Audubon Florida is sounding the alarm over a newly disclosed proposal by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to swap part of the Guana River Wildlife Management Area (WMA) for parcels located elsewhere in the state — a move the group says could open the door to development on long-protected conservation land.
The proposal surfaced late Wednesday, when DEP posted the agenda for a previously unannounced meeting of the state’s Acquisition and Restoration Council (ARC), scheduled for May 21.
The agenda revealed a single unexpected item, according to Audobon Florida: the potential trade of “a choice piece of state-owned real estate” in the Guana River WMA in exchange for a mix of other properties throughout Florida.
Audubon, along with other conservation advocates, expressed concern about both the content of the proposal and the process by which it was released.
The group described the agenda item as “light on details” and criticized the short notice provided to the public ahead of next week’s meeting.
According to Audubon, the parcel in question includes wetlands and uplands. While the agenda notes the wetlands would be “avoided,” the organization said that this language indicates an intent to develop the uplands.
Audubon says this raises the possibility of construction projects — such as housing or a golf course — that could impact the broader conservation landscape.
The organization noted that Florida taxpayers have invested significantly in restoring the Guana River WMA over the last 30 years. The land provides habitat for species such as the gopher tortoise and is a popular recreational destination for hunting and hiking.
Audubon also raised concerns about the potential impact of development on Guana Lake, which is designated an Outstanding Florida Waterway. The group warned that stormwater runoff from any new development could degrade water quality and disrupt current uses, including waterfowl hunting.
Audubon cautioned that changing the land use could make it more difficult to apply prescribed fire to adjacent conservation areas, including Guana State Park and the Guana-Tolomato-Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve — a key tool in maintaining the ecological health of these lands.
While the proposed swap would reportedly provide five new acres for every acre given up, Audubon emphasized that the state has not demonstrated that the Guana parcel is “no longer needed for conservation purposes,” a legal requirement for disposing of conservation lands.
“Florida’s conservation lands are not held in trust for the public simply until a developer wants them,” Audubon stated in its alert.
The organization is urging the ARC to reject the proposal outright and is calling on members of the public to voice their opinion ahead of the May 21 meeting.
9 Responses
Why don’t they just sell the whole thing to a developer and call it a day? I mean, they’re acting like the gopher tortise it’s not a big deal. What about the Woodstorks that use that area as a rookery? What about the endangered plants that are out there? I mean, the area is pristine. There’s no power run out there. There’s no cell towers out there. Once you hit a certain point on AA the power lines stop. There are no cell towers. It’s beautiful out there. And it stays like that for a little while. The dunes on the beach side are the way they’re supposed to look. As soon as you start developing for a golf course that means you’re gonna have to put in infrastructure. You’re gonna put in buildings. Drainage systems. Parking lots. Is going to be traffic. There’s wild boar out there, deer, bear, alligators, brackish water back there. Why do they want to destroy the hammock? Because it’s not just the river water management area that’s going to be swapped and developed.. they’re using verbal gymnastics. Hasn’t anyone noticed that there has been a bear showing up in downtown Saint Augustine? Animals don’t show up in the middle of developed areas for nothing. It’s been displaced. And that’s because there’s too much development. And now there’s talk of a Bear Hunt because a bear shows up in downtown Saint Augustine. Come on, let’s use some logic in all of this. I wanna put in a golf course, but there’s a place called world golf village. That’s really not doing as great as it should be.
We don’t want or need more development land, we do need More wildlife sanctuary and recreational bike and hiking trails.
There’s no need for a “land swap” keep all of the Guana land intact.
Why would we need to have more land to develop? Who’s benefiting from this, money wise? I say this land was donated for the purpose of protecting the wildlife and providing space to walk, bike, hike and enjoy nature.
Stop the swap! Shame on whoever purposed this ridiculous idea
I strongly oppose the proposed land swap for development in the Guana River Wildlife Management Area (WMA). The Guana River WMA has long been a critical piece of Florida’s conservation efforts, providing vital habitat for endangered species like the gopher tortoise and offering recreational opportunities for residents and visitors. The potential for development on this land, especially in the uplands areas, could have detrimental effects on both the environment and the local community.
Despite the proposal’s vague language, there is a clear risk of construction projects, such as housing or a golf course, which could permanently damage this sensitive ecosystem. This could lead to water quality degradation, especially for Guana Lake, an Outstanding Florida Waterway. The impact of development on waterfowl hunting, recreational uses, and nearby conservation areas could be irreversible.
Florida taxpayers have invested significantly in restoring the Guana River WMA over the past 30 years. Disposing of this land without demonstrating that it is no longer needed for conservation purposes undermines that investment. The proposed land swap also raises concerns about future land use decisions that could further erode Florida’s already dwindling protected areas. I urge the Acquisition and Restoration Council to reject this proposal and stand firm in its commitment to preserving our state’s conservation lands for future generations.
Don’t do the swap. If they want to build they can build on the land they want to swap with. Don’t touch Guana, period. Stop being so sneaky. Don’t expect DeSantos to help.
Please do not do this land swap. This and other areas like it are very important to Florida. there is more than enough development going on. Please think long term and realize what a disaster Florida will be if this kind of activity continues into protected land.
The Guana River Wildlife Management Area should never be touched by any developer period.
Stop the biggest land steal of the century. If this proposal passes, the gates of greed will be wide open and every other developer will be waiting in line to find their bit of pristine land to develop in SJC. Please sign the petition and write the officials
Who is behind this? What developer? Follow the money. This is the first time I have posted on your website. Why won’t you post my comments? Is your website owned by a developer?