County moves to preserve large tract in southern Volusia

Volusia County has approved spending $20.1 million to acquire 1,299 acres of environmentally sensitive land in Osteen, adding a major new piece to the county’s conservation map. The purchase, funded through the voter-approved Volusia Forever program, was approved unanimously by the County Council on May 5, according to the reporting provided.

The property, known as River Bend Ranch, sits at 1411 Osteen Maytown Road and includes about 2 miles of frontage along the St. Johns River and 1.3 miles along Deep Creek. County materials cited in the source said the land met 18 of 21 evaluation criteria, making it the highest-scoring property on the current Volusia Forever priority list.

Why this matters beyond Osteen

Although the land is not near Edgewater city limits, the decision has countywide relevance because it touches on water resources, floodplain protection and long-term growth management. The reporting says the acquisition will conserve about 561 acres of wetlands for floodplain protection. In a low-lying county where water management affects communities from the coast to the river basin, those issues matter broadly.

The newly acquired tract also connects with the county-owned 1,385-acre Deering Preserve at Deep Creek, creating a contiguous preserved area of 2,684 acres. Supporters at the meeting described the purchase as exactly the kind of large, strategic conservation deal the Volusia Forever program was designed to make before development pressure intensifies further.

Public support and policy significance

County leaders and residents who spoke at the meeting backed the purchase. Even Councilman Don Dempsey, described in the source as a recent critic of Volusia Forever, said he supported this acquisition. Residents and candidates for County Council also argued that preserving the property protects land and water resources for the future.

For Edgewater readers, this is a practical county-government and environment story. Decisions about conservation spending can shape flood resilience, habitat protection and development patterns across Volusia County over time. The purchase does not create an immediate local service change in Edgewater, but it is a meaningful county action with long-term environmental implications for residents who care about land use, water quality and growth.