VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet approved the purchase of more than 1,300 acres adjacent to the Deep Creek Preserve that has been identified by the Volusia County Council as a high priority to be acquired, the county announced Thursday.

The land, owned by M.L. Carter Services, Inc., and known as the Carter Quail Ranch, will expand the preserve to 9,395 acres and lies within the Volusia Conservation Corridor.

According to an announcement by the county, the land acquisition will also help preserve an essential water filtration area that supports the broader environmental health of Volusia County.

The state made the $18.5 million purchase through the Forever Florida program.

The Volusia Conservation Corridor is key to protecting the region's biodiversity and maintaining the ecological health of the county.

"I want to thank the Governor and Cabinet for their collaboration and investment in our award-winning Volusia Forever program," Volusia County Manager George Recktenwald said in a statement. "Our strategic approach to partnership development and engagement has allowed us to leverage $7.2 million in local Volusia Forever funds with $25.3 million from our partners to purchase a total of 5,536 acres since 2021."

The United States Department of Agriculture's Rural Conservation Partnership Program also provided $20 million to conserve farmland within Volusia County. The county said the land purchases made since 2021 help protect the natural floodplain and reduce flood damage in the county.