General Comments:

The development of plans for the Sebastian Inlet Management Area (SIMA) and their adoption by the Subcommittee on Managed Marshes in 1991 was the first effort at regional management plan development. This effort was initiated by Joseph Carroll, then with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, acting as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Managed Marshes'(SOMM) - Working Group on Impoundment Management Planning. This concerted planning effort resulted in funding for plan implementation through cooperation between the St. Johns River Water Management District's SWIM Project and the Brevard and Indian River Mosquito Control Districts.

SIMA extends for approximately 16 miles from CR 510 in Indian River County northward to Hog Point in Brevard County and west to the Intracoastal Waterway. It includes all the salt marshes, mangrove swamps and mosquito control impoundments on the barrier island side of the Indian River lagoon as well as salt marsh islands (most of which have been ditched). SIMA's most notable feature is the Sebastian Inlet which is centrally located within this area. The location of the Inlet within SIMA is important, serving as an access point for an abundant supply of organisms entering the Indian River lagoon from the Atlantic Ocean. The St. Sebastian River is a major source of fresh water located due west of the Sebastian Inlet on the mainland side of the lagoon. Two important rookeries, Pelican Island and Grant Farm Island, influence wading bird utilization of marshes within SIMA. Pelican Island is the central focus of the Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge (PINWR).

Other publicly owned areas within SIMA are the Sebastian Inlet State Park (located in both Brevard and Indian River Counties) and Long Point County Park (Brevard County). There are 15 impoundments within SIMA totalling 1,206 acres. Many of the impoundments are under RIM (or targeted for RIM). Indian River Impoundments #2 & #3 are under a cyclic winter pump-up and spring draw-down schedule for wading bird enhancement. These impoundments were chosen for this use because of their close proximity to Pelican Island and because of the documented benefits this management technique can provide. Approximately 340 acres of unimpounded island marshes and mangrove swamps occur in SIMA, most of which have been ditched in years past but still require frequent larviciding to control salt-marsh mosquito populations originating there.

Hog Point. - Plans are underway to implement RIM in this 106 acre impoundment but property owner approvals are pending. Currently this impoundment is closed, not pumped and has migrated largely toward a freshwater system.

North Grove. - Plans to implement RIM in this 57 acre impoundment are also under development. Currently the impoundment is seasonally flooded with no lagoon connection.

North Siphon. - This small 8 acre impoundment currently is open to the lagoon with 1 culvert. Adding another culvert is desirable to improve circulation and marsh-lagoon exchange.

John Smith. - This 157 acre impoundment is currently under a RIM plan with a total of 7 exchange culverts. One more culvert is desirable. Public efforts to purchase part of this impoundment are under consideration.

South Siphon. - This 16 acre impoundment is closed and not managed. Efforts to install 2 culverts are encouraged, but no capability to flood this impoundment exists, so an open connection should be maintained year-round.

Sunnyland. - The Aquarina Development owns this 60 acre impoundment. Currently this marsh is seasonally flooded with a portable diesel pump but there is no connection with the lagoon. Plans for implementation of RIM are pending. When implemented, the plan will include 4 culverts and a permanent electric pump station.

Latham Hotel. - This 27 acre impoundment, which is also part of the Aquarina property, is closed and not pumped. A long-term plan to open it with 4 culverts is being considered and should be implemented.

Nancy Creek. - RIM is now employed at this 17 acre impoundment where 3 culverts have been installed. Pumping is accomplished with a portable diesel pump.

Long Point. - This 150 acre impoundment is located within Brevard County's Long Point Park and is managed via RIM. It is flooded with a stationary electric pump and 8 culverts allow it to be seasonally opened to the Indian River Lagoon.

Campbell's Cove. - This 68 acre impoundment, which is located within the Sebastian Inlet State Park, is RIM managed with a permanent electric pump and 4 culverts to allow seasonal marsh- estuary connection.

IRC #1 (Inlet). - Located within the Sebastian Inlet State Park, this 153 acre impoundment is RIM managed. After RIM was designated as the desired management technique for this marsh in the initial SIMA draft, SWIM funding allowed for the purchase of culverts and a permanent electric pump station which were installed at this impoundment by the Indian River Mosquito Control District (IRMCD). Currently there are 5 exchange culverts and 2 bleed-down culverts.

IRC #2 (Bird's). - Bird's Impoundment, which totals 156 acres, is managed on a cyclic winter flooding/spring drawdown scenario to allow in alternate years, the enhancement of feeding opportunities for wading birds. The winter flooding/spring drawdown function is alternated yearly with IRC #3 (Pete's). In years when the impoundment is not managed for wading birds, a RIM technique is used. The SWIM program, with IRMCD participation, has installed 5 exchange culverts and 2 bleed-down culverts on the portion of this impoundment that is in public ownership (the western half). Additional culverts are desirable on the eastern half of this impoundment when property ownership conditions allow. Also, a portable diesel pump was purchased to be shared between this impoundment and IRC #3.

IRC #3 (Pete's). - Pete's Impoundment, which totals 150 acres, is like IRC #2 in that it is managed on a cyclic winter flooding/spring drawdown scenario to allow in alternate years, the enhancement of feeding opportunities for wading birds. The winter flooding/spring drawdown function is alternated yearly with IRC #2 (Bird's). The SWIM program, with IRMCD participation, has installed 5 exchange culverts (with 2 bleed-down culverts scheduled for installation this winter). Also (as mentioned in the description of IRC #2 above), a portable diesel pump was purchased and is shared between this impoundment and IRC #2.

IRC #4 (North Deerfield). - This 51 acre impoundment, which is privately owned, is breached in two locations and is a prolific producer of salt-marsh mosquitoes. Even though it is open to the estuary through breaches, improved circulation could be accomplished with culverts or additional breaches.

IRC #5 (South Deerfield). - This 30 acre impoundment, like IRC #4 is privately owned, and breached in one location. It is also a prolific producer of salt-marsh mosquitoes. It is open to the estuary through one breach, but as with IRC #4, circulation could be improved with culverts or additional breaches.