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{{IRL header estuary|cat=Banana River}}
 
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[[File:Space Coast From Above.jpg|420px|thumb|right|Banana River KSC Aerial]]
[[File:Banana_River_KSC_Aerial.jpg|320px|thumb|right|alt=Aerial photo of Banana River lagoon at Kennedy Space Center.|Banana River at KSC]]
The Banana River lagoon is a 31 mile long, 30,000 acre brackish water lagoon that lies between Cape Canaveral and Merritt Island in [[:Category:Brevard County|Brevard County, Florida]].  
[[Banana River]] (''"Ulumay Lagoon"'') is a 31 mile long brackish water lagoon that lies between Titusville and Indian Harbour Beach in Brevard County, Florida. At 30,000 acres, Banana River is the smallest lagoon in the [[Indian River Lagoon Estuary|Indian River Lagoon National Estuary]].  


The Banana River lagoon is bounded by Merritt Island on the western shore and the beach barrier island on the eastern shore.  
Banana River lagoon is bounded by Merritt Island on the west and by Brevard's barrier island to the east. The lagoon's northern boundary lies within Kennedy Space Center (KSC) and the southern end merges with the [[Indian River]] at Dragon Point in Indian Harbour Beach.


The lagoon's northern shore lies within Kennedy Space Center (KSC) and the southern merges with the [[Indian River]] at Dragon's Point in Indian Harbour Beach.
Northern Banana River is jointly administered by KSC and the [[United States Fish and Wildlife Service|U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS)]] as part of the [[Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge]]. FWS maintains a No-Motor Zone on the lagoon between the KSC property line and the Beachline Expressway (SR528).<ref name="fwsfish" /> There is no public access allowed north of the KSC property line.


Patrick Air Force Base lies along the eastern shore between Cocoa Beach and Satellite Beach.  
Banana River is recognized as an ''"Outstanding Florida Water"'' and overseen by the [[Florida Department of Environmental Protection|Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP)]]. FDEP manages most of the lagoon south of the Beachline Expressway (SR528) as the [[Unit:Banana River Aquatic Preserve|Banana River Aquatic Preserve]].<ref name="BRLMAP2016" />
[[File:Merritt Island_Dragons_Point.jpg|320px|thumb|right|alt=The southern end of Banana River lagoon is at Dragons point in Merritt island.|Banana River Southern Terminus at Dragon Point, Merritt Island]]
600 acres of Sykes Creek, a Banana River tributary, are preserved by Brevard's [[Unit:Brevard County Environmentally Endangered Lands Program|Environmentally Endangered Lands Program]] as the [[Unit:Ulumay_Sanctuary|Ulumay Sanctuary]]<ref name="ulumay" />  and 300 acres in Cocoa Beach are preserved as the [[Unit:Thousand Islands Conservation Area|Thousand Islands Conservation Area]].


Northern Banana River Lagoon is jointly administered by KSC and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) as part of the [[Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge]]. FWS maintains a No-Motor Zone on the lagoon between the KSC property line and the Beachline Expressway (SR528).<ref name="fwsfish" /> There is no public access allowed north of the KSC property line.
With an average 4ft depth, the Banana River Lagoon's shallow ecosystem includes numerous salt marshes, [[mangrove]] swamps, [[seagrass]] beds, oyster bars, mudflats, and spoil islands, that provide habitat for many [[:Category:Biota|animal and plant species]].


With an average 4ft depth, the Banana River Lagoon's shallow ecosystem includes numerous salt marshes, mangrove swamps, seagrass beds, oyster bars, mudflats, and spoil islands, that provide habitat for many animal and plant species.
Banana River is an important spring habitat (300-500 individuals/survey day)<ref name=fdepbr /> for the [[West Indian Manatee|West Indian manatee]], with many living in the lagoon year-round. The lagoon also supports the largest pelican rookery on the Atlantic Coast<ref name="fdepbr" /> and a significant population of [[Bottlenose dolphin|Atlantic Bottlenose dolphin]].  


