In the early 1970's, the Volusia County Council recognized the need to develop new sources of freshwater for future growth and development. County Council, using data from the U.S. Geological Survey and private consultants, concluded that the central wetlands were an optimal area for well-field development. With this in mind, Volusia County requested that the State of Florida buy land in the central wetlands of Volusia County under the Land Conservation Act of 1972, hoping to protect both the environmentally endangered lands and a potential water resource. In 1974, the State acquired 7.28mi² within this area, and present (1979) plans to acquire and additional 3.33mi². The State later became concerned that wetland protection may not be compatible with development of water resources due to the vegetation changes that might occur if shallow ground-water levels are lowered by producing well field. Consequently, because of mutual interest, the U.S. Geological Survey with the State entered into a program of documenting for future reference the vegetation in the State-owned land.

The purposes of this report and associated map (fig. 1) are (1) to document existing vegetation in approximately 140 mi² in central Volusia County, and (2) to investigate natural water-level fluctuations in selected vegetative communities to the extent possible with relatively short-term data. The study area (fig. 2) is that part of the Talbot Terrace bounded on the east by Rima Ridge, to the west by De Land Ridge, to the north by State Road 40, and to the south by 28°57'.