North Florida Land Trust has just completed a long-anticipated project at Smith Lake Preserve to remove an old fence from Smith Lake that was a significant obstacle for wildlife and a potential danger to boaters, swimmers and researchers. Two generous donors, Faith and Rick Hoffman, and the Delores Barr Weaver Legacy Funds, made the fence removal project possible.
“We greatly appreciate the support from the Hoffmans and Delores Barr Weaver, both of whom have been a tremendous help to us and our mission,” said Allison DeFoor, president and CEO of NFLT. “This project was on our to-do list for a while, and thanks to our generous donors, our stewardship team was able to remove the fence that had become submerged in Smith Lake. Now the lake is safer for all.”
The cross-fencing on Smith Lake was built in the early 2000s for livestock grazing, when the land was privately owned and the lakebed had been exposed due to a severe drought. Over the years, the water levels naturally rose, submerging the fence and impeding the movement of aquatic species like fish, turtles, amphibians, and alligators, causing population imbalances and disrupting ecological processes.
The stewardship team brought in North Florida Dock Service to assist with removing just over 1.5 miles of mostly submerged fencing. Mini-excavators, skid steers, floating barges, and watercraft were used to remove the fence from the freshwater marsh habitat. The work was done with no impact on the surrounding environment. The fence removal restores natural migration, enhances the environmental balance, and ensures safe access to the lake.
Smith Lake Preserve is a 463-acre preserve in Clay County within the Ocala to Osceola (O2O) Wildlife Corridor, a 1.6-million-acre network of public and private lands that connects the Ocala and Osceola National Forests, a critical link within the Florida Wildlife Corridor. The preserve includes a portion of the Florida National Scenic Trail. NFLT obtained Smith Lake Preserve in 2019, and it serves as the headquarters of NFLT’s stewardship department.
About North Florida Land Trust
North Florida Land Trust is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to preserving and enhancing the quality of life by protecting North Florida’s irreplaceable natural environment. Founded in 1999, NFLT has preserved tens of thousands of acres of land through the donation or purchase of land as well as conservation easements. NFLT is funded largely by private and corporate contributions and works closely with willing landowners and public agencies at all levels of government, not-for-profit partners, and foundations.