The Banana River is an important spring habitat (300-500 individuals/survey day)<ref name=fdepbr /> for the West Indian manatee, with many living in the lagoon year-round.
Commercial and recreational activities in the Banana River lagoon are estimated to generate more than $800 million annually for the local economy.


[[File:Merritt Island, Florida (southern tip).jpg|420px|thumb|right|Banana River Southern Terminus at Dragon's Point, Merritt Island]]
In 2016 a Banana River algae bloom caused massive fish kills from Cape Canaveral to Indian Harbor Beach. Green algae and dead marine life were common scenes along the lagoon.
The Banana River Lagoon also supports the largest pelican rookery on the Atlantic Coast<ref name="fdepbr" /> and a significant population of Atlantic Bottlenose dolphin.  


The Banana River lagoon is part of the EPA's Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection's Aquatic Preserve Program.  
==Water Body==
{{Map Embed|coord=28.458480,-80.624358|zoom=10}}
<span style="font-size:0.85em">Location: 28°27'30.5"N, 80°37'27.7"W
<br/>GIS: 28.458480,-80.624358</span>


The northern end of Sykes Creek, a Banana River tributary, is preserved by Brevard County Park's 436 acre Ulumay Wildlife Sanctuary.<ref name="ulumay" />
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="width:330px; overflow:auto;padding-top:20px">
<div class="irlcollapsetitle">Banana River Tributaries</div>
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
<div class="irlcollapsetext">Tributaries are listed from North to South.</div>
<div>{{#section:Water Body List|bananariverwater}}</div>
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Commercial and recreational activities in the Banana River lagoon are estimated to generate more than US$ 800 million annually for the local economy.
[[Info:Banana Creek|Banana Creek]] connects Banana River lagoon to the [[Indian River|Indian River lagoon]] south of [[Max Brewer Bridge]] (SR404) in Titusville, Florida. A short distance south, Banana Creek enters Kennedy Space Center (KSC) property and dead ends at KSC's Saturn Causeway.


==Banana River Aquatic Preserve==
Banana River lagoon was originally a continuous waterway between Merritt Island and Cape Canaveral until 1964 when the construction of NASA's Saturn  Crawlerway causeway split the lagoon in two.  
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection's (DEP) Banana River Aquatic Preserve begins at State Road 528 (Bennett Causeway), extends almost to the southern tip of Merritt Island, and includes Newfound Harbor and Sykes Creek as far north as Hall Road. The FDEP's Banana River Aquatic Preserve is accessible from the east by U.S. Highway A1A and from the west by State Road 3.
 
The DEP's 2016 Indian River Lagoon Aquatic Preserves System Management Plan outlines the conservation objectives and activities needed in the Banana River Aquatic Preserve.<ref name="BRLMAP2016 /> The Banana River Lagoon Basin Management Action Plan (BMAP) is currently undergoing review and revision for a 2020 publication.
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==Location==
South of Saturn Causeway, Banana River ranges through Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station property to the Beachline Expressway (SR528) causeway.
Coordinates (28°27'30.5"N 80°37'27.7"W) (28.458480, -80.624358)
{{#cargo_display_map:point=28.458480,-80.624358|service=googlemaps|width=inherit|zoom=10|}}
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At Port Canaveral, the lagoon connects to the Atlantic Ocean via [[Canaveral Lock]]s and to the Indian River via [[Canaveral Barge Canal]].  
==Water Body==
Banana Creek in Titusville is the northernmost tributary of the Banana River lagoon.  


Midway down, at Port Canaveral, the Banana River lagoon connects to the Atlantic Ocean via the Canaveral Locks and to the Indian River via the [[Canaveral Barge Canal]].  
[[Info:Sykes Creek|Sykes Creek]], in central Merritt Island, connects to the Banana River south of SR520 in Cocoa Beach.


The Canaveral Barge Canal lies at the head of Sykes Creek, a major tributary feeding the southern Banana River lagoon.
Banana River ends at Dragon's Point, the southern tip of Merritt Island, where it joins the [[Indian River|Indian River lagoon]] at Indian Harbour Beach.


