Area Map

General Comments:

The Winter Beach Management Area (WBMA) ranges a little over 8 miles, essentially from CR 510 in Wabasso south to Vero Beach's Merrill Barber Bridge. This area includes 16 impoundments (totalling 1,446 acres), an Open Marsh Water Management system at Grand Harbor development, as well as some unimpounded marshes on the mainland, and on islands within the lagoon. The 16 impound- ments are currently managed in a variety of ways, including RIM, year-round flooding, not flooded and open all year through culverts, and breached with frequent larviciding. Several of these marshes are unique in Indian River County because of the presence of Distichlis spicata (salt grass). Many of the marshes within the WBMA are candidates for management improvements as discussed below. All proposed management improvements in this area include the removal of exotics along the dikes.

Impoundment #30A (North Vickers).- This 45 acre, 3 cell impoundment is the northernmost mainland impoundment until reaching Northern Brevard County. At the property owners request, the impoundment has been kept flooded year-round for their fish stocking interests. Over the past year or so, water from the adjacent grove has been diverted through the impoundment to minimize direct impacts to the IR Lagoon. Currently, there is waterfowl utilization of the north and middle cells. Because the impoundment has remained constantly flooded for many years, it is not a salt-marsh mosquito producer.

The management strategy proposed for this 3 cell system is a modified RIM plan. It is proposed that the north and middle cells continue to serve a waterfowl management role with overflow agricultural water continuing to be channeled through the impoundment. Limited lagoonal connection in the north and middle cell is proposed (1,30" flapgated exchange culvert in each of the two cells), which will connect them to the lagoon yet still allow them to continue to serve as waterfowl habitat. The southernmost cell should receive 3-5 culverts thus allowing it to seasonally connect the impoundment with the lagoon. A permanent electric pump is highly desirable. The adjacent citrus grove property is an excellent candidate for development making this impoundment a strong mitigation candidate. Maintaining a less than full-RIM strategy here is appropriate because of the large acreage of unimpounded marsh and breached impoundments in the adjacent Sebastian Inlet Management Area. Providing some waterfowl habitat is important in that this area provides for a stepping-stone corridor for migrating waterfowl. Beginning with the Scotsmoor impoundments in northern Brevard, followed by North Vickers, Vista Royale, and then St. Lucie County, a series of fresh water marshes are available as feeding, resting and overnighting stops for waterfowl. This is a positive factor in creating diversity in the Management Area.

This impoundment is the only wetlands on the mainland between County Road 510 northward to north Brevard. The entire tract (including impoundments and the upland grove) is currently for sale. This tract is also due west of some of the mangrove islands that make up part of the Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge. These factors should make this tract a high priority for public purchase and preservation. The upland grove area can be converted into a large stromwater treatment area for the U.S. 1 corridor, with the overflow being directed into the north cell of the impoundment for additional treatment.

Impoundment #30B(South Vickers). - This 16 acre impoundment is currently open to the lagoon through (3) 36" concrete culverts and (1) 18" aluminum culvert. The concrete culverts are largely blocked due to siltation and provide little or no flushing. The 18 in culvert connects the marsh through a boat basin and provides the majority of flushing. The eastern dike of the impoundment is severely eroded in some areas which probably overwash during high tides. Over the past several years, this impoundment rarely has produced mosquitoes. The management strategy for this impoundment should be to maintain it in its open configuration and enhance connections and circulations by scraping down the eastern dike in several locations. In addition, the concrete culverts should be removed creating a shallow breach, and the area stabilized with vegetation. The area may have to be larvicided as needed for mosquito control.

Impoundment #29 (Morgans). - Morgans is a 71 acre, 4 cell mainland impoundment with no connection to the lagoon. It has been seasonally flooded for mosquito control since its construction in 1961. Development is rapidly encroaching here, especially around the north cell which abuts CR 510. The management strategy suggested for this impoundment is a typical RIM plan. Approximately 10-12 culverts, a permanent electric pump station, and improvment of the inter-cell connections will be necessary for proper management.

