Acres of Union Co. land protected from development and farming use | News

UNION CO., KY (WFIE)- In Union County, the Kentucky Department of Wildlife is dedicating phase one of its land acquisition near Sturgis. Officials say they've collected over six and a half million dollars to permanently preserve forest land for public recreation.

The Big Rivers Wildlife Management Area and State Forest is nearly twenty-five hundred acres of land. Wildlife officials say will be open to public use and to help protect endangered species.

"Nothing like mother nature. Good curative for the soul," said Kentucky resident Fred Guillerman.

Kentucky residents like Guillerman say they're glad these nearly twenty-five hundred acres of land near Sturgis are now protected from development and farming use.

"There are public areas that people can come to and enjoy," Guillerman said.

On Wednesday, the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources and the Division of Forestry dedicated this land. Wildlife officials say an investment fund acquired it back in 2009, and the Department of Wildlife gathered federal and private funds to purchase the land this past December.

"It's open to hiking, wildlife watching, bird watching," said Mike Morton, the Area Supervisor for the Kentucky Department Of Fish and Wildlife Resources.

Aside from hunting and fishing opportunities, the Department of Wildlife says the community now has a unique wetland area to enjoy.

"This is approximately 15 acres on this particular site of a habitat that is only about fifteen-hundred acres of it documented east of the Mississippi River," Morton said.

Especially with the rise in use of technology, area residents like Guillerman and wildlife officials say they're glad the land provides another opportunity for kids and adults to get outside.

"It means everything in the world. People need to take an active interest in these matters," Guillerman said.

"Hopefully there will be a second and third acquisition adjoining these tracts," Morton said.

Wildlife officials say Kentucky Wildlife gathered over six and a half million dollars to purchase this land. They say $3.25 million is federal money and the rest from nature organizations and other corporations.

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