Doris Leeper Spruce Creek Preserve in Volusia County by Michael Wray

Florida Communities Trust assists communities in protecting important natural resources, providing recreational opportunities and preserving Florida's traditional working waterfronts through the competitive criteria in the Parks and Open Space Florida Forever Grant Program and the Stan Mayfield Working Waterfronts Florida Forever Grant Program. These local land acquisition grant programs provide funding to local governments and eligible non-profit organizations to acquire land for parks, open space, greenways and projects supporting Florida's seafood harvesting and aquaculture industries. The source of funding for Florida Communities Trust comes from Florida Forever proceeds. more

The rule transfers for the Florida Communities Trust Parks and Open Space and Stan Mayfield Working Waterfronts Florida Forever Programs have been completed and officially transferred to the Department of Environmental Protection. For the Parks and Open Space Program, Rule 9K-7 is now Rule 62-818 and Rule 9K-8 is 62-819. For the Stan Mayfield Working Waterfronts Program, Rule 9K-9 is 62-820 and Rule 9K-10 is 62-821.

This month, we turn the spotlight on St. Lucie County's Ten Mile Creek Preserve. The eight-acre preserve provides canoe access to Ten Mile Creek, a tributary of the North Fork of the St. Lucie River. A short, self-guided interpretive trail guides visitors through the floodplain forest, floodplain swamp and oxbows. Visitors can take in stunning views of some very old and majestic hickory, oak and sabal palms. The various wildlife that make their home here include alligator, black vulture, turkey vulture, herons, egret, and ibis.  

St. Lucie County's Ten Mile Creek Preserve