- December 14, 2025
Facing a state challenge, county officials oppose the sale of conservation lands in Flagler.
The St. Johns River Water Management District has started assessing its environmentally sensitive lands in order to sell off any deemed as surplus. Conservation lands in Flagler, however, will maintain their designations — if the Flagler County Board of County Commissioners has anything to say about it.
“We want to take an objective look at our entire inventory and (ask), ‘Are there portions of properties that are no longer needed for conservation purposes?’” Director of Operations and Land Resources Robert Christianson explained.
After hearing his presentation, though, commissioners made their stance on the issue clear: They oppose the possibility of losing any protected county lands.
“Especially in Flagler County, we’re aggressively seeking outlets for ecotourism,” Commissioner Milissa Holland said. “(We) didn’t go out to buy these properties without the science and the thought that they are essential. … This is not a process that happened overnight.”
“We’ve always had a good rapport with the St. Johns River Water Management District,” Commissioner George Hanns said. “But in this particular case, Flagler County is unique that on numerous different occasions, residents have voted to (maintain) sensitive lands.”
Hanns also cited the number of trails and parks in the county. The water management district has spent a total of about $1.2 billion in the past 35 years on conservation lands in the region.
“It’s imperative (to maintain those lands) … and work with our county,” Hanns added. “We look at you as an ally and as a friend, and we hope that that (relationship) continues.”
Any funds from nonessential lands sold by the district, Christianson added, would need to be spent on conservation lands elsewhere.
“If there is determined to be a surplus piece of property and the (district) seeks to sell it,” Commission Chairwoman Barbara Revels told Christianson, “I vehemently object to it without (you) coming to (speak with) the county first.”
Christianson said he fully intends to meet with the commission again if any Flagler lands are considered for sale.
“I think most of the properties we have are needed for conservation purposes,” he said. “There may be some corners, or edges … but I think it’s a fair question to ask.”
He added that he would return in October or December, possibly sooner, to update the board in the evaluation process.
“Take care of Flagler County,” Hanns advised. “If you have to make some decisions, make them in counties that are much larger and not as (reliant) on ecotourism as we are.”
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