands are taken off the county ad valorem tax roll. The Legislature established a payment in lieu of taxes program in 1992 to reimburse local governments for the loss of revenue. To qualify for this program, a county in which the District has purchased land must have a population of less than 150,000. Subject to the approved budget, payments are made each year to qualifying counties for the previous year's taxes..