<div class="mw-collapsible" style="width:400px; overflow:auto;">
Article: [[:Category:Banana River Water Body|Banana River Water Body]]
<div class="irlcollapsetitle">Banana River Tributaries</div>
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[[File:Banana River Dragons Point 04.jpg|320px|thumb|left|alt=Banana River at Dragons Point.| Banana River at Dragons Point.]]
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<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="width:330px; overflow:auto;padding-top:20px">
<div class="irlcollapsetitle">Banana River Bridges</div>
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
<div class="irlcollapsetext">Tributaries are listed from North to South.</div>
<div class="irlcollapsetext">Bridges are listed from North to South.</div>
<div>{{#section:Water Body List|bananariverwater}}</div>
<div>{{#section:Bridge List|bananariverbridgelist}}</div>
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There are seven causeway bridges bisecting the 31 mile long Banana River lagoon. Each earthen berm causeway impedes water movement and reduces the lagoon's ability to flush.
 
Article: [[:Category:Banana River Bridges|Banana River Bridges]]
 
==Water Quality==
[[File:Port-Canaveral-Super-Bloom.jpg|320px|thumb|right|alt=Aerial photo of the Banana River algae superbloom at Port Canaveral in 2016.|2016 Banana River Superbloom]]
Like the rest of the IRL estuary, the Banana River lagoon suffers from [[Nutrient Pollution|nutrient pollution]] due to human impact. Stormwater runoff, faulty sewer systems, and septic tanks, over-fertilized lawns, and excessive development over wetland areas have greatly increased the residual levels of nitrogen and phosphorus in the water.


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Algae thrive on the excess nutrients, grows rapidly until it clouds the water, which blocks the sunlight and kills the [[seagrass]] beds. The blooming algae also cause a lack of oxygen in the water which in turn kills the marine animals.
==History==
[[File:Banana River Night Launch 320.jpg|380px|thumb|right|KSC Night Launch Over Banana River]]
Historically, the Banana River lagoon was a continuous waterway that completely separated Merritt Island from Cape Canaveral.


In 1964, the Crawlerway was built at Kennedy Space Center, connecting Merritt Island to Cape Canaveral and dividing the Banana River into northern and southern lagoons.
DEP's Banana River Lagoon Basin Management Action Plan<ref name="DEPBRLBMAP2013" /> presents a long-term plan to restore [[seagrass]] habitats in the Indian River Lagoon Basin through the reduction of watershed loadings of total nitrogen and total phosphorus.
[[File:KSC_Banana_River_Seagrass_Loss_graph.jpg|320px|thumb|right|alt=Banana River Seagrass Coverage Chart.|Banana River Seagrass Coverage Chart.]]
Excerpt from DEP's Banana River Lagoon Progress 2016 Review:


===Banana River Air Station===
"In 2011, an algal super bloom occurred in the Banana River Lagoon (BRL) and North IRL, with a separate bloom affecting part of the Central IRL. A brown algal bloom affected much of the IRL during 2012. The full impact to seagrasses from these blooms will not be known for a number of years, but there are documented losses of seagrasses in the BRL linked to the blooms. Research is underway to understand the causes of these blooms; however, they appear to be due, in part, to legacy loads in the lagoon from past nutrient discharges. Removing the sources of nutrients from the lagoon’s watershed will help remediate the legacy load."<ref name="BRLBMAP2016Rev" />
Construction of the Banana River Naval Air Station began in December 1939 and the station was commissioned on 1 October 1940.  


