Through our commitment to working with other key environmental stewards in the region, Deseret has helped to identify the Seven Environmental Jewels as endorsed by Naturally Central Florida. These include the St. Johns River-Econlockhatchee River Mosaic, portions of which fall on Ranch property and are subject to Deseret’s careful stewardship.

Much of the headwaters of the St. Johns River borders or is on the Ranch, and the Deseret leadership has always had an affinity for protecting and preserving the native beauty of the St. Johns River. As part of our cooperative effort to preserve the St. Johns River, Deseret sold to the state at nominal rates approximately 16,000 acres of wetlands along more than 25 miles of the St. Johns River. We are in discussion with the St. Johns River Water Management District about exchanging an additional 4000 acres of sensitive land and 2000 acres of flood easements from the headwaters of the St. Johns River for 2000 acres of upland agricultural land.

In addition, much of the headwaters of the Econlockhatchee River is on the Ranch, and we are committed to the protection of these headwaters.