Western Lands Protect Our Water and Wildlife
Indian River County is defined by three extraordinary waterways: the Indian River Lagoon—one of the most biologically diverse estuaries in North America—the St. Sebastian River which flows into the Lagoon, and Blue Cypress Lake, the headwaters of the St. Johns River, Florida’s longest river. Together, these waters shape our region’s natural heritage and sustain the ecosystems, wildlife, drinking water, and our communities.
Building on our Lagoon legacy, the Land Trust recently expanded its focus to the ranchlands of western Indian River County—sweeping grasslands, cypress domes, and oak and palm hammocks that form an essential ecological bridge across central Florida. These lands provide habitat for iconic and critically endangered species, including the Florida panther. Other threatened species that rely on these lands include black bear, crested caracara, grasshopper sparrow, and Sherman’s fox squirrel. They also protect the headwaters of Padgett and Blue Cypress creeks, whose waters flow into Blue Cypress Lake before traveling more than 300 miles north via the St. Johns River to the Atlantic Ocean.
The Indian River Land Trust is poised to secure permanent protection for substantial acreage within this vital corridor of Indian River County. Achieving this vision will require significant philanthropic investment to ensure that approximately 2,500 acres of high-priority ranchlands—located within the State-designated Florida Wildlife Corridor—are permanently protected. Once lost to development, these ecological treasures cannot be replaced. Protecting these lands today ensures that future generations will inherit a connected landscape through which wildlife and clean water flow freely.
