The ~407 acre North Sebastian Conservation Area (NSCA) was purchased between 1996 and 1999 by Indian River County under three Florida Communities Trust (FCT) cost-share grant projects (the "AGC Industrial Tract," the "St. Sebastian PUD" and the "Anstalt Addition"). In June 2001, the management plan for the overall project was revised to include the Anstalt Addition (the last of the three segments to be purchased).
The primary purpose of the County's acquisition of the NSCA is to preserve and restore scrub and wetland habitats for the benefit of rare and endangered species. The NSCA is a key property for County resource management under the Sebastian Area-Wide Florida Scrub-Jay Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) that was finalized in March 2000. Besides benefiting the Florida scrub-jay and other endemic scrub species, the NSCA also supports a variety of other wildlife, including roseate spoonbills, wood storks, bald eagles, osprey, sandhill cranes, and other migratory birds.
There site is a mosaic of vegetative communities including mesic pine flatwoods, scrubby flatwoods, hydric flatwoods, oak scrub, sand pine scrub, freshwater marshes, and wet prairies. Over 10 miles of trails have been established on the site, with boardwalks traversing many of the beautiful wetlands. This is the only conservation tract managed by the County that allows for equestrian use. The conservation area is a part of the Great Florida Birding Trail (www.FloridaBirdingTrail.com).
We encourage the public to enjoy observing wildlife and learning about our conservation efforts by visiting our information kiosk at the various entrances to the conservation area. Please remember to leave only footprints on site!
***DO NOT FEED FL SCRUB JAYS IT IS ILLEGAL AND NON-NATURAL FOODS CAN HARM THEM***
FL Scrub Jays are a protected species under the Federal Endangered Species Act (16 U.S. Coe Chapter 35 Section 1531-1543. Feeding Florida Scrub‐Jays, or any other Federally‐listed species, constitutes take under the Federal Endangered Species Act and Rule 68A‐27.003 of the Florida Administrative Code because it disrupts normal behavioral patterns, including feeding and breeding.
For questions or to report illegal activity, please call 772-226-1873.
