Nassau County commissioners approved four conservation land purchases Wednesday, adding more than 500 acres to the county's protected land holdings.

The Nassau County Board of County Commissioners voted at its meeting at the James S. Page Governmental Complex in Yulee to authorize purchase agreements for three parcels under the Conservation Land Acquisition and Management (CLAM) Program and to amend a fourth deal already in progress.

Lofton Creek parcels protect waterway, aquifer

The largest acquisition is a 310.46-acre tract along the Lofton Creek Viewshed owned by Rayonier Forest Resources LP. A separate 5.52-acre Lofton Creek Viewshed parcel owned by Yulee Methodist Church was also approved. Both properties help protect Lofton Creek, which is designated an Outstanding Florida Water, and the headwaters of the Nassau River-St. Johns River Marshes Aquatic Preserve, according to The County Insider.

The Lofton Creek properties could eventually offer public access through kayak launches, viewing platforms and trails, according to the County Insider's reporting on the project.

Piney Island purchase expands protected tract

The board also approved the purchase of a 1.29-acre Orchid Jones LLC parcel within the Piney Island Viewshed project near the gateway to Amelia Island along State Road 200. That parcel is separate from the original 42.12-acre Piney Island property the county acquired in November 2025, which was the first land purchased through the CLAM Program. The original Piney Island tract had been entitled for 26 single-family homes before the county bought it.

Amended Raydient deal adds Mentoria acres

The fourth item was an amended purchase agreement with Raydient LLC for approximately 207 acres on Mentoria Road, priced at $3,591,742.29. The county's meeting agenda lists the deal as including a reciprocal easement agreement.

Purchase prices for the Rayonier, Yulee Methodist Church and Orchid Jones parcels were not listed in the agenda.

Fernandina Beach purchases closed in August

The same meeting's consent agenda acknowledged two recently completed CLAM acquisitions in Fernandina Beach: approximately 0.28 acres on Altoona Avenue and approximately 0.62 acres at 2620 and 2630 Ocklawaha Avenue. Both closed Aug. 11.

Advisory committee recommended new acquisitions

The CLAM advisory committee recommended all three new acquisitions at its Aug. 20 meeting. The committee advises the board but does not have final approval authority.

Bond referendum funds conservation program

County voters authorized up to $30 million in bonds for the CLAM Program through a November 2022 referendum. The board established the program in January 2021.

City leaders echo call for conservation

The conservation push extends beyond the county level. Fernandina Beach City Commissioner Joyce Tuten voiced the urgency during a Sept. 2 city commission vote to expand the Egans Creek Greenway, a separate effort.

"How will this island still function as a place to live 200 years from now? … It won't if we don't do some major land conservation," Tuten said at that meeting, as reported by the Fernandina Observer.

Meeting minutes not yet released

Official minutes from the Sept. 16 meeting, including individual commissioner votes, had not been posted as of Thursday.