Land Management Restoration

Overview

The District accomplishes water resource restoration through several programs, primarily our springs program, Surface Water Improvement and Management (SWIM), land management activities, and mitigation.

Land Management Restoration Accomplishments

During Fiscal Year 2023-2024 (October 1, 2023 – September 30, 2024)

  • The District completed hand planting of 769 acres of longleaf pine reforestation and 36 acres of native grass restoration. These restoration activities improve upland habitat and serve important water resource functions by enhancing water recharge and providing water quality benefits. This work included site preparation and planting of 546,000 longleaf pine tubelings within the Apalachicola River, Econfina Creek, and Chipola River WMAs and 175,000 mixed upland grasses within the Perdido River Water Management Area.
  • The District partially completed shoreline habitat and salt marsh restoration at Live Oak Point in Walton County. The project includes establishment of breakwaters and salt marsh vegetation on over 4,600 feet of shoreline on the south shore of Choctawhatchee Bay (approximately 3,680 feet of breakwaters have been completed). Live Oak Point contains the largest salt marsh system (approximately 1,000 acres) in Choctawhatchee Bay. The marsh has been subject to rapid erosion, with recent shoreline retreat averaging three to four feet per year (erosion has been halted where breakwaters have been completed).
  • The District continued a stabilization and restoration project at Cypress Spring. Improvements include shoreline stabilization and enhancement, boardwalks and steps at entrance and exit points, and recreation amenities to prevent further degradation of the shoreline from recreational use. The project will improve water quality, restore the historical shoreline that has been impacted by erosion, and prevent destruction of habitat resulting from erosion and recreational use on the spring run and Holmes Creek.
  • District contractors and in-house staff conducted prescribed burns for wildfire-fuel reduction and habitat enhancement on approximately 9,932 acres of District lands. In addition, vegetation management (herbicide) and habitat enhancements were conducted on 1,692 acres.
  • Three timber harvests totaling 975 acres were active, removing offsite sand pine and thinning loblolly and slash pine.
  • More than 6,299 acres of District-owned land were surveyed for invasive exotic plants and control measures were implemented for identified problem areas.
  • Hurricane debris removal was completed on 576 acres located within the Econfina Creek, Chipola River, and Apalachicola River Water Management Areas.
  • Improved more than 30 miles of District owned roads for erosion control and improved public access.
  • Reopened all remaining Hurricane Michael-impacted District recreation sites and completed restoration projects at Whitewater Lake, Williford Spring, Wolf Pond South, Pine Ridge and Sparkleberry equestrian areas, Florida River Island, and the Bellamy Bridge/Marianna Tract.

Archived accomplishments by Fiscal Year