Supporters of the Indian River Land Trust gathered last Saturday morning for the eighth annual Members Event at the Toni Robinson Waterfront Trail, one of the many shoreline properties now preserved so that future generations may continue to enjoy its beauty.
Located in Winter Beach and open to the public, the 24-acre property – boasting oak trees, scrub habitat and mangroves, an impoundment trail and a boardwalk extending out into the lagoon – was the first shoreline acreage purchased by the Land Trust. That was in 2009. Since then, thanks to a visionary board and a successful $10 million “Save our Indian River Lagoon Acre by Acre” campaign, more than 900 acres, including roughly nine miles of lagoon shoreline, has been protected from development.
As the morning mist began to lift, members gathered at the trailhead, enjoying bagels and coffee donated by Einstein Bros Bagels, fresh orange juice from Schacht Groves, and toe-tapping music by the Blue Cypress Bluegrass Band. The event was underwritten once again by Charlotte Stifle.
Some supporters were busy “tying one on” – oyster shells that is – making oyster mats which will be placed in the lagoon and eventually become colonized by live oysters to help to filter and improve the water quality. “This is what we like to see; these young people getting involved,” said City Councilwoman Pilar Turner, working alongside oyster mat newbie Marci Dalton.
Still others got up close and personal with wildlife brought by Kim Lloyd of Busch Wildlife Center, including a tiny screech owl, crested caracara, young alligator, snakes and a very comfy opossum snuggled in her arms.
Most everyone also took a walk along the trail; a few taking advantage of knowledgeable tour guides such as Nancy Soucy, who pointed out such native fauna dotting the coastal hammock as the spiny Hercules club with its citrusy-smelling leaves.
“See, we wouldn’t know any of this,” said Sara Stoll. “This is wonderful; very informative. Nancy is a wealth of knowledge.”
Along the path to the lagoon boardwalk, beekeeper Jeremy Crews, of the Indian River Bee Company, spoke about the hives he maintains on the property and the honey harvesting process. He had pulled a frame from one of the hives so that people could dip their fingers in the bees’ waxy home for a sweet taste. “Our honey goes straight from a beehive into a jar,” said Crews, who gave everyone a little jar of honey to take home.
In honor of the Land Trust’s 25th anniversary, the board and staff selected 25 ways to give back to the community. They are seeking funding from other like-minded visionaries to assist in the lagoon-wide effort. Some of the 25 ways include enhancing a few of the properties with landscaping, fresh mulch, signage, bike racks and benches. To get the younger generation involved, IRLT staff has engaged with Gifford Youth Achievement Center youth; taking them Geo-Caching for treasures along the Lagoon Greenway, bike riding along the Greenway’s three-mile trail system, and hiking along the Toni Robinson Waterfront Trail.
