Gov. Rick Scott and the state Cabinet agreed to use $15 million from the Florida Forever program to buy 407 acres in Gilchrist County — preserving a cluster of natural springs — and to protect 6,071 acres of agricultural land in Polk and Hardee counties.

Scott and Cabinet approved dipping into $75 million that remained in the Florida Forever fund, which isn't budgeted to receive additional money in the upcoming fiscal year.

The state also used Florida Forever for a $4.5 million purchase in March of more 465 acres to protect Silver Springs in Marion County and a $16.1 million deal in October to acquire 11,027 acres of land known as Horn Springs Wood southeast of Tallahassee.