NOAA Supports Major Acquisition Project Along Florida's Manatee River

The Takeaway: A Florida county boosts resilience and preserves natural space for the public with a NOAA grant.

An aerial view of a brown river bordering an area of mangroves, marsh, pasture, and woodlands.
Photo credit: Jeremy Piper/Manatee County

Florida’s Manatee County acquired 68 acres of property along the Manatee River with support from a $5 million NOAA grant, permanently preserving the coastal habitat for the public in an area undergoing rapid development. The land will serve as a public preserve, providing numerous benefits including outdoor recreation opportunities, refuge for wildlife, and natural storm protection.

A person walks down a small dock bordered by mangrove trees reaching into the water.
Manatee County’s plans for the property will balance natural space and public recreation opportunities.

The Crooked River Preserve property is one of the few large, undeveloped parcels along the Manatee River, which flows into Tampa Bay, and home to manatees, alligators, and commercially and recreationally important fish species. The former private family retreat and cattle ranch will soon transform into a haven for the community with the addition of kayak launches, hiking and biking trails, an observation platform, and restrooms. Manatee County is also working to restore and enhance the property’s creeks and wetlands, boosting native habitat and improving water quality in connection with the existing Manatee River Conservation Corridor.

A large live oak hung with Spanish moss surrounded by palmettos.
Parts of the Crooked River property, like this oak hammock habitat, have remained largely undisturbed.

In an area under intense development pressure, this large natural space will enhance storm resilience and improve water quality for Manatee County communities, helping to protect lives and property in one of Florida’s fastest growing counties. The NOAA grant was used to offset the County’s purchase, opening up possibilities for the land acquisition program to expand the Manatee River Conservation Corridor even further. This acquisition was funded through NOAA’s National Coastal Zone Management Program Habitat Protection and Restoration awards. (2025)

Partners: NOAA Office for Coastal Management, Manatee County, Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Coastal Management Program

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