A closer look at the memorial for Broughton Land.

On Saturday, May 30, at 10 a.m., a memorial service will be held for the late Harlow “Broughton” Land of Mayo at the Dorothy Land Hatchbend boat ramp in the southeast corridor of Lafayette County.

Broughton Land worked for Suwannee River Water Management District (SRWMD) as a Hydrologic Data Collection Specialist from April 2005 through December 2012. He passed away on Sunday, Dec. 2, 2012 at the age of 35. 

Erich Marzolf, division director of water resources for SRWMD had approached the Lafayette County Commissioners at their March 10, 2014 meeting to request permission to erect a memorial along the Suwannee River for Land. The commissioners unanimously agreed to the project.

The SRWMD has installed flood totems at various locations on the rivers throughout the District to help visitors understand the river’s flooding history and potential. The Broughton Land memorial includes rings indicating the height of floodwaters in 1998, 1973 and 1948. Since Land’s specialty was combining the results of hydrologic data collection, it seemed an appropriate remembrance for the people and the river he loved to include it in this memorial in Lafayette County, according to SRWMD Human Resources Administrator Lisa Cheshire.  

“He was one of the guys out in the field in my division collecting data on the river and helping us make better management decisions,” Marzolf noted at the 2014 county commission meeting.

The signage on the totem pole marker states, “In memory of Harlow Broughton Land, a man dedicated to his family, friends and colleagues who loved the Suwannee River, the outdoors and adventure.” 

Aside from his work with SRWMD, Land was also a coach for the Lake City Pop Warner football team and was active with Hannah’s Buddies Charity for 10 years.

Follow this link for directions to the Dorothy Land Hatchbend Public Boat Ramp:  https://public.myfwc.com/le/boatramp/public/Ramp.aspx?FacilityID=LF00008SA&Name=Dorthy+Land+Hatchbend+Public+Boat+Ramp+-+FWC+%23+23