PENSACOLA, Fla. (AP) - The Nature Conservancy has acquired a 20,161-acre piece of land in the Florida Panhandle, calling it one of the largest conservation wins in over a decade.
SPECIAL COVERAGE: Protecting Paradise
In a press release Wednesday, the organization said safeguarding Lake Wimico will help preserve and protect the water quality of Apalachicola River, Apalachicola Bay and Gulf of Mexico.
It also creates a protected refuge for resident and migratory wildlife, including many imperiled species.
The acquisition was paid with funds from Deepwater Horizon criminal penalties designated for the benefit of natural resources.