The station supported seaplane patrol operations during World War II, a blimp squadron which conducted search and rescue along Florida's east coast, a PBM seaplane pilot training program, and an advanced navigation school.  
The Banana River Lagoon Basin Management Action Plan (BMAP) is currently undergoing review and revision for a 2021 adoption.<ref name="DEPBRLBMAP2020" />


In 1944 the station consisted of 391 officers, 2492 enlisted, and 587 civilians. The number of aircraft present on the base, including F6 Hellcats and O52U Kingfishers, reached a high of 228.
Article: [[Banana River Water Quality]]


[[File:Ares I-X Return to KSC 1.jpg|320px|thumb|right|Ares I-X Return to KSC 1]]
==Restoration==
The station continued to operate as a Navy support base for two years after the war, but the installation was deactivated on 1 August 1947.<ref name="brnas" />
The 2016 DEP Banana River Lagoon BMAP Progress Report list's many completed and ongoing projects, including stormwater retention systems, stormwater filters, sewer system repairs, and water quality monitoring.<ref name="BRLBMAP2016Rev" />  


===Patrick Air Force Base===
In January 2019 a $2.8 million stormwater and septic conversion project began in Merritt Island. It funded the installation of a new sewer main enabling the conversion of 23 commercial septic tanks and 60 residential septic tanks that were leeching effluent into the lagoon.  
The Navy transferred the station to the Air Force on 1 September 1948 and it was renamed the Joint Long Range Proving Ground (JLRPG).  


On 1 August 1950, it was renamed Patrick Air Force Base in honor of Major General Mason Patrick.  
The 2019 project also funded the installation of stormwater pipelines that diverted stormwater runoff to retention filtering ponds instead of flowing directly to the river.<ref name="SJRWMDBRL" />


Patrick Air Force Base is now the headquarters of the 45th Space Wing, the parent organization responsible for operations at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.<ref name=brnas />
==Organization==
[[File:Banana_River_Organizational Chart.png|320px|right|thumb|alt=Tap the photo to view an interactive Banana River Organizational Chart.|Tap for [[Banana River Lagoon Organizational Chart]]|link=Banana River Lagoon Organizational Chart]]
As of 2021 there are approximately fourteen federal, state and county government organizations working within the Banana River lagoon watershed.  


==Banana River Lagoon Health==
Florida's Department of Environmental Protection monitors water quality and sets environmental standards. Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission protects fish, wildlife and habitats, and enforces the law on the water. St. Johns River Water Management District and Brevard County's Save Our Indian River Lagoon Program have worked together on many Banana River restoration projects. 
[[File:Port-Canaveral-Super-Bloom.jpg|420px|thumb|right|2016 Banana River Superbloom]]
Like the rest of the IRL estuary, the Banana River lagoon suffers from nutrient pollution due to human impact. Stormwater runoff, faulty sewer systems, and septic tanks, over-fertilized lawns, and excessive development over wetland areas have greatly increased the residual levels of nitrogen and phosphorus in the water.  


Algae thrive on the excess nutrients, grows rapidly until it clouds the water, which blocks the sunlight and kills the seagrass beds. The blooming algae also cause a lack of oxygen in the water which in turn kills the marine animals.
* Interactive chart: [[Banana River Lagoon Organizational Chart]]
* Full size image: [[Media:Banana_River_Organizational_Chart.jpg]]


DEP's Basin Management Action Plan presents a long-term plan to restore seagrass habitats in the Indian River Lagoon Basin through the reduction of watershed loadings of total nitrogen and total phosphorus.
Article: [[Banana River Lagoon Organization]]


From the 2016 DEP BRL Progress Review:  
==History==
[[File:Banana River Night Launch 320.jpg|320px|thumb|right|alt=Kennedy Space Center night launch over Banana River lagoon.|KSC Night Launch Over Banana River]]


"In 2011, an algal super bloom occurred in the Banana River Lagoon (BRL) and North IRL, with a separate bloom affecting part of the Central IRL. A brown algal bloom affected much of the IRL during 2012. The full impact to seagrasses from these blooms will not be known for a number of years, but there are documented losses of seagrasses in the BRL linked to the blooms. Research is underway to understand the causes of these blooms; however, they appear to be due, in part, to legacy loads in the lagoon from past nutrient discharges. Removing the sources of nutrients from the lagoon’s watershed will help remediate the legacy load."<ref name="BRLBMAP2016Rev" />
===Banana River Air Station===
Construction of the Banana River Naval Air Station began in December 1939 and the station was commissioned on 1 October 1940.  


