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Chair Atherton outlines Turnbull Creek conservation progress, maintenance priorities and grant plan
Summary
At the March 19 Turnbull Creek Preservation Board meeting, Chair Atherton reviewed recent land purchases and restoration work, flagged invasive plants and fire risk, and recommended an active maintenance plan plus pursuing ECHO and USDA grants; the board agreed to finalize a presentation for the city commission workshop.
Chair Atherton, the Turnbull Creek Preservation Board chair, told the board on March 19 that work funded by a voter-approved $15,000,000 bond has turned previously clogged creek sections into open-flow habitat and added new conserved land, including a 7.63-acre addition to the Turnbull Trace parcel. “We were able to add an additional conservation of 7.63 acres,” she said, citing photos and on‑the‑ground observations.
She said the board secured roughly $1,600,000 through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Emergency Watershed Protection program to remove debris and reestablish flow after hurricane damage. “Through the USDA's Emergency Water Management Program, we were able to get $1,600,000 to remove a lot of the debris,” she said, describing conditions in 2019 and improvements since dredging work began.
The presentation mixed aerial images, boat‑tour photos and maps showing recent acquisitions and parcels the board still wants to acquire. Atherton identified three parcels under active consideration: a 24.5‑acre tract on Page Avenue (appraisal in progress), an 8‑acre Ellison Acres connector between Jungle Road and State Road 44 (under appraisal), and a 2.75‑acre parcel at Doster Drive that was pulled from a recent commission agenda for further review.
Board members raised several practical concerns. Atherton and others emphasized dense undergrowth and widespread Brazilian pepper as a major fire hazard near nearby houses; they said passive‑park zoning on conserved land limits built amenities but allows benches, small pads and signage. “If one fire breaks out, you'll never get back there to fix it,” Atherton said, urging the board to prioritize fuel removal and an active maintenance plan.
The board discussed funding and implementation paths. Atherton said she has been in touch with an ECHO grant manager about projects that could qualify for roughly $600,000 or more to cover the board’s estimated 80/20 share of certain aquatic‑opening work. Members also discussed coordinating with Parks & Recreation staff (Rob Salazar was named as a possible coordinator) and seeking additional USDA, Volusia County and state programs.
Committee members compiled a long list of questions and materials they want in a packet for an upcoming commission workshop, including updated property maps, legal definitions of “passive park,” climate‑impact assessments for purchased parcels, the potential to use terminal properties for stormwater retention, and whether a nonprofit partner or special taxing district could help finance long‑term maintenance.
Atherton proposed a ranked set of priorities for the commission: (1) maintain the board’s advisory role, (2) implement an aggressive active‑management plan to reduce fuel loads and invasive species, (3) develop educational programs with local schools and partners, (4) pursue layered conservation easements and partnerships to protect property in perpetuity, and (5) consider financing options such as a special taxing district for ongoing maintenance. The board agreed to finalize slides 17–18 of the presentation and have the clerk publish the materials in the packet for the city commission workshop at the end of the month.
On real‑estate status, Atherton said appraisals for the Page Avenue parcel and the Ellison Acres connector are pending; she flagged conflicting appraisals for the 2.75‑acre Doster Drive parcel (one appraisal near $149,000, another at about $120,000) and said she will recommend capturing the resource‑corridor portion as an easement. No formal land purchases closed during the meeting.
No formal policy changes or new motions beyond routine minute approval were adopted. The board approved the prior meeting minutes after a motion by Member Warner and a second; Chair Atherton recorded the meeting adjourned at approximately 4:16 a.m.
Next steps: the board will finalize and transmit the updated presentation and the compiled questions to staff so the commission can review them at its upcoming workshop, and the board will pursue identified grant opportunities and a prioritized active‑management plan.
