Land Management

Please contact Resource Stewardship Division at 386-943-7081 with any questions.

IMPORTANT

• June 11, 2026

  5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

  Public Hearing for the Deep Creek Preserve Management Plan

  Volusia County’s Resource Stewardship Division announces a public hearing for the Deep Creek Preserve. The Carter Quail Ranch encompasses natural lands south of State Road 44 and west of State Road 415 and has been formally added to the preserve. The management plan update will reflect this addition and guide future stewardship of the expanded preserve. The hearing is scheduled for 5:30–7:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 11, 2026, at the UF/IFAS Extension Office Auditorium, 3100 E. New York Ave., DeLand, FL 32720. The purpose of the hearing is to receive public comment regarding considerations for the preserve’s management plan update, which incorporates the recently acquired Carter Quail Ranch (State Tract). Comments may be presented orally or in writing at the hearing. Written comments may also be submitted via mail or electronic mail to 123 W. Indiana Ave., Suite 200, DeLand, FL 32720, to the attention of Ashlyn Russell or arussell@volusia.org, respectively. Comments should be received by 1:00 p.m. on June 11, 2026. The draft management plan for Deep Creek Preserve is available upon request by emailing ndunnam@volusia.org or by visiting the Resource Stewardship Division’s Land Management Plans page 30 days prior to the public hearing.

  WHAT: Public hearing for the Deep Creek Preserve Management Plan

  WHEN: Thursday, June 11, 2026; 5:30–7:00 p.m.

  WHERE: UF/IFAS Extension Office Auditorium, 3100 E. New York Ave., DeLand, FL 32720

• View Conservation Lands

• For camping reservations please call (386) 943-7081 or visit the camping reservations page 

Mission statement: To manage, in perpetuity, the county's conservation, environmentally sensitive and important water resource lands using a program of professionally accepted principles of resource and ecosystem management for the benefit of, and enjoyment by, present and future generations.

The Land Management activity is responsible for the management, enhancement and restoration of more than 39,000 acres located in Volusia County.  The majority of the acreage was acquired through two Volusia County voter approved acquisition programs, the 1986 Endangered Lands program and the 2000 Volusia Forever program.  With the passage of the Volusia Forever referendum in November of 2020, Volusia County will be adding to these protected Conservation Lands.  These lands have been and will be acquired for conservation purposes, while allowing passive recreation by the residents of Volusia County and others wishing to visit them.  Compatible passive recreation includes hiking, biking, bird watching and wildlife observation.  In addition, primitive and group camping is allowed on the following properties:

Hickory Bluff Preserve, Wiregrass Prairie Preserve, Longleaf Pine Preserve, Doris Leeper Spruce Creek Preserve, and Lake George Forest & Wildlife Management Area. 

A camping permit must be obtained by calling the Resource Stewardship main office at (386) 943-7081.

Special Use Authorization Permits for activities not listed on our standard passive recreation list, must have the approval of the Land Management Activity.

Historically, nature provided all the tools needed to maintain healthy habitats. With the advent of fire suppression, fragmentation due to development (roads, powerlines, cities, etc.), past forestry practices, exotic species and user impacts natural lands are rarely as resilient as they were in the past. Most of the remaining habitats are overgrown with a complete canopy of trees and a dense understory of shrubs.  An abundance of trees and shrubs have replaced natural grasses and herbs as the major component of the understory. Loss of habitat quality and quantity has dramatically affected the naturally occurring animal species. Human intervention (management) is now needed to provide the factors necessary for a healthy forest. Learn more about the living forest and how the County controls forest fires.

Visit the Conservation Lands Map to see all protected forest land in Volusia County.

The County Council approved a formal set of land management and conservation goals and objectives which can be found in Resolution 2003-80. This resolution provides staff guidance on management, restoration and public use. In addition the County Council in 2006 approved Chapter 82, Article III, Volusia County Code of Ordinances which details allowances, prohibitions and permitting for the public use of Conservation Lands.