INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — John Johnson was beaming. The Indian River Land Trust, of which Johnson is a board member, has just acquired 60 acres of lagoon shoreline property, on Pine Island south of the Wabasso Bridge, thereby advancing its quest to preserve the county’s endangered and still pristine natural wetlands and hammocks. Johnson had identified the land as being available and put the plan together.
Through an anonymous donation and with assistance from Trust Treasurer Kelly Kite Jr., the property had been acquired at a county auction. The purchase increased to almost 500 acres and 4 miles of shoreline the property currently protected by the Trust.
Johnson was among staff, board and volunteers gathered at Round Island Riverside Park Saturday for the organization’s fifth annual membership “Thank You” party and lagoon celebration. The day was sunny, breezy, Florida-perfect.
Situated at the Indian River/St. Lucie County line, between A1A and the lagoon, the venue was a fine match for the event, just the sort of mangrove-rich, shoreline environment the Trust strives to protect.
Trust Director Ken Grudens and Director of Land Protection Ralph Monticello were among staff and board welcoming attendees. Friendly and well-organized, Ann Taylor is IRLT’s Director of Development. She offered warm greetings and refreshments, and directed traffic.
Guests could sign up for a kayak excursion, and colorful bunches of the slender craft bobbed about in the shallows.
Background music was provided by the banjo-led Porch Pickers, with back-up supplied by the whispering of the Australian Pines. (These towering Aussies are considered an invasive species, rudely slurping light from lower growing plants, but Florida old-timers often still have a nostalgic soft spot for the late 19th Century imports.)
Short, guided tours were offered, and Robin Dunlap led the first one. The group tromped across a wooden walkway and onto the crushed shell path that wound through the mangrove wetland toward the water.
Dunlap pointed out flora and fauna along the way – “Don’t eat that!” motioning to the green pods on a bush. “That’s the Florida state butterfly,” naming the Zebra Longwing.
Down the path Dunlap pointed out the Spiney-backed Orb Weaver, a little spider and its magnum opus, a glorious web, high above the path.
“It’s a work of art!” exclaimed member Stella Covill.
Dunlap led the group to the observation tower, then up the sturdy steps to the top, offering an excellent view of the lagoon. A wide stretch along the far shore, Dunlap explained, was the “South Vero Conservation Property,” another IRLT acquisition, 185 acres purchased in 2011.
Located east of US 1, near the Oslo boat ramp, the property can’t be seen from the highway. When someone commented that it’s good to be able to see what Trust donation dollars actually purchase, Bill Helmly spoke up.
Helmly is Chairman of the Trust Board and, in his pleasant drawl, explained that the property had originally been listed for $11 million. After the real estate market collapse, however, the acreage was eventually acquired for far less.
“We are in a race against time trying to acquire or preserve” these properties, Helmly warned. “The pace is getting faster as we are trying to save what the rest of Florida has already lost.”
The IRLT’s success, he told the group atop the tower, “is all because of you. Thank you!”
