Florida Secures 2,500 Acres to Safeguard Manatee County’s Drinking Water and Expand Wildlife Corridor
Florida has approved the protection of more than 2,500 acres of ranchland in southeastern Hardee County to help preserve a critical drinking water source for Manatee County and surrounding areas.
The state’s Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services will invest $9.4 million through its Rural and Family Lands Protection Program for a conservation easement on 2,559 acres of Bentley Ranch. The easement ensures that the land remains undeveloped while allowing continued agricultural use, maintaining its natural landscape and ecological value.
Bentley Ranch spans over six miles of Oak Creek, a tributary of the Peace River. The 105-mile river provides approximately 26 million gallons of water daily to nearly one million residents in Southwest Florida, according to the Peace River Manasota Regional Water Supply Authority. Manatee County, a founding member of the authority since 1982, has long recognized the river as a vital future source to meet growing water demands.
The purchase was arranged by Florida Conservation Group, a Venice- and Myakka City-based nonprofit that connects rural landowners with conservation programs. The Bentley Ranch easement is part of two transactions approved this week by Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet, including a separate $32 million easement protecting nearly 6,000 acres in Okeechobee County.
Conservationists say the acquisition represents a significant step for both water protection and wildlife connectivity. The newly protected property fills a key gap in the Florida Wildlife Corridor, a statewide initiative to preserve 18 million acres of connected natural lands that support species such as the Florida panther, black bear, and eastern indigo snake.
Florida Conservation Group leaders noted that protecting Hardee County lands helps sustain water quality for downstream communities, including Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte, and DeSoto counties. The organization emphasized that conservation easements provide multiple benefits—clean water, air, and wildlife habitat—while allowing agricultural operations to continue.
Jason Bentley, owner of Bentley Ranch, said his family’s decision to participate reflects a desire to preserve both natural resources and the local agricultural heritage amid growing development pressures.
The addition of Bentley Ranch to Florida’s network of protected lands strengthens the region’s resilience against future development and underscores the importance of collaborative, cross-county conservation efforts that secure water, wildlife, and working lands for future generations.