A 2016 Harmful Algae Bloom (HAB) caused massive fish fills on the Banana River from Cape Canaveral to Indian Harbor Beach. Green algae blooms and dead marine life were common scenes along the river.
The station supported seaplane patrol operations during World War II, a blimp squadron which conducted search and rescue along Florida's east coast, a PBM seaplane pilot training program, and an advanced navigation school.  


==Restoration==
In 1944 the station consisted of 391 officers, 2492 enlisted, and 587 civilians. The number of aircraft present on the base, including F6 Hellcats and O52U Kingfishers, reached a high of 228.  
The 2016 DEP Banana River Lagoon BMAP Progress Report list's many completed and ongoing projects, including stormwater retention systems, stormwater filters, sewer system repairs, and water quality monitoring.<ref name="BRLBMAP2016Rev" />


In January 2019 a $2.8 million stormwater and septic conversion project began in Merritt Island. It funded the installation of a new sewer main enabling the conversion of 23 commercial septic tanks and 60 residential septic tanks that were leeching effluent into the lagoon.  
[[File:Ares I-X Return to KSC 1.jpg|320px|thumb|right|alt=Ares I-X Returns to KSC|Ares I-X Returns to KSC]]
The station continued to operate as a Navy support base for two years after the war, but the installation was deactivated on 1 August 1947.<ref name="brnas" />


The 2019 project also funded the installation of stormwater pipelines that diverted stormwater runoff to retention filtering ponds instead of flowing directly to the river.<ref name="SJRWMDBRL" />
===Patrick Space Force Base===
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The Navy transferred the station to the Air Force on 1 September 1948 and it was renamed the Joint Long Range Proving Ground (JLRPG). On 1 August 1950, it was renamed Patrick Air Force Base in honor of Major General Mason Patrick.  


On December 9, 2020 Patrick Air Force Base was renamed Patrick Space Force Base. Patrick is the headquarters of the 45th Space Wing, the parent organization responsible for operations at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.<ref name=brnas />
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==Video==
==Video==
{{#ev:youtube|A37f1pMeiAA|640px|center||||autoresize}}
Select a video to play or visit the [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHtV0jOmRQMpJEtUXfIjAbA Indian River Lagoon Project YouTube Channel] - [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPHhIAt8NIc&list=PLCiZ8bCTmnlipGxJ9OVG6bMmfDrRb9oTs Banana River Video Playlist].
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{{#evl:A37f1pMeiAA|Above Banana River at Kelly Park|1|player=youtube}}
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<br />{{#evl:fn1mNWIRQHI|Above Banana River at Thousand Islands|2|player=youtube}}
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<br />{{#evl:SPHhIAt8NIc|Above Banana River at Sunset|3|player=youtube}}
<br />{{#evl:devxZ0m7X2c|Banana River Fish Kill 2016|4|player=youtube}}
<evlplayer w="340" h="220" id="youtube" style="width:inherit;">https://img.youtube.com/vi/A37f1pMeiAA/0.jpg</evlplayer>
 
==See Also==
* [[:Category:Banana River Water Body|Banana River Water Body]]
* [[:Category:Banana River Bridges|Banana River Bridges]]
* [[Banana River Water Quality]]
* [[Banana River Lagoon Organization|Banana River Lagoon Organization]]
* [[Banana River Facts]]
 
