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The northern mainland portion of the County contains Sebastian, the second <br /> largest city in population. Sometime in the near future, Sebastian is <br /> expected to become the largest city in the County. Agricultural uses in this <br /> area are confined to areas south of the city. <br /> The barrier island can be characterized as three distinct areas. The northern <br /> third of the island is the least developed. Natural vegetation and citrus <br /> groves cover much of the area. The Town of Orchid, known for its high <br /> quality citrus, is located in this northern portion of the island. The Pelican <br /> Island Wildlife Refuge, the first in the nation, occupies several small islands <br /> in the Indian River lagoon as well as some wetland area on the barrier island. <br /> The Sebastian Inlet Recreation Area occupies the northernmost tip of the <br /> island. Portions along this part of the island are designated as undeveloped <br /> coastal barrier. <br /> The island is approximately 22 miles long and averages in width from 100 <br /> feet to 11/2 miles. The average height above mean sea level is eight feet <br /> with highs of sixteen feet and lows of two feet above mean sea level. The <br /> island is accessible by four bridges that connect it to the mainland. One <br /> bridge, a two-lane, is located in St. Lucie County and provides access to the <br /> Island from the extreme South. Three bridges in Indian River County provide <br /> accessibility to the island: <br /> • A two-lane bridge in the North county area (Wabasso) <br /> • A four-lane (Merrill Barber Bridge) located in mid-county <br /> • A four-lane (17th Street Bridge) also located in mid-county <br /> approximately ten (10) blocks south of the Barber Bridge <br /> Orchid (Hutchinson) Island provides a land barrier to the mainland of any <br /> activity operated in the Atlantic Ocean for the entire coastal area of the <br /> County. <br /> Indian River County is enriched with a diversity of upland and wetland <br /> ecological communities, varying in composition as the county extends from <br /> the Atlantic Ocean and Indian River Lagoon westward to the St. Johns Marsh <br /> and Blue Cypress Lake. A Soil Conservation Service (SCS) publication <br /> entitled "26 Ecological Communities of Florida" identifies at least thirteen <br /> different ecological communities within Indian River County. <br /> Indian River County Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan Basic Page 86 <br />