Cypress Bend Preserve

Located at the corner of Potomac Ave and Gardenia St., adjacent to the Oklawaha Boy Scout Camp. This facility is unimproved and parking is along the shoulder of the road. You may walk around the gate to enter.

Cypress Bend Community Preserve was once an active citrus grove located directly adjacent to the Sebastian River. Upon acquisition of the tract, the County developed a management plan that includes habitat restoration and providing access for public recreation. The old grove within the 47-acre tract will require extensive management to provide native vegetative communities, and is now dominated by ruderal vegetation. Although the upland areas do not include native communities, they do provide habitat for Florida gopher tortoises. Many tortoises and active burrows can be observed on-site.

Conservation of this tract is particularly important as a buffer for the Sebastian River. Removal of active agricultural operations helps to reduce the possibility of nutrient inputs from pesticides and herbicides.