District Board approves joint venture with Volusia County

Acquisition adds additional recreational opportunities for area residents

PALATKA, Fla., May 10, 2022 — The St. Johns River Water Management District’s Governing Board today approved two land purchases that will expand a popular recreation and conservation area near Osteen. The properties, known as the 857-acre Schroeder property and the adjoining 425-acre Russell property, are being purchased as part of a cost-sharing agreement with Volusia County’s Volusia Forever acquisition program and will be incorporated into the Palm Bluff Conservation Area.

Under the terms of the agreement, Volusia County and the District will jointly buy 1,282 acres for $3.15 million, expanding the 3,321-acre Palm Bluff Conservation Area, a property managed by the District since 2009.

According to Mike Register, the St. Johns River Water Management District Executive Director, the most recent joint venture is a shining example of how government entities can collaborate to preserve Florida’s conservation lands, water resources and the environment.

“We appreciate the opportunity to partner with Volusia County and their commitment to environmental protection through Volusia Forever,” said Register. “As communities in and around Florida continue to develop, it is more important than ever that we continue to protect the natural habitats and settings that inspire people to move here. We look forward to collaborating with Volusia County and other government partners on important initiatives like this in the future.”

The Palm Bluff Conservation Area, which provides wooded vistas and trails for the public to hike, ride horses and bicycles, camp out, and commune with nature, is already home to at least eight distinct natural communities. The acquisition will add more than 850 acres of the land that will be open to the public, including approximately three miles of public hiking trails, and offer additional protection for Deep Creek — a large tributary of the St. Johns River that connects Lake Harney with Lake Ashby. The remaining 425 acres will be used as a private conservation easement.

The acquired land contains an ecologically sensitive mix of forest and wetlands that are important for preservation, habitat protection, recreational use and groundwater recharge. The easement will connect with the Volusia Conservation Corridor, which runs north to south through the center of the county and serves as a connected and protected habitat and passageway for wildlife. These purchases will expand the corridor to more than 40,000 acres.

For more information about the District’s land acquisition and management, visit the District’s website at www.sjrwmd.com/lands/acquisition.