64 Acres Along Manatee River Permanently Conserved

February 26, 2024 – Osprey

Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast is thrilled to announce the protection of 64 acres along the Manatee River in Manatee County. Known as Crooked River Ranch—for the river’s crooked shoreline along the property’s southern border—the property is located halfway between I-75 and Ft. Hamer Road in the growing community of Parrish. This land could have been developed, but thanks to Conservation Foundation, the conservation-minded Hunter family, and Manatee County, these 64 acres are now forever protected. 

“We are deeply thankful to the William A. and Janet K. Hunter Family Trust for their decision to protect this special place for the benefit of people and nature,” comments Christine P. Johnson, president of Conservation Foundation. “We are also delighted to have once again partnered with Manatee County to conserve Southwest Florida’s critical natural areas for the benefit of all.”

Conservation Foundation represented the Hunter family throughout the protection process, bringing the property to Manatee County as a potential conservation opportunity in early 2023. As one of the last remaining, large, privately-owned parcels along the Manatee River, protecting Crooked River Ranch provides opportunities for coastal resiliency, water quality protection, and native habitat restoration. Conserving this waterfront land helps safeguard imperiled species such as the West Indian Manatee, Eastern Black Rail, Piping Plover, Smalltooth Sawfish, and American Bald Eagle.

Crooked River Ranch was purchased by Manatee County on February 12, 2024, and marks the first acquisition under the 2020 Conservation and Parks Projects Referendum Fund. In 2020, Conservation Foundation partnered with The Trust for Public Land and the Manatee Fish and Game Association, to advocate in support of this referendum, which provides dedicated funding for water quality protection, natural areas preservation, and park creation/management.

“This is a huge win for our citizens, our county, and the environment,” notes James Satcher, Manatee County District 1 Commissioner. “This was an overwhelming decision by the voters in 2020 for this purpose.”

The quality and uniqueness of Crooked River Ranch make it the perfect combination of natural and public recreational opportunities. In the future, Manatee County plans to provide community recreation opportunities onsite, including hiking, birding, paddling, and camping. Conservation Foundation and Manatee County previously partnered on the protection of two other public-access waterfront properties, the 150-acre Robinson Preserve addition and the 44-acre Johnson Preserve on the Braden River.