​Edit 2023: We are currently focused on stopping the I-95/Pioneer Trail Interchange, proposed near New Smyrna Beach, which is currently undergoing federal permitting review by the U.S. Army Corps while having its recently approved state permit challenged in court.  If built, it will bring about a slow death to Spruce Creek Preserve, cutting off its nature corridors, polluting its water, and directly destroying acres of wetlands, opening up this rural area to harmful development.  But you can help stop it!  See SaveDontPaveSpruceCreek.com for details how, or mightycause.com/story/Stoppioneerinterchange to donate. 

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I-95/Pioneer Trail Interchange Summary

$120+ million in taxpayer dollars from recent federal stimulus bills are being used to revive a once-dead, ecologically-devastating, and widely-unpopular project known as the "I-95/Pioneer Trail Interchange," located in east central Florida next to New Smyrna Beach.  If built, this project will destroy: 1) about 50 acres of wetlands directly and many more indirectly, 2) habitat for endangered species like the scrub jay and manatee, 3) an area designated as an “A-listed essential parcel” for future state conservation land acquisition, and 4) a watershed (Spruce Creek) already severely impaired and over-developed.  The proposed interchange will also cut off the only animal corridor to the Doris Leeper Spruce Creek Preserve to the northeast, as all other land connections have already been built out.  Transportation experts have also said this interchange is unneeded and will not improve traffic, and the money can rightfully be used elsewhere.  To donate to our outreach and legal challenge efforts, please visit: mightycause.com/story/Stoppioneerinterchange or see SaveDontPaveSpruceCreek.com for more details on how to help.

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South Williamson Boulevard extension

In September 2015, construction of one segment of the South Williamson Boulevard extension in Port Orange, FL, destroyed dozens of acres of wetlands and continues to threaten thousands of acres more, including the largest wetland mitigation bank in the United States (Farmton), which is where this road is planned to go.

This project jeopardizes the well-being of the local community by increasing the risk of flooding, increasing the concentrations of fertilizers, pesticides, and sewage in the water, and destroying habitat for fish and wildlife.

The cumulative effects of various large local projects inside the Spruce Creek basin have not been studied as a whole, although the Clean Water Act requires it.

The construction of South Williamson Boulevard is associated with the ~1000 acre Woodhaven development and I-95 highway interchange projects, which hinder the public's effort to complete the Doris Leeper Spruce Creek Preserve and use it for outdoor recreational and aesthetic purposes (hiking, biking, nature photography, bird watching, horseback riding, etc.).

Additionally, the developer has taken over $15,000,000 in public money to build this road through Spruce Creek's wetland basin, which was not in the public's best interest.  Besides hurting the environment, county-funded traffic studies have shown that building this road will cause traffic flow issues (as we are seeing now), and NOT improve the road network's functionality.

The solution is to stop future construction of South Williamson Boulevard through the country's largest wetland mitigation system and return previously allocated funds to the taxpayers.  After that, the State of Florida would be able to buy the land and preserve it for future generations.​