Fla. Stat. 253.781
Retention of state-owned lands along former Cross Florida Barge Canal route; creation of Cross Florida Greenways State Recreation and Conservation Area; authorizing transfer to the Federal Government for inclusion in Ocala National Forest

(1)

It is the intent of the Legislature to conserve and protect the natural resources and scenic beauty of the Oklawaha River Valley and all lands and interests formerly acquired by the state or Federal Government for construction and operation of the Cross Florida Barge Canal. It is the finding of the Legislature that these areas have a significant impact upon environmental and recreational resources of statewide importance and that public ownership of and access to such areas are necessary and desirable to protect the health, welfare, safety, and quality of life of the residents of this state and to implement s. 7, Art. II of the State Constitution. It is further the finding of the Legislature that retention of ownership and control of the majority of the lands by the state and the ownership and control of additional portions by the Federal Government as part of the Ocala National Forest will properly protect and conserve the natural resources and scenic beauty of Florida, enhance recreational opportunities, and be in the public interest. To achieve these goals, the Legislature hereby creates the Cross Florida Greenways State Recreation and Conservation Area.

(2)

The department is authorized to transfer for consideration ownership of all lands or interests in lands previously owned by the canal authority contained within the existing boundary of the Ocala National Forest and any extension of the boundary of the Ocala National Forest in Putnam County to the United States Department of Agriculture for the purpose of inclusion in the Ocala National Forest.

(3)

The Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund may acquire by purchase, exchange of other state lands, or the exercise of the power of eminent domain the fee title to lands acquired in less-than-fee title and to privately owned lands that break the continuity of publicly owned lands within the original canal corridor as specified in the University Planning Team Greenway Management Plan along the canal route, using canal authority assets transferred to the department or using state, local, or federal funds dedicated to acquiring lands for conservation and recreation. The Legislature finds that such exercise of the power of eminent domain to accomplish the purposes of this section is necessary and for a public purpose. Such power of eminent domain must be exercised pursuant to chapter 73.

(4)

Lands transferred pursuant to this section by the department may reserve existing road rights-of-way.

Source: Section 253.781 — Retention of state-owned lands along former Cross Florida Barge Canal route; creation of Cross Florida Greenways State Recreation and Conservation Area; authorizing transfer to the Federal Government for inclusion in Ocala National Forest, https://www.­flsenate.­gov/Laws/Statutes/2024/0253.­781 (accessed Aug. 7, 2025).

253.001
Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund 253.01
Internal Improvement Trust Fund established 253.02
Board of trustees 253.002
Department of Environmental Protection, water management districts, Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services 253.03
Board of trustees to administer state lands 253.04
Duty of board to protect, etc., state lands 253.05
Prosecuting officers to assist in protecting state lands 253.12
Title to tidal lands vested in state 253.14
Rights of riparian owners 253.21
Board of trustees may surrender certain lands to the United States and receive indemnity 253.025
Acquisition of state lands 253.027
Emergency archaeological property acquisition 253.29
Board of trustees to refund money paid where title to land fails 253.031
Land office 253.033
Inter-American Center property 253.34
Transfer of notes owned by board 253.034
State-owned lands 253.035
Coastal anchorage areas 253.36
Title to reclaimed marshlands, wetlands, or lowlands in board of trustees 253.036
Forest management 253.37
Survey to be made 253.037
Use of state-owned land for correctional facilities 253.38
Riparian rights not affected 253.39
Surveys approved by chief cadastral surveyor validated 253.40
To what lands applicable 253.41
Plats and field notes filed in office of Board of Trustees of Internal Improvement Trust Fund 253.42
Board of trustees may exchange lands 253.43
Convey by deed 253.44
Disposal of lands received 253.45
Sale or lease of phosphate, clay, minerals, etc., in or under state lands 253.47
Board of trustees may lease, sell, etc., bottoms of bays, lagoons, straits, etc., owned by state, for petroleum purposes 253.51
Oil and gas leases on state lands by the board of trustees 253.52
Placing oil and gas leases on market by board 253.53
Sealed bids required 253.54
Competitive bidding 253.55
Limitation on term of lease 253.56
Responsibility of bidder 253.57
Royalties 253.60
Conflicting laws 253.61
Lands not subject to lease 253.62
Board of trustees authorized to convey certain lands without reservation 253.66
Change in bulkhead lines, Pinellas County 253.67
Definitions 253.68
Authority to lease or use submerged lands and water column for aquaculture activities 253.69
Application to lease submerged land and water column 253.70
Public notice 253.71
The lease contract 253.72
Marking of leased areas 253.73
Rules 253.74
Penalties 253.75
Studies and recommendations by the department and the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission 253.77
State lands 253.80
Murphy Act lands 253.81
Murphy Act 253.82
Title of state or private owners to Murphy Act lands 253.83
Construction of recodification 253.86
Management and use of state-owned or other uplands 253.87
Inventory of state, federal, and local government conservation lands by the Department of Environmental Protection 253.90
Southeast Florida Coral Reef Ecosystem Conservation Area 253.111
Riparian owners of land 253.115
Public notice and hearings 253.121
Conveyances of such lands heretofore made, ratified, confirmed, and validated 253.126
Legislative intent 253.127
Enforcement 253.128
Enforcement 253.129
Confirmation of title in upland owners 253.135
Construction of ss 253.141
Riparian rights defined 253.0251
Alternatives to fee simple acquisition 253.0325
Modernization of state lands records 253.0341
Surplus of state-owned lands 253.0345
Special events 253.0346
Lease of sovereignty submerged lands for marinas, boatyards, mooring fields, and marine retailers 253.0347
Lease of sovereignty submerged lands for private residential docks and piers 253.381
Unsurveyed marshlands 253.382
Oyster beds, minerals, and oils reserved to state 253.431
Agents may act on behalf of board of trustees 253.451
Construction of term “land the title to which is vested in the state.” 253.511
Reports by lessees of oil and mineral rights, state lands 253.512
Applicants for lease of gas, oil, or mineral rights 253.571
Proof of financial responsibility required of lessee prior to commencement of drilling 253.665
Grant of easements, licenses, and leases 253.763
Judicial review relating to permits and licenses 253.781
Retention of state-owned lands along former Cross Florida Barge Canal route 253.782
Retention of state-owned lands in and around Lake Rousseau and the Cross Florida Barge Canal right-of-way from Lake Rousseau west to the Withlacoochee River 253.783
Expenditures for acquisition of land for a canal connecting the waters of the Atlantic Ocean with the Gulf of Mexico via the St. Johns River prohibited 253.784
Contracts 253.785
Liberal construction of act 253.1221
Bulkhead lines 253.1241
Studies 253.1252
Citation of rule 253.1281
Review by board 253.7821
Cross Florida Greenways State Recreation and Conservation Area assigned to the Department of Environmental Protection 253.7822
Boundaries of the Cross Florida Greenways State Recreation and Conservation Area 253.7823
Disposition of surplus lands 253.7824
Sale of products 253.7825
Recreational uses 253.7827
Transportation and utility crossings of greenways lands 253.7828
Impairment of use or conservation by agencies prohibited

Current through Fall 2025

§ 253.781. Retention of state-owned lands along former Cross Fla. Barge Canal route; creation of Cross Florida Greenways State Recreation & Conservation Area; authorizing transfer to the Fed. Gov’t for inclusion in Ocala Nat’l Forest's source at flsenate​.gov