Impoundment #28(North Winter Beach). - North Winter Beach Impoundment is a 72-acre, 3 cell mainland impoundment which has been seasonally flooded off and on for the past 30+ years. The southern half of the north cell has served as mitigation for the Copelands Landing project and now contains 6 exchange culverts and a pump station, allowing for limited RIM management of most of the impoundment system. The southernmost cell, unmanaged at the property owners request, is disconnected from the impoundment system and open to the lagoon through one 24-in diameter culvert. This southern cell requires occasional larviciding. The middle cell is flooded through interconnection with the north cell but has no direct connection to the lagoon.

It is suggested that this impoundment remain under RIM and that the culvert connection between the north and middle cells and the lagoon be improved. Additionally, 3-4 culverts are needed in the northern half of the north cell and 3-4 culverts in the middle cell. The plan calls for leaving the south cell open to the lagoon, with the possibility of incorporating it into the system at a later date should property owners allow it and a need arise. At that time, several culverts (2-3) would be installed there to allow for improved estuarine connection.

Impoundment #27N(South Winter Beach). - This 30-acre mainland impoundment has not been flooded for the past 15+ years and is connected year-round to the lagoon through one 24-in culvert. This impoundment requires infrequent larviciding. This impoundment should remain open and several more culverts (2-3) should be installed to improve marsh-lagoon connection. An option to strongly consider for this impoundment is to divert run-off water from the adjacent grove through the impoundment. Currently a drainage ditch runs along this impoundment's north side and discharges directly into the lagoon. Water quality could undoubtedly be improved by first channeling the runoff through the impoundment.

Impoundment #27S(Timinsky). - Currently this 47 acre impoundment is not artificially flooded and requires occasional larviciding during the mosquito season. Given the impoundment's narrow configuration and relatively high elevations, it is not a good candidate for future flooding. Therefore, the proposed management strategy is to improve marsh-lagoon connection through culverts or dike breaches, with the possibility of some selective ditching as needed. However, this area is extremely rocky, making the construction of ditches problematic. It is anticipated that continued larviciding of this impoundment will be necessary.

Grand Harbor. - This 102 acre created marsh system is managed under Open Marsh Water Management (OMWM) using shallow (rotary) ditches to connect mosquito producing areas to deeper water habitats. No changes in the management strategy for this area are proposed.

Impoundment #26(Triangle). - A portion of this small, 16 acre impoundment is part of the Grand Harbor system therefore under OMWM. The remainder of it (approx. 10 acres) is isolated from Grand Harbor by a road and separated from the lagoon by a low dike. This area frequently produces mosquitoes which require treatment. The management strategy proposed here is to improve connection with the lagoon through breaches or culverts along the eastern edge of the impoundment and possibly connect it to the Grand Harbor OMWM system by culverting under the existing road on the impoundment's west side. Rotary ditching is suggested if a need is documented.

Impoundment #25 (Lab). - Lab Impoundment (also known as Gifford Plots) is a 76 acre mainland impoundment which is breached in one location. It has 9 internal dikes running E-W, dividing the marsh into 10 areas, each roughly the same size. With only one breach and many internal berms, water movement within the marsh is greatly restricted. This impoundment was used for the early impoundment research conducted by Rogers and Clements at the Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory. This work documented the mosquito control benefits of impoundments. The dikes are largely overgrown with Brazilian pepper, consequently, the interior of the impoundment is not routinely inspected. Mosquito production is frequently documented along the impoundment's western edge which triggers aerial treatment of all, or a portion, of the impoundment.

The proposed management strategy for Lab Impoundment is to remove the 9 internal dikes, install culverts (3-4) connecting the impoundment to the lagoon, and monitor the impoundment for mosquito production. Because of the proximity of this marsh to rapidly encroaching development, closure of the breach and implementation of a full RIM plan may be necessary should the impoundment prove to be a large mosquito producer in the future.

