About Brevard

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 4,032 km² (1,557 mi²). 2,637 km² (1,018 mi²) of it is land and 1,395 km² (539 mi²) of it (34.60%) is water, primarily the Atlantic Ocean, the St. John's River and the Indian River Lagoon. The county is larger in area than Samoa and nearly the same size, and population, as Cape Verde.[58] It is one third again as large as Rhode Island.
Located half-way between Jacksonville, Florida and Miami, Brevard County is an extra-long county, extending over 70 miles from north to south, but only a handful of miles inland from the seacoast at any point. In marshes in the western part of this county is the source of the St. Johns River.
The Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway along the eastern edge of Brevard County is the major waterway route in Brevard County.
Brevard County is the sole county in the Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville Metropolitan Statistical Area.


Environment
Brevard County contains the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. the Canaveral National Seashore, the St. Johns National Wildlife Refuge, and the Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge.
In 2005, divers and biologists want to restrict fishing and ocean dumping at Oculina Reef to protect the deep-sea coral that grows only here, about 30 miles offshore from Cape Canaveral to Fort Pierce. They are seeking a federal designation of a "National Marine Sanctuary." They are opposed by area fishermen.
The Florida Solar Energy Center conducts education and research into alternative energy sources including hydrogen, building construction, as well as solar thermal and photovoltaics.
The Florida Space Coast Clean Cities Coalition is headquartered in Brevard. It encompasses a nine-county area.
Local taxes support an Environmentally Endangered Land (EELs) Program to protect environmentally sensitive areas. The 294 acre Enchanted Forest in Titusville was the first land set aside under this program. It preserves a significant sample of the natural communities that were originally found in this region, including xeric oak scrub, mature hardwood forests, wetlands and pine flatwoods. A recent controversy was solved when the County decided to rehire the Nature Conservancy to negotiate the purchase of EELs.
Sea turtles nest on Brevard shores. They are sensitive to night lights which have affected their reproduction. The not-for-profit Sea Turtle Preservation Society (STPS) educates the public about marine turtles. They rely on the donations from the public, its membership, and the efforts of its dedicated volunteers. The Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service permits STPS to work with these endangered and threatened sea turtles. STPS is not an enforcement agency. The organization teaches people each year through lecture presentations, exhibits at area events, and through turtle watches during the sea turtle nesting season.
The 900 acre Archie Carr Wildlife Refuge contains a twenty mile section of coastline from Melbourne Beach south. This is the most important nesting area for loggerhead sea turtles in the western hemisphere and the second most important nesting beach in the world. Twenty-five percent of all loggerhead sea turtle and 35% of all green sea turtle nests in the United States occur in this twenty mile zone.
The Marine Resources Council focuses on issues affecting the Indian River Lagoon through its programs on shoreline restoration, water quality monitoring and right whale watching. It is possible to watch right whales in December as they migrate to their summer home in the South Atlantic.
In 1987, Brevard hosted the last member of the Dusky Seaside Sparrow, now extinct. There have been only two such avian failures since listing of endangered species began in 1973. This event has galvanized efforts to ensure this never happens again.
Watershed Action Volunteers (WAV) provides workers, from among their 300 members, to help monitor water quality, conduct nature surveys, planting sea oats and other eco-friendly tasks.
Brevard had 1 million gallons of escaped sewage in 2004. Aging sewer systems was blamed. Brevard stood tenth in the state, which is consistent with its population.
2005 - For the third year in a row, five of Brevard County's beaches were picked as some of the nation's cleanest, according to the (National) Clean Beaches Council. Brevard's beaches that made the list are Alan Shepard Park in Cocoa Beach, Cherie Down Park in Cape Canaveral, Ocean Avenue Beach Park, Spessard Holland Park in Melbourne Beach and The Boardwalk in Indialantic.

