Basin 22 Mitigation Bank
The Basin 22 Mitigation Bank encompasses 2,147 acres in Indian River County, Florida, within the Central Indian River Lagoon Basin (SJRWMD Basin 22). The wetland mitigation bank has both Forested and Herbaceous UMAM Credits permitted by the SJRWMD and USACE.
The site includes a mix of improved pasture, pine flatwoods, mixed wetland hardwoods, willow/shrub wetlands, hydric pine flatwoods, freshwater marshes, wet prairies, and areas dominated by Brazilian pepper and Australian pine, along with roads and ditches.
Its value is strengthened by its proximity to major conservation lands, including the Blue Cypress Conservation Area (BCCA) and the Sand Lakes Conservation Area. The BCCA, directly west of the site, serves as a key corridor within the Upper St. Johns River Basin Project, linking to additional public conservation areas such as Three Forks, Fort Drum, and River Lakes. Surrounding lands are primarily agricultural, with limited commercial development along SR 60.
The central portion of the property is active improved pasture, while the eastern and western areas remain more natural, supporting diverse upland and wetland communities.
Agricultural use dating back to the 1950s resulted in extensive ditching and draining, significantly altering site hydrology. These modifications lowered groundwater levels, converted many wetlands to uplands, and degraded remaining wetland systems—shifting some from historical freshwater marshes to shallower wet prairies. Water now rapidly discharges through the main central ditch to the south prong of the St. Sebastian River and ultimately to the Indian River Lagoon.
The ranch supports a wide range of wildlife.
