Banana River Facts: Difference between revisions

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==Banana River Lagoon Facts and Statistics==
==Banana River Lagoon Facts and Statistics==
* Banana River lagoon is recognized as an "Outstanding Florida Water" by the Florida Legislature under FL Rule 62-302.700(9).
* Banana River was recognized by the [[Unit:Environmental Protection Agency|Environmental Protection Agency]] as an ''"Estuary of National Significance"'' and placed in the [[Unit:National Estuary Program|National Estuary Program]] in 1990. The [[:Category:Indian_River_Lagoon_National_Estuary_Program|Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program]] is managed by [[Unit:Indian River Lagoon Council|Indian River Lagoon Council]], a special district of the State of Florida.


* [[Banana River|Banana River lagoon]] spans 31 miles from Banana Creek in Titusville, Florida to Dragon's Point in Indian Harbour Beach. Merritt Island is on the west shore and Brevard County's beach barrier island is on the east.  
* [[Banana River|Banana River lagoon]] spans 31 miles from Banana Creek in Titusville, Florida to Dragon's Point in Indian Harbour Beach. Merritt Island is on the west shore and Brevard County's beach barrier island is on the east.  
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* In spite of its name, the Banana River is not actually a river with a directional current, but a still lagoon where the water's movement is provided by wind.<ref name="SJRWMDIRLfacts" />
* Northern Banana River Lagoon lies within NASA's Kennedy Space Center and is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as part of the [[Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge]].




* Northern Banana River Lagoon lies within NASA's Kennedy Space Center and is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as part of the [[Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge]].
* The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service maintains a 10,600-acre No-Motor Zone in the Banana River between Kennedy Space Center property and the Beachline Expressway (SR528) for protection of the West Indian Manatee.<ref name="fwsfish" />




* The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service maintains a 10,600-acre No-Motor Zone in the Banana River between the KSC property line and the Beachline Expressway (SR528) for manatee protection.<ref name="fwsfish" />
* Florida Department of Environmental Protection maintains the [[Unit:Banana River Aquatic Preserve|Banana River Aquatic Preserve]] from the Beachline (SR528) southward to the tip of Merritt Island. <ref name="FDEPBananaAquaticPreserve" />




* Florida Department of Environmental Protection maintains the [[Unit:Banana River Aquatic Preserve|Banana River Aquatic Preserve]] from the Beachline (SR528) southward to the tip of Merritt Island. <ref name="FDEPBananaAquaticPreserve" />
* Brevard County's [[Unit:Brevard County Environmentally Endangered Lands Program|Environmentally Endangered Lands (EEL) Program]] preserves 600-acre [[Unit:Ulumay Sanctuary|Ulumay Sanctuary]] in Merritt island's Sykes Creek and the 300-acre [[Unit:Thousand Islands Conservation Area|Thousand Islands Conservation Area]] in Cocoa Beach.<ref name="BrevardUlumay" />




* Brevard County's [[Unit:Brevard County Environmentally Endangered Lands Program|Environmentally Endangered Lands (EEL) Program]] maintains the 600-acre [[Unit:Ulumay Sanctuary|Ulumay Sanctuary]] at Merritt island's Sykes Creek and the 300 acre [[Unit:Thousand Islands Conservation Area|Thousand Islands Conservation Area]] in Cocoa Beach.<ref name="BrevardUlumay" />
* In spite of its name, the Banana River is not actually a river with a directional current, but a still lagoon where the water's movement is provided by wind.<ref name="SJRWMDIRLfacts" />




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* The southern tip of Merritt Island in the Banana River is locally known as "Dragon's Point" because a concrete sculpture named "Annie the Dragon" was located there until it crumbled into the lagoon during a storm in 2002.<ref name="FLTodayAnnie" />
* The southern tip of Merritt Island in the Banana River is locally known as "Dragon's Point" because a concrete sculpture named "Annie the Dragon" was located there until it crumbled into the lagoon during a storm in 2002.<ref name="FLTodayAnnie" />
* Banana River lagoon is recognized as an "Outstanding Florida Water" by the Florida Legislature under FL Rule 62-302.700(9).
* Banana River was recognized by the [[Unit:Environmental Protection Agency|Environmental Protection Agency]] as an ''"Estuary of National Significance"'' and placed in the [[Unit:National Estuary Program|National Estuary Program]] in 1990. The [[:Category:Indian_River_Lagoon_National_Estuary_Program|Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program]] is managed by [[Unit:Indian River Lagoon Council|Indian River Lagoon Council]], a special district of the State of Florida.
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* [https://floridadep.gov/sites/default/files/banana-river-lagoon-bmap.pdf FDEP - Banana River Lagoon Basin Management Action Plan 2013 (PDF 90pp 1.5MB)]
* [https://floridadep.gov/sites/default/files/banana-river-lagoon-bmap.pdf FDEP - Banana River Lagoon Basin Management Action Plan 2013 (PDF 90pp 1.5MB)]
* [http://publicfiles.dep.state.fl.us/CAMA/plans/aquatic/Indian-River-Lagoon-AP-System-Management-Plan.pdf FDEP - Indian River Lagoon Aquatic Preserve Management Plan 2016 (PDF 262pp 25MB)]
* [http://publicfiles.dep.state.fl.us/CAMA/plans/aquatic/Indian-River-Lagoon-AP-System-Management-Plan.pdf FDEP - Indian River Lagoon Aquatic Preserve Management Plan 2016 (PDF 262pp 25MB)]
* [https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2018-01/documents/58692_an_river_lagoon_an_introduction_to_a_natural_treasure_2007.pdf Indian River Lagoon - An Introduction to a National Treasure (PDF 40pp 4.09MB)]


==References==
==References==

Latest revision as of 06:59, April 8, 2023

Banana River Lagoon Facts and Statistics

  • Banana River lagoon is recognized as an "Outstanding Florida Water" by the Florida Legislature under FL Rule 62-302.700(9).



  • Banana River lagoon spans 31 miles from Banana Creek in Titusville, Florida to Dragon's Point in Indian Harbour Beach. Merritt Island is on the west shore and Brevard County's beach barrier island is on the east.




  • The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service maintains a 10,600-acre No-Motor Zone in the Banana River between Kennedy Space Center property and the Beachline Expressway (SR528) for protection of the West Indian Manatee.[1]


  • Florida Department of Environmental Protection maintains the Banana River Aquatic Preserve from the Beachline (SR528) southward to the tip of Merritt Island. [2]



  • In spite of its name, the Banana River is not actually a river with a directional current, but a still lagoon where the water's movement is provided by wind.[4]


  • Banana River has many resident West Indian manatees living in the lagoon year-round. During spring their survey count may reach 300-500 per day.[2]


  • Banana River lagoon supports the largest pelican rookery on the Atlantic Coast.[2]


  • The southern tip of Merritt Island in the Banana River is locally known as "Dragon's Point" because a concrete sculpture named "Annie the Dragon" was located there until it crumbled into the lagoon during a storm in 2002.[5]
Indian River Lagoon Encyclopedia Article - Banana River Facts