The Lyonia Preserve is a nature reserve located in Deltona, Florida near the local library.[1] It is joint managed by the state, Volusia County, and the Volusia County School Board.[2] It contains scrublands and the Florida scrub jay, both of which are damaged in the state.[2] The preserve's goal is to maintain the scrublands and the animals on it like the gopher tortoise and the Florida scrub jay.[3]
History
editWhen Congress set up townships in the United States in 1785, section 16 of the township was to be set up for education. When Deltona was developing, a shopping center was proposed in the 1990s where the Lyonia Preserve would be. Volusia County School Board decided that the land would be used for education and environmental preservation, both receiving 240 acres (0.97 km2)[4] and 360 acres (1.5 km2) respectively.[5][6] The preserve was named after the lyonia.[4]
A Florida scrub jay festival was held at the Lyonia Preserve February 13, 2022.[7]
Conservation
editFlorida scrub jays do not live in suburbia and require open scrubland. While the preserve provides scrubland, the city is reluctant to do controlled burns due to its proximity to city hall and Daytona State College's Deltona campus, lowering the quality of habitat for scrub jays. The county does cut down trees to recreate natural processes,[8] however, it does not fully mimic fire.[6] While the trees are being cut down, trails remain open.[8]
Each year, a group from Audubon Florida does a yearly count of the scrub jays at the preserve.[8]
Lyonia Environmental Center
editThe Lyonia Environmental Center is a museum and activity center to provide environmental information for the protected scrublands.[9][10]
Trails
editThe preserve has three trails. Their lengths are: 0.4 miles (0.64 km), 1.2 miles (1.9 km), 2.4 miles (3.9 km).[2] The trails are made of sand[11] and lack shade.[2]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Lyonia Preserve". Florida Hikes!. November 16, 2011. Archived from the original on September 4, 2023. Retrieved September 4, 2023.
- ^ a b c d "Lyonia Preserve". Volusia County. June 16, 2021. Archived from the original on September 4, 2023. Retrieved September 4, 2023.
- ^ Kinane, Rose (September 27, 2022). "Field trip: Lyonia Preserve". Florida Wildflower Foundation. Archived from the original on September 4, 2023. Retrieved September 4, 2023.
- ^ a b "Lyonia Preserve and Environmental Center". ArcGIS StoryMaps. April 3, 2023. Archived from the original on January 2, 2023. Retrieved September 4, 2023.
- ^ "Florida Fresh Air: Lyonia Preserve offers chance to see scrub-jays up close". Orlando Sentinel. May 14, 2021. Archived from the original on September 4, 2023. Retrieved September 4, 2023.
- ^ a b Pulver, Dinah Voyles. "Threatened scrub jays hanging on in Volusia County". Daytona Beach News-Journal Online. Archived from the original on September 4, 2023. Retrieved September 4, 2023.
- ^ Lane, Mark (January 29, 2022). "Is strawberry shortcake a just dessert for Florida?". Daytona Beach News-Journal Online. Archived from the original on December 2, 2022. Retrieved September 23, 2023.
- ^ a b c Carter, Lori (July 26, 2018). "Roller choppers restoring preserve for scrub jays". Hometown News Volusia. Retrieved September 23, 2023.
- ^ "Visit the Center". Volusia County Florida. Archived from the original on August 13, 2022. Retrieved December 2, 2023.
- ^ Ryan, Reagan (November 30, 2023). "Volusia's Lyonia Preserve protects endangered Florida scrub habitat". Spectrum News 13. Retrieved December 2, 2023.
- ^ "West Volusia Community Notes, Sept. 22, 2023". Hometown News Volusia. September 21, 2023. Retrieved September 23, 2023.