Established in 1988, ACT is an accredited non-profit land trust working to protect the natural, historic, scenic and recreational resources across North Central Florida. ACT protects land through purchase, donation, and conservation easements primarily in 16 counties. 

Alachua Conservation Trust, Inc. 

Engage in citizen science by participating in Chronolog! We will use the photos you capture to monitor ecological changes in the preserve over time.

Tuscawilla Preserve includes a prairie  and adjacent uplands with small creeks and mesic forests. Lake Tuscawilla contains open water during periods of high to moderate water levels and can be almost completely dry during prolonged droughts. This hydrologic variation is the limiting factor for much of the vegetation and defines the extent of the forest rim. The hardwood hammocks that surround the prairie are dominated by live oak, southern magnolia, hickories, and cabbage palms.

The wetlands consist of many small pools which are a favorite spot for wading birds, such as herons, egrets, ibises, and storks. Sandhill cranes visit the site every fall and several reside there on a full time basis. Raptors also use the area, as they nest and perch in the surrounding forest and forage across the open savanna. Reptiles and amphibians are common, including breeding populations of alligators, snakes, turtles, and frogs. Mammals include the entire suite of North Florida creatures such as deer, bobcat, raccoons, and otters.

Tuscawilla is the Seminole name of this area from the time of Chief Micanopy. Adjacent to the north of Tuscawilla Preserve is the Native American Heritage Preserve, purchased by the Town of Micanopy with funds provided by Florida Communities Trust. Within a few miles are many other documented archeological sites, such as King Payne's Village. William Bartram visited the site on more than one occasion on his trek through North Florida in the 1760s. Lake Tuscwilla’s recent history includes its use for cattle grazing and other agricultural pursuits. 

Learn more about ACT and this preserve at www.AlachuaConservationTrust.org.  

<span data-offset-key="3qird-1-0" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: bold;"><span data-text="true" style="box-sizing: inherit;">www.AlachuaConservationTrust.org</span></span>

Tuscawilla Preserve

Engage in citizen science by participating in Chronolog! We will use the photos you capture to monitor ecological changes in the preserve over time.   

Little Orange Creek Preserve & Nature Park encompasses nearly 2,900 acres of the upper  Little Orange Creek watershed, and protects a patchwork of diverse wetlands that feed into and form Fowlers Prairie, including the pinelands and hammock that surround it. Large parts of
Little Orange Creek Preserve are basin swamp with a mix of cypress, tupelo, and red maple. The uplands were historically a mix of sandhill and flatwoods that were steadily converted to planted pine many years ago.  

The rich variety of habitats supports a wonderful diversity of plants and animals. Bears regularly travel through the area, and have been photographed numerous times using trail cameras. Other large mammals include deer, coyotes, bobcats, and otters. The freshwater marshes and swamps provide excellent habitat for many species of wading birds and other wetland dependent species. 

Since the preserve was established, restoration efforts in the area have seen considerable progress. Through a donation program and numerous acquisitions, the preserve has more than doubled in size. A new nature center has been completed and now supports the Creekside Environmental Ed for Kids (CrEEK) Program. Land managers and volunteers have planted over 140,000 longleaf pines on the preserve. Fire lines have been established and a controlled burn program has also been initiated. Finally, a network of trails was opened in 2017, which now covers 2.5 miles through the preserve. 

There is much more work ahead to return these
lands to a more natural state, and the management of the entire complex of conservation lands will be closely coordinated between the various government and non-profit organizations involved. Future restoration will involve thinning of overgrowth, controlled burns, and longleaf pine tree planting. In addition, ACT is working with adjacent landowners and exploring the possibility of expanding the preserve.

Alachua Conservation Trust, Inc.

Florida

2 chronologs managed by Alachua Conservation Trust, Inc.

Little Orange Creek Preserve

Tuscawilla Preserve

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