St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park - Brevard

Bird's eye view of the park

St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park

Bird's eye view of the campground

Loop 1

Sebastian Inlet State Park

The Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge stretches across 20.5 miles of beach
and shoreline habitat between Melbourne Beach and Wabasso Beach along
Florida's east coast in Brevard and Indian River Counties. The refuge was
established in 1991 and was named after the late Dr. Archie Carr, Jr., in
honor of his extraordinary contribution to sea turtle conservation. The Refuge
is a direct result of Dr. Carr bringing attention to the world's declining
turtle populations due to over-exploitation and loss of safe habitat. The
Refuge hosts a variety of birds, reptiles, fish, mammals and invertebrates
including brown pelicans, sea turtles, gopher tortoises, snakes, manatees, and
crabs that make their homes in the ocean as well as on several habitats
including the beach and dunes, coastal strand and scrub, maritime hammock, and
mangroves.

The refuge was designated to protect habitat for what is the most significant
area for loggerhead sea turtle nesting in the world, and the most significant
area for green turtle nesting in North America. This represents 20-35% of all
loggerhead and green sea turtle nests in the US. It also serves as a minor
nesting area for the leatherback sea turtle, which is one of the world's
largest and rarest sea turtles. The long stretches of quiet, undisturbed sandy
beaches, with little or no artificial light, are essential to the reproductive
success and survival of the 15,000 to 30,000 sea turtles nests we receive
annually.

The 258-acre refuge is also unique for its placement within a patchwork of
protected lands and among properties that have already been developed. To help
preserve this globally important nesting ground the Service has established a
partnership with state and county governments and private conservation groups
to acquire and manage this dune habitat. The primary management thrust is to
provide long term protection of this habitat for sea turtles and other listed
species as well as providing compatible public use. Collaboratively, this
partnership, known as the Archie Carr Working Group has protected over 2,600
acres and continues to educate thousands of residents and visitors about the
unique characteristics of the barrier island ecosystem.

The Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge stretches across 20.5 miles of beach and shoreline habitat between Melbourne Beach and Wabasso Beach along Florida's east coast in Brevard and Indian River Counties. The refuge was established in 1991 and was named after the late Dr. Archie Carr, Jr., in honor of his extraordinary contribution to sea turtle conservation. The Refuge is a direct result of Dr. Carr bringing attention to the world's declining turtle populations due to over-exploitation and loss of safe habitat. The Refuge hosts a variety of birds, reptiles, fish, mammals and invertebrates including brown pelicans, sea turtles, gopher tortoises, snakes, manatees, and crabs that make their homes in the ocean as well as on several habitats including the beach and dunes, coastal strand and scrub, maritime hammock, and mangroves.  



The refuge was designated to protect habitat for what is the most significant area for loggerhead sea turtle nesting in the world, and the most significant area for green turtle nesting in North America. This represents 20-35% of all loggerhead and green sea turtle nests in the US. It also serves as a minor nesting area for the leatherback sea turtle, which is one of the world's largest and rarest sea turtles. The long stretches of quiet, undisturbed sandy beaches, with little or no artificial light, are essential to the reproductive success and survival of the 15,000 to 30,000 sea turtles nests we receive annually. 

The 258-acre refuge is also unique for its placement within a patchwork of protected lands and among properties that have already been developed. To help preserve this globally important nesting ground the Service has established a partnership with state and county governments and private conservation groups to acquire and manage this dune habitat. The primary management thrust is to provide long term protection of this habitat for sea turtles and other listed species as well as providing compatible public use. Collaboratively, this partnership, known as the Archie Carr Working Group has protected over 2,600 acres and continues to educate thousands of residents and visitors about the unique characteristics of the barrier island ecosystem.

