05/18/2026
Volusia County Management has posted the Carter Quail Ranch plan and invites both review and public comment at the June 11th public hearing.
https://www.volusia.org/services/community-services/resource-stewardship/land-management/
As a member of the local FNPS , Sonya Guidry, was invited to participate in the April 28 Deep Creek Planning Management Advisory Group. Since the Pawpaw Chapter's May 2025 Rugel's Roundup on this property we were delighted to find its Immokalee soils did indeed predict just the right habitat for the Volusia County endemic Rugel's Pawpaw, Deeringothamnus rugelii. A number of plants were found. Again on May 2, 2026 the scheduled Rugrel's Roundup on this site had 20 citizen science volunteers confirm that in one area alone there were about 50 plants. Finally we have this wonderful conservation land where numerous federally listed Rugel's Pawpaw plants are present and can now be managed to maintain a healthy population.
So It was shocking to see that the proposed recreation plan for this Carter Quail Ranch parcel of Deep Creek Preserve. Along with the usual passive trail systems for hikers, bikers and horseback riders it includes such uses as OHV riding, a large area designated for small game hunting, setups for road side equestrian RV and camping sites, and several small cabins.
Pawpaw Chapter FNPS recommended:
1. Before planning for recreation usage or trail designations, it should be imperative that thorough official surveys should be made, especially for Rugel's Pawpaw, as well as other listed species of concern.
2. Eliminate the use of OHV's on the Carter Quail Ranch to comply with State and Volusia County laws that exist due to OHV incompatibility with protecting conservation lands, especially those considered linkage and the Volusia wildlife corridor.
3. Eliminate hunting on the Carter Quail Ranch parcel.
4. Any logging should be considered part of a habitat restoration plan, rather than continued intense silvaculture.
See the soil map below of Carter Quail Ranch and note that the many tan colored areas indicate Immokalee soil, which is Rugels Pawpaw preferred habitat.
Note below the map of the Carter Quail Ranch Conceptual Recreation Plan being submitted for approval by Stste agencies.
Note below the most intensively developed plans for the area around the former owner's huge sand borrow-pit "lake". Much of it may conflict with the recently documented presence of a large population of the federally listed Rugel's pawpaw.
We, the public, do have a chance to voice our opinions on how it should be used at the upcoming Public hearing on June 11 at at DeLand Ag Center Auditorium, or by written comments sent to Ashlyn Russell at her work email: [email protected]
Thanks in advance for sending or making your own remarks to the county regarding the public use of Carter Quail Ranch parcel of Deep Creek Preserve.