Climate surprisingly varies in this very long (72 mile) county, particularly in winter. In north county, northern flora can thrive, like deciduous trees. In the south county, sub-tropical plants can grow, such as royal palm trees.
The 140,000 acre Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge provides and opportunity to observe animals in their natural habitat. It is home to many species of birds, wild boars, deer, alligators, bobcats, armadillos and other creatures . There are nature trails, a US Ranger Nature Center and a seven mile scenic drive through a wild bird habitat.
Nearby is the Canaveral National Sea Shore Park, a twenty-four mile stretch of undisturbed ocean beach near the Kennedy Space Center. Visitors take self-guided tours assisted by information from park rangers. Travelocity.com named this park among the top ten Florida beaches as well as among the top ten Family Attractions in Florida.
President Teddy Roosevelt established Pelican Island in 1903 as the nation's first federal wildlife refuge. The island is home to more than 30 species of birds, including brown pelican, wood stork, snowy egret and great blue heron. Loggerhead sea turtles and other endangered species rest along its banks.
The Enchanted Forest Sanctuary preserves a diversity of the natural habitats found on the Space Coast. Several miles of hiking trails allow visitors to enjoy the natural beauty of the Sanctuary. There is a wonderful wealth of plant life in the Sanctuary as both temperate (northern) and subtropical (southern) species grow here together. There are five basic habitat types in the Enchanted Forest Sanctuary: oak, scrub, mesic and hydric hammock, wet prairie, and pine flatwood. Wildlife species found here include the Eastern Indigo snake, Florida scrub lizard, gopher tortoise, white-tailed deer, and bobcat.
Every April, the Friends of the Enchanted Forest present "Earth Day Family Fun Fest." About 800 attend.
Several ecologically knowledgeable Canoe and Kayak guides conduct river tours.
The Erna Nixon Park & Nature Center is a 54 acre natural Florida hammock and nature preserve that features a 2,345-foot long elevated boardwalk with 640 feet of trail that winds through three different ecosystems. Signs on the nature trail identifies many different plant species. A nature center with exhibits is on the site.
The Space Coast Chapter of the Coastal Conservation Association (SCCCCA) is to advise and educate the public on conservation of marine resources. It is primarily interested in conserving fisheries for sportsman.
Lawmakers have purchased access to the ocean and beaches. Developers and owners were anticipated and not allowed to "wall off" ocean beach access as they have done elsewhere.
The Space Coast contains most of the sites included in the Florida East Coast portion of the "Great Florida Birding Trail."
The Space Coast Birding and Wildlife Festival (Space Coast Flyways Festival) is held in November. It attracts 2,500 attendees, the third largest in the US.
The Welcome Back Songbirds Festival is held at the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge in April.
Native flora is threatened by various imported species including the Brazilian pepper tree. Possession and cultivation of this tree is illegal. Large numbers of volunteers periodically cut down these invaders, particularly along waterways.
The City of Satellite Beach has permanently preserved 37% of its oceanfront in its natural state (prevented it from being developed).
During 94.5% of 2005 the air quality was "good."
The county has 8,000 miles of waterline!
The St. Johns River Water Management District maintains and protects local waterways and estuaries such as the St. Johns River, the Indian River, and the Banana River. 300 miles in length, the St. Johns is the longest river in Florida. It flows north, one of the few rivers in the Northern Hemisphere that does so. Among other things, the District often restricts irrigation, during drought, to early morning or late afternoons to avoid evaporation (and therefore unnecessary additional irrigation).
Watershed Action Volunteers provides workers, from among their 300 members, to help monitor water quality, conduct nature surveys, planting sea oats and other eco-friendly tasks.
Authorities monitor water quality to try to free the waterways from floral pests such as the water hyacinth and hydrilla. In December 2005, four communities including Cocoa Beach, flunked the salinity test in the adjacent Indian River lagoon. This was too LOW due to excessive fresh water runoff, a frequent problem in the area. Each community must address this problem.
2005 - For the third year in a row, five of Brevard County's beaches were picked as some of the nation's cleanest, according to the (National) Clean Beaches Council. Brevard's beaches that made the list are Alan Shepard Park in Cocoa Beach, Cherie Down Park in Cape Canaveral, Ocean Avenue Beach Park, Spessard Holland Park in Melbourne Beach and The Boardwalk in Indialantic.
Information from Wilkipedia at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brevard_County,_Florida