Impoundment #24 (North John Knights). - North John Knights is a 57 acre, breached impoundment which is one of Indian River County s (IRC) most prolific mosquito producers. It has been aerially treated as many as 14 times in one season. This impoundment is densely vegetated with Distichlis spicata, which is one of the few locations in IRC where this plant exists.

The approriate management strategy for this impoundment is to increase the marsh-lagoon connection with additional breaches and install rotary ditches as needed. Existing ditches should be cleaned out at that time. Also, the construction of deep water fish reservoirs with radial ditches would be an appropriate long-term goal here.

Impoundment #23 (South John Knights). - South John Knights (44 acres), has not been flooded for 20+ years at the property owners request. It currently has one 24 in exchange culvert which has been kept closed for many years. Like N. John Knights, this impoundment is a prolific mosquito producer and contains dense beds of Distichlis spicata, especially in the impoundment's western portions.

The management strategy proposed for this impoundment is to increase the number of exchange culverts (adding 3-4). Passive RIM (retaining lagoon water with flapgates but without pumping) would be used to maintain some summer flooding with the goal of reducing pesticide use here.

Impoundment #22(Golf Course). - Impoundment #22 is a 90 acre impoundment which served as a mitigation site for Indian River County when the Indian River Boulevard was constructed. It currently is RIM managed, with 7 exchange culverts and 2 internal ones. Since the current RIM plan is working well, and much development is nearby and constantly increasing, no management change is proposed for this marsh.

Impoundment #9 (Sand Point). - Sand Point is a 149 acre barrier island impoundment which is currently flooded during the summer months. For a 15+ year period ending in the late 1980's, this marsh was not flooded at the property owner's request and during that time was a prolific mosquito producer requiring frequent aerial larviciding. Since 1988, it has been flooded seasonally. Because of the close proximity of nearby development, RIM is the management strategy proposed for this marsh with the installation of 8-10 culverts. Because of its close proximity to homesites, a dedicated permanent electric pump is necessary to assure effective mosquito control.

Impoundment #8 (Water Tower). - Water Tower is a 152 acre barrier island impoundment which, like Sand Point, is currently flooded during the summer months. For the same 15+ year period ending in the late 1980's, this marsh was not flooded at the request of the property owner and was a prolific mosquito producer. Since 1988, it has been flooded seasonally. Like Sand Point, it is near heavy development and RIM is the management strategy of choice. About 8-10 exchange culverts and a permanent electric pump are needed at this site.

Johns Island Impoundment. - This 35 acre impoundment at the north end of the island in the Johns Island Development has 8 breaches and currently is not a mosquito producing problem. No management changes are proposed for this area.

Impoundment #7 (Hole in the Wall). - This 130 acre island impoundment has been managed under RIM virtually every year since its creation in 1965. In several instances when the pump was not functioning properly and the marsh dried down during the summer months, it demonstrated the ability to produce mosquitoes in large numbers. Currently there are two 18 in diameter exchange culverts in it and the north dike is somewhat eroded but still functional. The management strategy for this impoundment is to increase culvert connection between the marsh and lagoon with approximately 8 culverts, stabilization of the north dike with fill and plantings, replacement of the aging electric pump, and removal of exotics on the center dike. IRMCD requests keeping the existing center dike as it serves as an inspection and flagging trail through the impoundment. Improvement of the under dike culverts would help facilitate water exchange between the two halves.

Impoundment #6 (Pine Island). - This 320 acre impoundment was the first RIM mitigation project in Indian River County (in the mid-80's). As part of that project, an 11,000 gpm pump was installed along with nine 30 in diameter exchange culverts in the north of this impoundment. This system has functioned extremely well since its creation and continued RIM management of this marsh is appropriate. Installing additional exchange culverts (4-6) in the south of the impoundment would improve the seasonal marsh-lagoon connection.

Unimpounded Marshes. - The only management change to be considered for unimpounded areas is the possibility of rotary ditching portions of the Johns Island Marsh (a former impoundment) should it be determined that such ditching would be of benefit.