A conservation referendum was included on the ballot for the 2024 general election. The referendum authorizes the County to issue bonds totaling up to $45 million for two main purposes: (1) the purchase of qualifying lands and conservation easements for the conservation program, and (2) funding an operating budget to meet the annual land management needs of the properties acquired by the program. Residents of Clay County approved the referendum, with 72.9% voting in favor.
Future activities
Clay County, FL
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Forests and Farms Conservation Lands Program purpose
The purpose of the Clay County Forests and Farms Conservation Lands Program (FFCLP) is to protect properties within Clay County which further the conservation goals of the program, namely protecting drinking water sources, wildlife habitat and working forests and farms. The program seeks to protect irreplaceable natural environments and resources in Clay County by acquiring lands and conservation easements and managing them through responsible stewardship.
Phases
The program has three phases:
- the nomination and selection of properties to be included in the program
- the acquisition of properties
- the stewardship of those properties over time
Properties submitted to the program will be evaluated by a Land Conservation Committee (LCC) which will be made up of volunteers with technical knowledge and experience in the natural sciences. Properties will be ranked based on a scoring system matrix to ensure that they support the stated conservation goals of the program. The Board of County Commissioners will make a final determination regarding which properties to acquire and will authorize staff to begin purchase negotiations.
Purchases
Purchases can either take the form of fee-simple ownership by the County or the purchase of a conservation easement over the property, which permanently limits development of the property in exchange for compensation to the owner. Any nominated property must have a willing seller. No property is ever condemned or “taken” through the program.
After a property or a conservation easement is acquired, the county will then create a long-term management plan for that property called a stewardship plan, thereby ensuring that the property continues to fulfill the purpose of the program.
Conservation referendum
We anticipate that the following activities will take place over the course of the coming year:
| Dec. 1, 2025 through Feb. 28, 2026: |
1st property nomination period |
| Spring 2026: |
Review of nominated properties |
| Summer 2026: |
1st Priority List of properties submitted to the Board of County Commissioners |
| Fall 2026: |
2nd property nomination period |