This isn’t just another government filing or forgotten vote. With this move, the centuries-old Nokomis cattle ranch is now off-limits to urban developers, and a crucial stretch of wild land has a chance to stay wild. 

Some readers raised questions about the process, and they have a valid point. 

The Sarasota County Commission’s vote to add a property to the Environmentally Sensitive Lands Protection Program (ESLPP) list does not yet mean they have protected the land. It’s more a signal of intent rather than a legal guarantee.

Here’s what’s really going on with this vote. 

When the county puts a ranch on the ESLPP priority list, it’s marking that land as important and setting aside money to negotiate. They’re saying, “We want to keep this land safe from development.” But from there, it gets complicated.

Protecting big, privately owned pieces like the historic Hawkins Ranch usually means the county has to buy a conservation easement. The family stays on the land, keeps running the cattle ranch, but they legally agree not to sell to a developer or put up subdivisions.

And it costs serious money. Sarasota County can’t do it alone, so it partners with state and federal programs. The Florida Forever Plan and the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program are of vital importance in this situation. Without those dollars, the county couldn’t make the deals work. The county pools its funds with state and federal grants to pay landowners.

Local funding depends on property taxes set aside for these projects. None of this happens in a vacuum. If voters say no to upcoming referendums, or if state and federal grants dry up, the county can’t protect as much land as it hopes. 

The bottom line is that the future of these efforts hangs on both public support and outside funding.

Still, the work’s not done. If you care about the future of these lands, you have three ways to help:

1. Push for state and federal recognition. Support measures like the Myakka Wild and Scenic River Act of 2025/2026, which strengthens protections for the area’s watershed.

2. Team up with local groups, such as the Myakka River Partnership. Get hands-on with advocacy, land monitoring, and outreach.

3. And if you own property in the region, check out voluntary programs like the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program. It’s a partnership that helps landowners keep working lands just that, free from development.

It’s a big step, and the future of this wild space depends on people staying involved.

The post Unlocking the Hawkins Ranch Deal: Why Sarasota County Protected 3,300 Acres and How Residents Can Get Involved appeared first on Englewood Review.