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• r4 Sebastian Conservation Area and 1 family within the extreme western portion of the Sebastian Airport properties covered under this HCP (Carroll and Associates 1997). These 13 to 14 scrub -jay families comprise the Sebastian HCP study population (study population). It should be noted that an additional 5 scrub -jay families are documented to occupy habitat on and adjoining the Sebastian Golf Course and the Sebastian Elementary School properties (Poland unpubl, data). These properties are not included within the Sebastian HCP Plan Area. These families are part of the north subpopulation and should greatly benefit from habitat conservation actions proposed under this Sebastian HCP. Tile study population is part of the fourth most important metapopulation of the species (study metapopulation) (Breininger and Oddy 1998). Stith et al. (1996) described "metapopulations" as populations that are separated by 7.5 miles (12 km), representing the maximum dispersal distance of more than 99% of all dispersals at Archbold. Most of this fourth largest metapopulation occurs in south Brevard County, although at least one dozen pairs occur on the St. Sebastian River State Buffer Reserve (SBR) and the adjoining Carson Platt Estate Property. The Carson Platt Estate Property is proposed for conservation acquisition in the immediate future. The families on Carson Platt have never been surveyed and scrub -jay surveys on the Coraci section of the SBR have only recently been initiated (Breininger pers comm.). These pairs do not appear on the statewide survey because of previous access permission problems (Breininger pens comm.). Observations of historical and recent aerial photography indicate that with extensive restoration these areas could support dozens of Florida scrub -jay pairs (Breininger pers comm.). If all public lands proposed or acquired are restored, the total size of this regionally important metapopulation could approach 140 pairs (Breininger and Oddy 1998). 2.2 Property Ownership Status of Scrub -Jay Habitat Compensation Areas Conservation properties held by Indian River County and subject to the provisions of this HCP include the North Sebastian Conservation Area, the Sebastian Highlands Scrub Conservation Area (34 lots in Unit 17), and the Wabasso Scrub Conservation Area, These Indian River County -owned conservation properties comprise a total of 527± acres. Of this total, 279.5± acres have been defined as Scrub -Jay Habitat Compensation Areas. This represents 67% of the total 418:t acres of Scrub -Jay Habitat Compensation Areas considered under this Sebastian HCP. Each of these conservation properties is 1001% fee title owned, with no encumbrances or third - party rights, by Indian River County (R. (7eBlois pers. comm.). Indian River County acquired each of the subject conservation properties with cost-sharing funding grants from the State of Florida's Florida Communities Trust (FCT) program. The FCT Program is a statewide initiative funded through Preservation 2000 (132000), a statewide land acquisition program. Under the terms of the FCT "Grant Awards Agreement", which are recorded in the public records, Indian River County is obligated to advise and procure concurrence from the FCT on all management 10