FDEP to hold hearing about purchase of Tomoka/Ford Marsh property

The hearing will begin at 4 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 29.


  • By
  • | 2:00 p.m. August 15, 2023
The land is next to Bulow Creek State Park and North Peninsula State Park. Courtesy of Volusia County Government
The land is next to Bulow Creek State Park and North Peninsula State Park. Courtesy of Volusia County Government
  • Ormond Beach Observer
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State officials want to know what locals think about a proposal to nominate the 1,200-acre Tomoka/Ford Marsh property in Ormond Beach for the Florida Forever land acquisition program.

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Acquisition and Restoration Council will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, Aug. 29, so people can provide input. The meeting will start at 4 p.m. in the County Council Chambers of the Thomas C. Kelly Administration Center at 123 W. Indiana Ave., DeLand.

The Volusia Forever program identified the Tomoka Marsh property as a possible purchase, and the Volusia County Council approved it as a priority for acquisition, in 2022. 

The property contains high-functioning coastal and estuarine wetlands.

The Florida Park Service wants to partner with Florida Forever and Volusia Forever to acquire the property, which borders 6,000 acres of conservation land containing Bulow Creek State Park and North Peninsula State Park. 

Volusia Forever was created in 2000 when citizens voted to tax themselves 0.2 mills for 20 years to protect the county’s natural biodiversity. Voters renewed it for another 20 years in 2020. 

The program has acquired 38,000 acres so far.

View the meeting agenda and Volusia Forever's property evaluation results and project report and application at volusia.org/forever.

 

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