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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 91 <br />