County agrees to buy 10-acre Eichhorn tract near Watermelon Pond to expand Sandhill preserve

Alachua County commissioners on Feb. 11 approved a fee-simple purchase of a 10-acre parcel known in staff materials as the Eichhorn property to expand habitat protection near Watermelon Pond and Goethe State Forest.

Andy Christman, the county’s land conservation program manager, said the parcel is part of a four-parcel network the county is pursuing along County Road 337. The property is currently zoned agriculture and scored 6.07 on the county’s Alachua County Forever conservation-priority matrix. Christman said the site supports an intact Sandhill natural community, a globally imperiled habitat, with longleaf pine regeneration and gopher tortoise use noted on site.

The purchase price in the option contract is $125,000 (a per-acre valuation), with estimated due-diligence costs of about $19,000 — bringing the total request before the board to $159,061. Christman noted two title exceptions tied to historic access easements; those easements allow neighboring landowners continued use and would transfer with acquisition. The landowner requested a relatively short inspection period; staff said due diligence contractors already engaged on adjacent parcels make the 60-day closing target feasible.

Commissioners discussed whether to create a new trailhead or connect the property to existing trails on Goethe State Forest. Staff said a formal parking area or trailhead would depend on post-acquisition management planning and whether infrastructure could be located without harm to the sensitive Sandhill community; existing public trails on adjacent state-owned properties could provide access in some configurations.

The board approved the agreement by voice vote. County staff will complete survey and environmental due diligence and proceed toward closing under the contract terms.