Green Sea Turtle at Archie Car National Wildlife Refuge

Archie Car National Wildlife Refuge

A photo of Site B042 of Loop B at Tuolumne Meadows Campground with Food Storage, Tent Pad

A photo of Site B042 of Loop B at Tuolumne Meadows Campground with Picnic Table, Fire Pit, Food Storage, Tent Pad

Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge

Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) is situated in the Indian River
Lagoon estuary, which runs 156 miles down Florida’s eastern coastline.
Thousands of species inhabit the brackish Indian River Lagoon, including the
federally protected green sea turtle, Florida manatee, and wood stork, as well
as state protected threatened species such as the reddish egret and tricolor
heron. During spring and fall migration, birds rest and refuel at Pelican
Island NWR as they follow the Indian River Lagoon south to the Everglades or
to the Caribbean. The upland habitat is also home to gopher tortoises, bobcats
and snakes, as well as mangroves, live oaks, and gumbo limbo.

Pelican Island, the nation’s most historic refuge, and the surrounding area
was first inhabited by the Ais people between 2000 BCE and the mid-1600. Then,
in 1903, President Theodore Roosevelt’s executive order designated the island
as the nation’s first national wildlife refuge for the protection of nesting
birds. Pelican Island was established as wilderness by Congress in 1970.

Because of its status as the first federal area set aside specifically to
protect wildlife, the Refuge was designated a National Historic Landmark by
the Secretary of the Interior in 1963. Thirty years later in 1993, Pelican
Island Refuge was recognized by the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands as a Wetland
of International Importance for its support of endangered species and large
assemblages of migratory birds, as well as for its support of 10 Pelican
Island National Wildlife Refuge species at critical stages in their biological
development. In 2000, the Refuge was listed as a candidate Marine Protected
Area for its protection of estuarine waters.

**Established** : 1970

**Size** : 3 acres

The Wilderness Act of 1964 created the National Wilderness Preservation System
"in order to assure that an increasing population, accompanied by expanding
settlement and growing mechanization, does not occupy and modify all areas in
the United States, and its possession, leaving no lands designated for
preservation and protection in their natural condition..."

The Pelican Island Wilderness is the smallest unit of the National Wilderness
Preservation System. Initially encompassing 5.5 acres in 1970, Pelican Island
Proper is now roughly 3 acres due to years of boat-induced wave action and
sea-level rise.

For More Information visit https://wilderness.net/visit-wilderness/?ID=448

Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) is situated in the Indian River Lagoon estuary, which runs 156 miles down Florida’s eastern coastline. Thousands of species inhabit the brackish Indian River Lagoon, including the federally protected green sea turtle, Florida manatee, and wood stork, as well as state protected threatened species such as the reddish egret and tricolor heron. During spring and fall migration, birds rest and refuel at Pelican Island NWR as they follow the Indian River Lagoon south to the Everglades or to the Caribbean. The upland habitat is also home to gopher tortoises, bobcats and snakes, as well as mangroves, live oaks, and gumbo limbo. Pelican Island, the nation’s most historic refuge, and the surrounding area was first inhabited by the Ais people between 2000 BCE and the mid-1600. Then, in 1903, President Theodore Roosevelt’s executive order designated the island as the nation’s first national wildlife refuge for the protection of nesting birds. Pelican Island was established as wilderness by Congress in 1970. Because of its status as the first federal area set aside specifically to protect wildlife, the Refuge was designated a National Historic Landmark by the Secretary of the Interior in 1963. Thirty years later in 1993, Pelican Island Refuge was recognized by the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands as a Wetland of International Importance for its support of endangered species and large assemblages of migratory birds, as well as for its support of 10 Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge species at critical stages in their biological development. In 2000, the Refuge was listed as a candidate Marine Protected Area for its protection of estuarine waters.Established: 1970 Size: 3 acres The Wilderness Act of 1964 created the National Wilderness Preservation System "in order to assure that an increasing population, accompanied by expanding settlement and growing mechanization, does not occupy and modify all areas in the United States, and its possession, leaving no lands designated for preservation and protection in their natural condition..." The Pelican Island Wilderness is the smallest unit of the National Wilderness Preservation System. Initially encompassing 5.5 acres in 1970, Pelican Island Proper is now roughly 3 acres due to years of boat-induced wave action and sea-level rise.  For More Information visit <a href="https://wilderness.net/visit-wilderness/?ID=448" rel="nofollow">https://wilderness.net/visit-wilderness/?ID=448</a>

St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park

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Nearby Parks

Sebastian Inlet State Park

Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge

Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge