Through its Environmentally Sensitive Lands Protection Program, Sarasota County recently acquired 20 acres along the Myakka River and 80 acres in the Old Miakka area.

The Myakka River property connects protected land to the north and south with properties like Pinelands Reserve in Nokomis and Sleeping Turtles Preserve South in Venice. It also helps to protect the riverine habitat along the property's shoreline.

The Old Miakka land is located east of Fruitville Road and north of Myakka River State Park. With the addition, the Old Miakka Preserve now includes 230 acres. The properties connect the preserve to more than 120,000 acres of protected land along the river.

Since its creation was approved by Sarasota County voters, the Environmentally Sensitive Lands Protection Program has preserved more than 35,000 acres of land in Sarasota.