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County touts conservation gains: 248,000 acres preserved and Mosquito Lagoon funding
Summary
Council members celebrated long-term conservation efforts — more than 248,000 acres preserved (about 40% of county acreage) and recent state appropriations said to total $37,000,000 to help protect Mosquito Lagoon; council also reported over $20,000,000 in stormwater commitments funded partly by grants.
Volusia County Council members highlighted conservation land acquisitions and environmental work during the State of the County address.
District 3 Council Member Danny Robbins said Volusia County ranks second in Florida for conservation land acquisition and that the council and partner programs such as Volusia Forever have conserved more than 248,000 acres — nearly 40% of county acreage. Robbins said since 2021 the council has acquired and preserved over 5,500 acres that will not be developed.
Robbins added that approximately 56% of conserved lands protect floodplains and wetlands and detailed 2024 stormwater and water-quality investments, citing completion of several projects and more than $20,000,000 in commitments with about $14,500,000 funded by grants. He also said the county worked with the state legislature to secure “over 37,000,000 in state appropriations” for Mosquito Lagoon protection.
Why it matters: Officials framed the conservation acquisitions and stormwater investments as part of flood-risk reduction, natural-resource protection, and long-term resilience for the county.
Details and limits: The address gave acreage and funding totals but did not cite specific conservation transactions, grant agreements, or statutory authority in the speech. Robbins described the acreage figures and grant shares but did not provide parcel-level details in the address.