==Web Links==
==Web Links==
* [https://www.spanishflytv.com/article/urban-nature-banana-river-florida/ SpanishFlyTV Urban Nature Banana River]
* [https://fdep.maps.arcgis.com/apps/MapSeries/index.html?appid=3113f204a7814a228f0b052262562d01 DEP - Basin Management Plan Story Map]
* [https://www.fws.gov/refuge/Merritt_Island/Fishing.html.aspx FWS Banana River No Motor Zone Fishing]
* [https://floridadep.gov/rcp/aquatic-preserve/locations/banana-river-aquatic-preserve DEP - Banana River Aquatic Preserve]
* [https://fdep.maps.arcgis.com/apps/MapSeries/index.html?appid=3113f204a7814a228f0b052262562d01 FDEP Management Plan Story Map]
* [https://www.brevardfl.gov/EELProgram/home Brevard County Environmentally Endangered Lands Program]
* [https://www.waterqualitydata.us/provider/STORET/21FLCEN_WQX/21FLCEN_WQX-27010602/ Banana River Water Quality Map]
* [https://www.fws.gov/refuge/Merritt_Island/Fishing.html.aspx FWS - Banana River No Motor Zone Fishing]
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* [https://www.spanishflytv.com/article/urban-nature-banana-river-florida/ SpanishFlyTV - Urban Nature Banana River]
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==References==
==References==
<section begin=References />
<references>
<references>
<ref name="fwsfish">[https://www.fws.gov/refuge/Merritt_Island/Fishing.html.aspx FWS Merritt Island Refuge Fishing]</ref>
<ref name="fwsfish">[https://www.fws.gov/refuge/Merritt_Island/Fishing.html.aspx FWS Merritt Island Refuge Fishing]</ref>
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<ref name="brnas">[http://afspacemuseum.org/displays/BRNAS/ Air Force & Space Museum Banana River Naval Air Station]</ref>
<ref name="brnas">[http://afspacemuseum.org/displays/BRNAS/ Air Force & Space Museum Banana River Naval Air Station]</ref>
<ref name="BRLMAP2016">[http://publicfiles.dep.state.fl.us/CAMA/plans/aquatic/Indian-River-Lagoon-AP-System-Management-Plan.pdf FDEP 2016 Indian River Lagoon Aquatic Preserves System Management Plan (PDF, 267pp)]</ref>
<ref name="BRLMAP2016">[http://publicfiles.dep.state.fl.us/CAMA/plans/aquatic/Indian-River-Lagoon-AP-System-Management-Plan.pdf FDEP 2016 Indian River Lagoon Aquatic Preserves System Management Plan (PDF, 267pp)]</ref>
<ref name="DEPBRLBMAP2013">[https://floridadep.gov/sites/default/files/banana-river-lagoon-bmap.pdf DEP Banana River Lagoon BMAP 2013 (PDF 90pp 1.49MB)], retrieved 2021-01-08</ref>
<ref name="BRLBMAP2016Rev">[https://floridadep.gov/sites/default/files/BRL_BMAP_2016_Progress_Report_0.pdf DEP 2016 Banana River Progress Review]</ref>
<ref name="BRLBMAP2016Rev">[https://floridadep.gov/sites/default/files/BRL_BMAP_2016_Progress_Report_0.pdf DEP 2016 Banana River Progress Review]</ref>
<ref name="DEPBRLBMAP2020">[http://publicfiles.dep.state.fl.us/DEAR/BMAP/IndianRiverLagoon/BMAP_Documents/2020_IRL_Updates/Drafts/RevisedDraft_BRL_BMAP_12-16-20.docx DEP - Banana River Lagoon BMAP 2020 Draft (DOCX 137pp 5.6MB)]</ref>
<ref name="SJRWMDBRL">[https://www.sjrwmd.com/2019/01/cost-share-project-to-benefit-banana-river-lagoon-water-quality/ SJRWMD 2019 BRL Stormwater and Septic to Sewer Project]</ref>
<ref name="SJRWMDBRL">[https://www.sjrwmd.com/2019/01/cost-share-project-to-benefit-banana-river-lagoon-water-quality/ SJRWMD 2019 BRL Stormwater and Septic to Sewer Project]</ref>
</references>
</references>
<section end=References />
</div>
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[[Category:Brevard County Locale]]
[[Category:Banana River]]
[[Category:Banana River]]
[[Category:Banana River Water Body]]
[[Category:Water Body]]

Latest revision as of 19:49, June 2, 2023

Indian River Lagoon Encyclopedia
Indian River Lagoon Encyclopedia - Banana River
Banana River
Aerial photo of Banana River lagoon at Kennedy Space Center.
Banana River at KSC

Banana River ("Ulumay Lagoon") is a 31 mile long brackish water lagoon that lies between Titusville and Indian Harbour Beach in Brevard County, Florida. At 30,000 acres, Banana River is the smallest lagoon in the Indian River Lagoon National Estuary.

