Manatee County Government and the Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast has announced the permanent protection of a 44.5-acre preserve on the Braden River that will be named the Floyd C. Johnson & Flo Singer Johnson Preserve at Braden River. Located on the Braden River east of I-75, the 44.5-acre oasis of nature is home to a diversity of plants and animals not normally seen in similar suburban areas, with mature live oaks, tall long leaf pines, important wetlands that store water preventing flooding, imperiled swallowtail kites and gopher tortoises. The land’s riverfront and floodplain forests are part of a corridor linking natural habitat along the Braden River, which supplies drinking water for the City of Bradenton. Empowered by the Floyd C. Johnson & Flo Singer Johnson Foundation’s challenge grant of $500,000, the Conservation Foundation raised more than $1.29 million toward the $3 million purchase. County Commissioners agreed to fund the remaining $1.7 million. The land purchase was completed yesterday.

Manatee County Government