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Commissioners approve 600‑acre conservation easement on St. Mary’s River, preview riverfront purchase
Summary
The board accepted a conservation easement for roughly 600 acres along the St. Mary’s River and updated the board on a separate, under‑contract 134‑acre riverfront purchase (Cowleys on the River/Iron Horse Ranch) to be considered Jan. 26. Commissioners praised staff and the CLAM program for conservation progress.
The Nassau County Board of County Commissioners on Jan. 12 accepted a conservation easement of approximately 600 acres on the St. Mary’s River (contract CM392N9 with Saint Mary's Farm, LLC) and heard staff updates on additional conservation acquisitions.
Conservation staff described the conservation easement’s terms: the owner retains property rights and maintenance responsibility, while the county will monitor compliance with conservation standards. Commissioners highlighted the significance of protecting 600 acres and praised county staff and the CLAM committee for completing the project.
Staff also reported the county closed on Piney Island and is developing a one‑year land‑management plan with the county’s new land manager, Dr. Taylor Clem, supported by a state appropriation. County manager briefed commissioners on a separate under‑contract riverfront property (previously Iron Horse Ranch, also referred to as Cowleys on the River), a 134‑acre tract that would create motorized boat access with uplands for trailer parking. The manager said staff will ask the board to ratify the purchase on Jan. 26 and that the site fits within the Atlantic‑to‑Okefenokee ecological overlay and links to recently protected frontage along the St. Mary’s River.
Commissioners expressed broad support for the acquisitions and noted the long‑term recreational and conservation benefits to Nassau County residents.