Banana River lagoon is bounded by Merritt Island on the west and by Brevard's barrier island to the east. The lagoon's northern boundary lies within Kennedy Space Center (KSC) and the southern end merges with the Indian River at Dragon Point in Indian Harbour Beach.

Northern Banana River is jointly administered by KSC and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) as part of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. FWS maintains a No-Motor Zone on the lagoon between the KSC property line and the Beachline Expressway (SR528).[1] There is no public access allowed north of the KSC property line.

Banana River is recognized as an "Outstanding Florida Water" and overseen by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP). FDEP manages most of the lagoon south of the Beachline Expressway (SR528) as the Banana River Aquatic Preserve.[2]

The southern end of Banana River lagoon is at Dragons point in Merritt island.
Banana River Southern Terminus at Dragon Point, Merritt Island

600 acres of Sykes Creek, a Banana River tributary, are preserved by Brevard's Environmentally Endangered Lands Program as the Ulumay Sanctuary[3] and 300 acres in Cocoa Beach are preserved as the Thousand Islands Conservation Area.

With an average 4ft depth, the Banana River Lagoon's shallow ecosystem includes numerous salt marshes, mangrove swamps, seagrass beds, oyster bars, mudflats, and spoil islands, that provide habitat for many animal and plant species.

Banana River is an important spring habitat (300-500 individuals/survey day)[4] for the West Indian manatee, with many living in the lagoon year-round. The lagoon also supports the largest pelican rookery on the Atlantic Coast[4] and a significant population of Atlantic Bottlenose dolphin.

Commercial and recreational activities in the Banana River lagoon are estimated to generate more than $800 million annually for the local economy.

In 2016 a Banana River algae bloom caused massive fish kills from Cape Canaveral to Indian Harbor Beach. Green algae and dead marine life were common scenes along the lagoon.

Water Body

Location: 28°27'30.5"N, 80°37'27.7"W
GIS: 28.458480,-80.624358

Banana River Tributaries
Tributaries are listed from North to South.

Brevard

Banana Creek connects Banana River lagoon to the Indian River lagoon south of Max Brewer Bridge (SR404) in Titusville, Florida. A short distance south, Banana Creek enters Kennedy Space Center (KSC) property and dead ends at KSC's Saturn Causeway.

Banana River lagoon was originally a continuous waterway between Merritt Island and Cape Canaveral until 1964 when the construction of NASA's Saturn Crawlerway causeway split the lagoon in two.

South of Saturn Causeway, Banana River ranges through Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station property to the Beachline Expressway (SR528) causeway.

At Port Canaveral, the lagoon connects to the Atlantic Ocean via Canaveral Locks and to the Indian River via Canaveral Barge Canal.

Sykes Creek, in central Merritt Island, connects to the Banana River south of SR520 in Cocoa Beach.

Banana River ends at Dragon's Point, the southern tip of Merritt Island, where it joins the Indian River lagoon at Indian Harbour Beach.

Article: Banana River Water Body

Banana River at Dragons Point.
Banana River at Dragons Point.
Banana River Bridges
Bridges are listed from North to South.

Brevard County

There are seven causeway bridges bisecting the 31 mile long Banana River lagoon. Each earthen berm causeway impedes water movement and reduces the lagoon's ability to flush.

