Indian River Land Trust - About IRLT

When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world. - John Muir

About IRLT

Mission and Vision History of IRLT The Land Trust in Our Community Board of Directors Advisors and Honorary Boards Staff

A Brief History of IRLT: Highlights

1990	Indian River Land Trust is established in Vero Beach, FL
1992	IRLT helps promote $26 million bond referendum approved by voters to purchase environmentally sensitive land.
1993	Archie Carr Refuge for Sea Turtles Fund - IRLT establishes fund to enable protection of sea turtle habitat in the Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge.
1993-2003	McKee Botanical Garden Purchase and Restoration - IRLT completes ten year, $10 million project culminating in the protection of McKee Garden in perpetuity through a conservation easement held by IRLT.
2004	Environmental Land Bond Referendum - IRLT leads countywide effort for passage of $50 million bond referendum approved by 67% of voters to purchase land and easements to protect our natural, historic and agricultural lands.
2005	Greenprint for the Future - IRLT researches and produces computerized map of Indian River County's most important environmentally sensitive lands.
2007	Gopher Tortoise Study - IRLT funds a study in the North Sebastian Conservation Area to determine tortoise populations, carrying capacities of the Preserve, and the potential for relocating tortoises displaced by development. Protection of Treasure Hammock Ranch - IRLT initiates and facilitates county project to purchase a conservation easement on the 462-acre historic, working cattle ranch containing wetlands, native wildlife, and natural water filtration. This is the first true agricultural conservation easement in the State of Florida. Protection of Padgett Creek Ranches - IRLT assists with county project to purchase conservation easements on more than 1,600 acres of environmentally significant working cattle ranchland containing the Padgett Branch, a critical waterway leading directly to Blue Cypress Lake and the St. John's River.
2009	Using monies from its Land Protection Fund, IRLT completes first strategic acquisitions of two parcels totaling 8 acres along the Indian River Lagoon south of the Wabasso Bridge. These purchases will allow IRLT to provide public access to a 40-acre block of publicly managed parcels of tropical oak hammocks, dwindling native scrub forest and essential mangrove swamps, with beautiful views of the Lagoons.

Additional Accomplishments:

IRLT has been an active partner in the improvement and expansion of the Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge and the historic Jungle Trail.
IRLT has been a critical partner in the establishment of the St. Sebastian River Greenway by developing the St. Sebastian River Greenway Plan, adopted by the Indian River County Board of Commissioners, and securing associated lands at risk with the goal of protecting a corridor of native habitat leading into the Indian River Lagoon.