Transitional Farmland, Alva, FL
23351 N River Rd : Alva, FL 33920
Lee County, Florida
Ranch Description
Overview:
The Florida Citrus Company Alva Grove (Alva Grove) is a transitional citrus/farming operation containing 2,050+/- acres. The property is located north of SR 78 on the Lee/Hendry County Line, Lee County, Florida. The property is adjacent to the Babcock Ranch an 80,000+/- acre State of Florida environmentally protected resource. Some of the grove is still in production comprised of Valencia, pineapple, and Hamlin varieties. The properties extensive drainage and irrigation enhancements make it highly desirable for production of alternative crops (sugarcane, sod, vegetables, etc.)
Infrastructure:
The property has historically been a citrus farming operation. The infrastructure and enhancements ($3.5 million since 2011) have been developed over the years to support this use. The property is permitted for irrigation wells; however, ownership has opted to use the more than adequate supply of very high quality surface water available on-site. The infrastructure includes interconnected ponds for irrigation, drainage, and storage. Twenty pump stations located at multiple surface water lakes enable the entire property to be irrigated via their prospective irrigation zones. As the property is adjacent to the Babcock Ranch, the water that drains naturally from Babcock runs under the subject's limestone subsurface and continually provides recharge to the retention areas and lakes. Drainage on the site is more than adequate as ownership has continuously added additional swales, reworked drainage and installed drain tile. A total of approximately 13 miles of 12” water mains ensure distribution of water to all blocks of the property. A microjet system to each tree completes the irrigation infrastructure.
The Alva Grove is part of the County Line Drainage District (The District). This District was established as a State of Florida 298 Water District. The District has been granted easements to every block in the District for Water Management. The District is comprised of 3,800+/- acres and is governed by a 3 member Board of Directors, who must be landholders in the District.
Drainage Infrastructure
• All drainage is facilitated by County Line Drainage District.
• There are three 84” culverts with riser boards at Miller's Gully
• There are two 60” culverts with screw gates at Daniel's Ditch
• There is a 24” throw out pump operated by the District that pumps into County Line Ditch
• There are four 48” culverts with 72” headers flow in from Babcock Ranch into the grove through the northern dike
• Approximately 12' of fall from the north end of the grove to the south end
• Extensive series of ditches for drainage
• Perimeter berm that protects from sheet flow
• Good network of roads that are maintained by the District
• Voting is one vote per acre owned
Transitional Uses
The property is very well suited for farming other than citrus, such as hay, sod, sugarcane, or annual crops. Extensive investment in irrigation and drainage infrastructure serves as its greatest highlight for farming use.
The Alva Grove is currently zoned Agriculture. The property is located 18 miles east of Ft. Myers and 10 miles from Lehigh Acres - two of the fastest growing urban areas in Florida. The property has current development potential of 1 owner per 5 acres except in Sections 11 and 14, where it is one owner per acre. Future development potential is apparent.
Geological studies on the property have shown that substantial reserves of mineable rock and sand exist on the site.
Based on its great agricultural, geographical, and geological attributes the Alva Grove serves as a great long-term investment with endless income producing opportunities.
Ranch Maps
Directions to Ranch
Take SR80 to SR78 N River Rd. Located approximately 3 miles east of Alva bridge on north side of road.
