Murphy Marsh
A critical link in the Myakka Island, protecting Murphy Marsh is vital to the restoration of the Tatum Sawgrass Marsh.
The Story
The northern reaches of the Myakka River watershed in Manatee County are irreplaceable natural and ranching lands. Protecting these large tracts of private property is critical to the quality of the water that flows off these properties into the Myakka River and through the 40+ miles of protected lands that buffer the river before it flows into the Charlotte Harbor estuary. Big Waters Land Trust completed the permanent protection of the 543-acre Murphy Marsh property in July 2019.
Why it Matters
Murphy Marsh is a critical missing link within 130,000+ acres of conservation lands known as the "Myakka Island." This property connects two Myakka River conservation areas, the 1,143-acre Triangle Ranch and the 1,250-acre Lettuce Lakes property. Conserving Murphy Marsh helps facilitate the restoration of the Tatum Sawgrass Marsh, an area three times the size of Lake Myakka, significantly increasing habitat for animals and reducing flooding downstream.
Just the Facts
543
acres
Date Acquired
2019
- The U.S. Dept of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service holds the conservation easement
- The land is privately owned and managed
- Western 2/3 of property are wetlands known as the Tatum Sawgrass marsh; to the west is a mix of forested wetlands and upland pasture; 400 feet on the Myakka River
