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Comprehensive Plan Conservation Element swamp community include ladyfish, sheepshead minnow, marsh killifish, mosquitofish, sailfish molly, highfin blenny, and frillfin goby. One species, the Atlantic saltmarsh snake, is restricted to the brackish water environments of the high salt marshes and mangrove swamps of Volusia, Brevard, and Indian River Counties. The species is at risk from habitat destruction and the construction of freshwater ponds which become habitat for the "reproductively compatible" banded water snake. Over time, mangroves have demonstrated the ability to trap, hold and, to some extent, stabilize intertidal sediments. The present view of mangroves is that they function not as "land builders" but as "stabilizers" of sediments. Such stabilization of sediment is possible only where strong waves and currents do not exist. Although mangroves are susceptible to hurricane damage, they provide considerable protection to areas on their landward side. The degree of this protection is roughly proportional to the width of the mangrove zone. While narrow fringing forests offer minimal protection, extensive stands of mangroves not only prevent wave damage, but reduce flooding damage by damming and holding flood water. • Spoil Islands The 49 spoil islands present in Indian River County are the legacy of the dredging of the ICW that took place in the mid -1950's. These islands are owned by the State of Florida, administered by the Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund (TIITF), and managed by the Florida Inland Navigation District (FIND). In September 1989, a spoil island management plan was completed by the FDNR in conjunction with FIND. Besides exhibiting significant conservation (i.e. bird rookeries), environmental, and recreational qualities, these islands have strong aesthetic value. Although upland vegetation associated with the spoil islands consists of both native and non-native plant species, the value of the islands to the natural environment is associated with providing relatively remote bird rookery sites. As a whole, the spoil islands have increased the surface area of the land -water interface of the intertidal zone. This increased interface has a direct effect on organisms that associate with the intertidal zone or shallow subtidal nearshore bottoms. Where spoil islands emerge from the bottom of the M, many species of aquatic animals (e.g. oyster, clams, shrimp, anchovies, sardines, mor arras, etc.), submerged aquatic vegetation (e.g. shoal grass Halodule wrightii), shoreline plants (e.g. cord grass Spartina spp.), and mangroves are provided with a far greater area for habitation and settlement. An inclusive list of the spoil islands within Indian River County is contained in Table 8.10. Community Development Department Indian River County 68