Skip to main content
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • Linkedin
  • Youtube
  • ASK US
Home South Florida Water Management District
  • Who We Are
    • Governing Board Chairman
    • Open Government
    • Governing Board
    • Budget & Finance Reports
    • Careers
    • Contact Us
  • Our Work
    • Flood Control
    • Water Supply Planning
    • Water Quality Improvement
    • Ecosystem Restoration
    • Python Elimination Program
    • Addressing Blue-Green Algae
    • Resiliency
  • Doing Business with Us
    • Permits
    • Right of Way Permits
    • Procurement
    • Real Estate
    • Grants/Funding Opportunities
  • Community & Residents
    • Water Conservation
    • Recreation
    • Navigation
    • Education Center
    • Everglades License Plate
  • Science & Data
    • Real-Time Data
    • Scientific Publications & SFER
    • DBHYDRO
    • Weather
    • Operational Planning
    • GIS
    • Survey Data
    • Modeling
  • News & Meetings
    • News Releases
    • Public Meetings
    • Calendar
    • Speakers Bureau
    • Photo & Video
    • Fact Sheets
  • Contact Us
  • Careers
  • Locations
  1. Home
  2. doing business with us
  3. real estate
  4. cattle grazing land leasing
  • Permits
    • Overview
    • ePermitting
    • Environmental Resource Permits
    • Consumptive Water Use Permits
    • Well Construction Permits
    • Everglades Works of the District Permits
    • Key Permit Access
    • Right of Way Permits
    • Recreational Special Use License
    • Rulemaking and Regulatory Meetings
  • Procurement
  • Real Estate
    • Overview
    • Cattle Grazing Land Leasing
  • Grants/Funding Opportunities
  • Best Management Practices (BMPs)
  • Land Mitigation Program
  • Water Resources for Florida Agriculture
  • Water Supply Facilities Work Plans
  • For Sale
photo of cattle grazing

Cattle Grazing Land Leasing

Cattle ranching has a nearly 500-year history in Florida. Cattle were first introduced to North America in Florida in 1521 by Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon. For centuries, the cattle industry has contributed to Florida's natural resources. Lands used for cattle production are important environments for native plant and animal habitat as well as aquifer recharge. Birds and other wildlife thrive on lands used for cattle production.

As caretakers of thousands of acres of grazing pastures, Florida cattle ranchers are good land stewards.

And, as owners of more than 1 million acres of public land for water management or environmental restoration projects, the South Florida Water Management District relies on other agencies and the private sector to help manage some of these lands. One of these programs is the Cattle Grazing Land Leasing Program. 

Cattle grazing land lease holders temporarily keep public lands in production, pay taxes and local assessments. They also maintain the property in a condition consistent with its intended future use by implementing prescribed agricultural best management practices and land management requirements for water quality improvements, natural resource protection and exotic plant control. Of the SFWMD's total 77 land leases, 51 are leased for cattle grazing.

Meet a multigenerational Florida rancher and SFWMD cattle grazing land lease holder and see how he implements land management activities and best management practices to control exotic plants and protect water quality.

Cattle Grazing Land Lease Policy 

In April 2016 and February 2017, the SFWMD Governing Board approved revisions to the agency's leasing policy regarding bid requirements for competitively bid leases, lease contract security deposits, lease extension terms, lease-holder termination noticing and new annual rent adjustment formula on new leases with a one-time option for existing cattle grazing lease-holders to convert to the new formula. The policy amendments incorporated feedback provided by lessees and other stakeholders during a public process. 

  • SFWMD Policy: Section 140-85 – Administration of Leases on District Land [PDF]  
     

Current Cattle Grazing Land Leases

image of globeSEARCHABLE DATABASE: This database enables users to find a variety of information about each property, including the lessee's name, the lease amount, the size of the property and the term of the lease. For each entry, a map is available that pinpoints the location of the property.

  • Searchable Leased Lands Database
  • Database Instructions [PDF]  

     

Available Leasing Opportunities

If you are interested in leasing South Florida Water Management District property, please visit our Current Solicitations/Contract Opportunities web page for a list of leasing opportunities. If you have any questions, please contact Dawn West by email: dwest@sfwmd.gov, or by phone: 561-682-6957. 

Sign up for updates – Get the latest on SFWMD's Cattle Grazing Land Leasing Program.  
 

Related Links

  • Lease Requirements for Natural Resource Protection: SFWMD Land Management Requirements
  • Lease Requirements for Natural Resource Protection: FDACS Best Management Practices
  • Real Estate: Why We Buy and Manage Land
  • Land Management
  • Regulatory Source Control Program 
  • State of Florida Cow/Calf Operations Best Management Practices Rules
  • Water Resources for Florida Agriculture
  • SFWMD Governing Board Project & Lands Committee Meeting Calendar [PDF]
Click for SFWMD Land Management Requirements
Click for FDACS Best Management Practices

×

 

Key Projects map

Click to print [PDF]

Close

×

 

Key Projects map

Click to print [PDF]

Close
  • ASK US
  • Who We Are
    • Governing Board
    • Big Cypress Basin Board
    • Open Government
    • Public Records Request
  • Our Work
    • Flood Control
    • Resiliency
    • Emergency Management
    • Water Supply Planning
    • Water Quality Improvement
    • Ecosystem Restoration
    • Land Management
  • Community and Residents
    • Water Conservation
    • Year-Round Rule
    • Recreation
    • Educational Center
    • Volunteering
  • Doing Business with Us
    • Permits
    • ePermitting
    • Procurement
    • Real Estate
    • Cooperative Funding
    • Agriculture
    • AVATAR
  • Science and Information/Data
    • Real-Time Data
    • Water Levels
    • Scientific Publications & SFER
    • DBHYDRO
    • Weather
    • Operational Planning
    • Environmental Monitoring
    • Modeling
  • News and Events
    • News Releases
    • Meeting Agendas & Minutes
    • Calendar
    • Photo and Video Resources
South Florida Water Management District

Contact Information

3301 Gun Club Road
West Palm Beach, FL 33406

561-686-8800

800-432-2045 (Florida Only)

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • Linkedin
  • Youtube
  • ASK US
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer
  • Accessibility
  • Login
  • Contact Us
  • Locations
  • Careers