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2 County then granted a conservation easement to FWS for the 24 . 14 acres ( Figure 4 ) . Indian River County also entered into a management agreement with FWS on July 22 , ' 1997 for 122 . 48 acres that the county had purchased from the Trust for Public Land and which had formerly been owned by Amile Korangy ( Figure 4) . Another tract ( 9 acres) that is part of Archie Carr NWR is leased from the State of Florida . The tract formerly belonged to Amile Korangy and was purchased by Florida via the Trust for Public Land in 1998 ( Figure 4 ) . In July 1998 , FWS purchased 20 . 833 acres of citrus groves (formerly owned by Ken Kennedy) from the Trust for Public Land . On March 12 , 1999 , the Conservation Fund sold 38 . 8 acres to FWS (former lands of Ken Kennedy) . A tract of 12 . 09 acres was purchased from Samuel Pryor by the Conservation Fund and was transferred to FWS on August 11 , 2000 . The Conservation Fund , through an anonymous donor, contributed $ 900 , 000 and FWS paid $ 300 , 000 . The Pryor tract is within the proposed restoration boundary ( Figure 4 ) . A small portion of the land (2 . 3 acres ) in the southwest corner of the proposed restoration project area is leased from ' the State of Florida as well . The State claimed title to those lands on September 24 , 1970 under the Swamp and Overflow Lands Act of 1850 . The acquisition of properties has been for the purpose of facilitating the mission of the Refuge . The mission of Pelican Island NWR is : ♦ to protect the historic rookery on Pelican Island " as a preserve and breeding ground ' for native birds " ; ♦ to protect , enhance , restore , and manage Refuge lands within the Indian River Lagoon ecosystem for the benefit of all threatened and endangered species , ' migratory birds , and a diversity of native plants and animals ; ♦ to protect Pelican Island as a National Historic Landmark and manage it as a National Wilderness Area and a Wetland of International Importance ; ♦ to protect the significant cultural resources within the Refuge ; ♦ to increase public understanding through environmental education and outreach ; and ♦ to provide compatible outdoor recreational opportunities . Refuge management is coordinated with a variety of partners at various landscape ' scales (e . g . , Indian River Lagoon partners and U . S . Shorebird Conservation Plan partners) to address long term habitat management and restoration . Through this planning process , FWS delineated the need to restore and manage Refuge habitats to benefit native species (e . g . , remove exotics and replant with native vegetation ; manage impoundments for specific wildlife benefits , especially for wood storks ; and restore citrus groves to freshwater marsh and maritime hammock) ; restore and manage Refuge ' habitats to aid in the recovery of threatened and endangered species (e . g . , sea turtles , manatees , and wood storks ) ; develop and implement monitoring programs ; restore and manage shorebird nesting habitat; and protect important foraging , loafing , and fish spawning sites . Of the 5 , 236 acres that make up Pelican Island NWR , most of the area is lagoonal waters (4 , 199 acres ) . The importance of the Refuge lands surrounding Pelican Island