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i Incidental Take areas included 266 lots in the southern and northern Sebastian Highlands (Toland 1996). By 1993, a 20% reduction in the number of scrub -jay ;families was docurnented with only 27 families accounted for in the City of Sebastian (FWS, November 12, 1996 correspondence to Indian River County). This reduction in the Sebastian scrub -jay subpopulation was attributed to a high demand for housing in the Sebastian Highlands, coupled with an absence of a comprehensive enforcement policy by the FWS and lack of willingness on the part of the City of Sebastian to develop and implement a conservation plan (FWS, November 12, 1996 correspondence to Indian River County). In 1994, the IRC Board voted to develop a county -wide HCP to address scrub -jay conservation in Indian River County, including the City of Sebastian (Toland 1996; R. DeBiois pers. comm.). In May 1994, the Sebastian City Council agreed to participate in development of the county -wide HCP provided that the process would not require expenditures from the City of Sebastian (City of Sebastian, September 7, 1994 correspondence to Indian River County). In consultation with Indian River County and the City of Sebastian, the FWS delineated the scrub habitat areas essential to survival of the Atlantic coast scrub -jay population in Indian River County (Toland 1996). These areas, as shown on Figure 3 - Scrub Jay Habitat Conservation "Core" Areas, were to serve as the foundation of the county- wide HCP for Florida scrub -jays (Toland 1996). The six (6) scrub -jay core habitat areas initially identified within the City of Sebastian, as listed above, were included in this county -wide mapping. In an effort to further several comprehensive plan policies and objectives, including front-end implementation of the county -wide NCP, Indian River County began to actively acquire large scrub parcels through its Environmental Lands Acquisition Bond Program with up to 50% matching funds frorn the FCT Program (R. DeBiois, pers comm.). In October 1995, Indian River County acquired the 111 ± acre Wabasso Scrub Conservation Area, one of the larger parcels designated by the FWS on the Scrub Jay Habitat Conservation "Core" Areas map. In late 1996, Indian River Comity acquired the 387 ± acre North Sebastian Conservation Area, formerly known as the AGC Industrial Tract/St. Sebastian P,U.D. Recently, Indian River County added 19 acres to the North Sebastian Conservation Area, resulting in a total project area of 406± acres. This conservation area, which is part of the proposed Sebastian HCP Scrub -Jay Habitat Compensation Areas, represents the largest scrub parcel remaining along the Atlantic Coastal Ridge in north Indian River County. During the 1994-95 tirne period, Indian River County endeavored to further its HCP initiatives to acquire FWS designated core scrub -jay habitat areas by creating the Sebastian Scrub Conservation Area project (FloridaAffinity, Inc. and Ecotech 26