Month-Long Restoration Underway At Lyonia Preserve

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Deltona, FL - A restoration project is now underway at the Volusia County-owned Lyonia Preserve, a 360-acre habitat next to the Deltona Regional Library and Lyonia Environmental Center.

Land management crews will use roller choppers to knock down trees in select areas in order to free up more space for threatened species like the Florida scrub jay and gopher tortoise.

Volusia County spokesperson Pat Kuehn says the area has become too dense with trees, making it difficult for those species to survive.

"Every now and then, we have to go in to thin out the brush and cut down trees so the scrub jays can flourish in this land," Kuehn added.

Tortoise burrows and scrub jay nests will be marked as crews move through the preserve, creating less dense and more sandy areas for the animals to thrive while not getting in their way.

The project should take about a month to complete, per Kuehn.

Trail closures will take place on weekdays as crews steadily go through the preserve, but the county does plan to keep all trails open on weekends.

Crews will begin on the west side of Providence Boulevard near the library and work their way to the east side in a couple of weeks.