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O <br />J <br />The northern mainland portion of the County contains Sebastian, the <br />second largest city in population. Sometime in the near future, Sebastian <br />is expected to become the largest city in the County. Agricultural uses <br />in this area are confined to areas south of the city. <br />The barrier island can be characterized as three distinct areas. The <br />northern third of the island is the least developed. Natural vegetation and <br />citrus groves cover much of the area. The Town of Orchid, known for <br />its high quality citrus, is located in this northern portion of the island. <br />The Pelican Island Wildlife Refuge, the first in the nation, occupies <br />several small islands in the Indian River lagoon as well as some wetland <br />area on the barrier island. The northernmost tip of the island is occupied <br />by the Sebastian Inlet Recreation Area. Portions along this part of the <br />island are designated as undeveloped coastal barrier. <br />The island is approximately 22 miles long and averages in width from <br />100 feet to 1 1/2 miles. The average height above mean sea level is <br />eight feet with highs of sixteen feet and lows of two feet above mean <br />sea level. The island is ace--!ssibie by four bridges that connect it to the <br />mainland. One bridge, a two-lane, is located in St. Lucie County and <br />provides access to the Island from the extreme South. Three bridges in <br />Indian River County provide 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 <br />from the Atlantic Ocean and Indian River Lagoon westward to the St. <br />Johns Marsh and Blue Cypress Lake. A Soil Conservation Service (SCS) <br />publication entitled "26 Ecological Communities of Florida" identifies at <br />least thirteen different ecological communities within Indian River County. <br />Indian River County Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan Basic Page 43