The quiet sandhills, wet prairies and cypress bayous that comprise the Point Washington State Forest and Point Washington Wildlife Management Area in western panhandle of Florida are threatened by the development of the "Seagrove Forest Road;" a two lane paved road between US Highway 98 and State Road 30A proposed by the Walton County Mobility Plan. The construction of a paved road through a previously established state forest and Wildlife Management Area under the auspice of development convenience establishes an unconscionable precedent. Florida BHA is working hard on behalf of Point Washington, but we need all hands on deck.
Point Washington lies north of Blue Mountain, Grayton and Seagrove beaches along the Gulf of Mexico, comprising more than 15,000 acres of sandhills, wet prairie, cypress bayous, and titi swamps. The Point Washington WMA is widely used for hunting, off-road bicycling, hiking and is also a site on the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail. Sportsmen and women regularly pursue, deer, turkeys, feral hogs and small game. It is also one of the few Wildlife Management Areas that permits access to trappers.
In addition to game species forest provides habitat to vulnerable gopher tortoise, vulnerable white-topped pitcher plants and the world's largest population of Curtiss' sandgrass. Some of the bird species found on this area include southeastern American kestrel, myrtle warbler, prothonotary warbler, red-headed woodpecker, mourning dove and common ground-dove.
Point Washington is already fragmented by several paved roads and numerous forest roads. If permitted, the proposed 2.5 mile paved road will drive a split through the eastern third of the Forest further fragmenting wildlife, increasing pollution and diminishing the backcountry opportunities for recreationalists in the area.
Help BHA safeguard the best of Florida. Join BHA in urging the Walton County Commissioners and the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission to conserve Point Washington by signing this petition...
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