Martin County Forever acquires three acres along South Fork of St. Lucie River and advances two conservation easements

Local sales tax dollars and matching state funds will help preserve nearly 718 acres in Loxa-Lucie and Indian River Lagoon South

STUART, Fla. — A three-acre stretch of waterfront land along the South Fork of the St. Lucie River is now protected through Martin County Forever, and two more properties are a step closer to permanent protection.

The Burstein/Hixon property is the program’s second acquisition in its Blueways zone, one of its four priority areas for land conservation.

The property helps preserve a natural buffer along the river and may offer an opportunity for a kayak launch and picnic area in the future. It joins the one-acre Perry Beach Addition on Hutchinson Island as the program’s two acquired properties in the Blueways area.

“Even a small property can make a meaningful difference when it’s located along a waterway,” said John Maehl, Environmental Resource Administrator for the Martin County Board of County Commissioners. “Burstein/Hixon protects a piece of the South Fork while giving us possibilities to explore for future public enjoyment.”

On Sept. 29, Florida’s Governor and Cabinet approved conservation easements for the Leonard property and Turnpike Dairy through the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Rural and Family Lands Protection Program.

Through these conservation easements, the properties remain working ranches that are permanently protected from development. The landowners continue to manage the land without adding those costs to the county.

The state will match Martin County Forever’s $13.8 million investment in the two easements, doubling the reach of local sales tax dollars.

• Leonard property: This approximately 219-acre cattle ranch along Bridge Road in Hobe Sound is in the Loxa-Lucie priority area. Its wetlands help store water and connect to Kitching Creek and the Loxahatchee River. The county and state will each contribute approximately $10.1 million.
• Turnpike Dairy: This approximately 499-acre family-owned cattle ranch is in the Indian River Lagoon South priority area, next to protected lands near Allapattah Flats. Its pastures and wetlands provide homes for wildlife and help replenish underground water supplies. The county and state will each contribute $3.74 million.

The easement approvals are milestones toward permanent protection; the transactions must still close.

The state also approved a conservation easement on Fair Bluff Ranch, which includes woodlands, wetlands and pastures within the Lake Okeechobee watershed. Martin County supported this easement, but because Fair Bluff Ranch is outside the program's four priority areas, no sales tax funds are being used.

These acquisitions bring the total to nine properties acquired or protected through Martin County Forever since voters approved the land acquisition sales tax in November 2024. Together, these projects encompass over 3,800 acres across all four priority conservation areas:

• Indian River Lagoon South: Bar B Ranch and Turnpike Dairy
• Blueways: Perry Beach Addition and Burstein/Hixon
• Pal Mar: Palm Beach Heights and Elise J. Property
• Loxa-Lucie: Rogers Atlantic Ridge Property, Poinciana Gardens and the Leonard Property

The Martin County Board of County Commissioners has approved another 16 properties, totaling about 10,000 acres, to move forward as potential acquisitions. Those properties have not yet been purchased.

Martin County Forever is funded by a voter-approved half-cent sales tax dedicated to acquiring and preserving environmentally significant land. The tax took effect in January 2025 and has raised $33 million so far. The County also pursues state and partner funding to help extend the reach of local sales tax dollars.

Proposed properties are evaluated and ranked by the nine-member citizen Environmental Lands Oversight Committee, or ELOC, before going to the County Commission for consideration. The next ELOC meeting is scheduled for Dec. 10 at 2 p.m.

To explore protected properties, see projects under consideration and learn about the public review process, visit martincountyforever.com/lands.