Editing Clay County, Florida (section)

==Geography==
[[File:Black Creek and US17.jpg|thumb|upright|Mouth of [[Black Creek (Florida)|Black Creek]] where it meets the [[St. Johns River]] with the [[U.S. Route 17|U.S. 17]] bridge in the background]]
[[File:Doctors Lake.jpg|thumb|upright|Doctors Lake in [[Fleming Island, Florida|Fleming Island]]]]

According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|644|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|604|sqmi}} are land and {{convert|39|sqmi}} (6.1%) are covered by water.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref>
The average elevation in Clay County is 95 feet above sea level with the highest point, located on the western border in Camp Blanding, being 259 feet.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Clay County topographic map, elevation, terrain |url=https://en-us.topographic-map.com/map-ssswb3/Clay-County/?center=29.8335,-81.5744&popup=30.06315,-80.81606 |access-date=March 31, 2023 |website=Topographic maps |language=en}}</ref> The southwestern portion of the county features many lakes which contribute to the [[Floridan aquifer|Floridan Aquifer]] and are an important source of water for the surrounding region. During the 2000s, high growth rates in [[First Coast|Northeast Florida]] caused many of the lakes to dry up as demand for water increased. To combat this, a project began in August 2022 to construct a pipeline from [[Black Creek (Florida)|Black Creek]] in the central part of the county to Alligator Creek in [[Keystone Heights, Florida|Keystone Heights]]. This pipeline is expected to restore the water levels in the lakes to their former high points.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Swirko |first=Cindy |title=Water district launches Keystone Heights recharge project |url=https://www.gainesville.com/story/news/2021/04/03/water-district-launches-keystone-heights-recharge-project-black-creek/7069497002/ |access-date=March 31, 2023 |website=Gainesville Sun |language=en-US}}</ref>

Clay County is home to [[Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park|Goldhead Branch State Park]], [[Belmore State Forest]], and [[Jennings State Forest]]. These protected areas provide critical habitat to many native species of plants and animals, as well as provide a buffer around Camp Blanding from surrounding development.<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 6, 2022 |title=North Florida Land Trust has acquired 400 acres for conservation in Clay County |url=https://www.wokv.com/news/local/north-florida-land-trust-has-acquired-400-acres-conservation-clay-county/ALAKELQK3JFVJGL7GRHSOPKLFY/ |access-date=March 31, 2023 |website=104.5 WOKV |language=en}}</ref>

===Adjacent counties===
* [[Duval County, Florida]] - north
* [[St. Johns County, Florida]] - east
* [[Putnam County, Florida]] - south
* [[Bradford County, Florida]] - west
* [[Baker County, Florida]] - northwest