Article: Banana River Bridges

Water Quality

Aerial photo of the Banana River algae superbloom at Port Canaveral in 2016.
2016 Banana River Superbloom

Like the rest of the IRL estuary, the Banana River lagoon suffers from nutrient pollution due to human impact. Stormwater runoff, faulty sewer systems, and septic tanks, over-fertilized lawns, and excessive development over wetland areas have greatly increased the residual levels of nitrogen and phosphorus in the water.

Algae thrive on the excess nutrients, grows rapidly until it clouds the water, which blocks the sunlight and kills the seagrass beds. The blooming algae also cause a lack of oxygen in the water which in turn kills the marine animals.

DEP's Banana River Lagoon Basin Management Action Plan[5] presents a long-term plan to restore seagrass habitats in the Indian River Lagoon Basin through the reduction of watershed loadings of total nitrogen and total phosphorus.

Banana River Seagrass Coverage Chart.
Banana River Seagrass Coverage Chart.

Excerpt from DEP's Banana River Lagoon Progress 2016 Review:

"In 2011, an algal super bloom occurred in the Banana River Lagoon (BRL) and North IRL, with a separate bloom affecting part of the Central IRL. A brown algal bloom affected much of the IRL during 2012. The full impact to seagrasses from these blooms will not be known for a number of years, but there are documented losses of seagrasses in the BRL linked to the blooms. Research is underway to understand the causes of these blooms; however, they appear to be due, in part, to legacy loads in the lagoon from past nutrient discharges. Removing the sources of nutrients from the lagoon’s watershed will help remediate the legacy load."[6]

The Banana River Lagoon Basin Management Action Plan (BMAP) is currently undergoing review and revision for a 2021 adoption.[7]

Article: Banana River Water Quality

Restoration

The 2016 DEP Banana River Lagoon BMAP Progress Report list's many completed and ongoing projects, including stormwater retention systems, stormwater filters, sewer system repairs, and water quality monitoring.[6]

In January 2019 a $2.8 million stormwater and septic conversion project began in Merritt Island. It funded the installation of a new sewer main enabling the conversion of 23 commercial septic tanks and 60 residential septic tanks that were leeching effluent into the lagoon.

The 2019 project also funded the installation of stormwater pipelines that diverted stormwater runoff to retention filtering ponds instead of flowing directly to the river.[8]

Organization

Tap the photo to view an interactive Banana River Organizational Chart.
Tap for Banana River Lagoon Organizational Chart

As of 2021 there are approximately fourteen federal, state and county government organizations working within the Banana River lagoon watershed.

Florida's Department of Environmental Protection monitors water quality and sets environmental standards. Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission protects fish, wildlife and habitats, and enforces the law on the water. St. Johns River Water Management District and Brevard County's Save Our Indian River Lagoon Program have worked together on many Banana River restoration projects.

Article: Banana River Lagoon Organization

History

Kennedy Space Center night launch over Banana River lagoon.
KSC Night Launch Over Banana River

Banana River Air Station

Construction of the Banana River Naval Air Station began in December 1939 and the station was commissioned on 1 October 1940.

The station supported seaplane patrol operations during World War II, a blimp squadron which conducted search and rescue along Florida's east coast, a PBM seaplane pilot training program, and an advanced navigation school.

In 1944 the station consisted of 391 officers, 2492 enlisted, and 587 civilians. The number of aircraft present on the base, including F6 Hellcats and O52U Kingfishers, reached a high of 228.

Ares I-X Returns to KSC
Ares I-X Returns to KSC

The station continued to operate as a Navy support base for two years after the war, but the installation was deactivated on 1 August 1947.[9]

Patrick Space Force Base

The Navy transferred the station to the Air Force on 1 September 1948 and it was renamed the Joint Long Range Proving Ground (JLRPG). On 1 August 1950, it was renamed Patrick Air Force Base in honor of Major General Mason Patrick.

On December 9, 2020 Patrick Air Force Base was renamed Patrick Space Force Base. Patrick is the headquarters of the 45th Space Wing, the parent organization responsible for operations at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.[9]

Video

Select a video to play or visit the Indian River Lagoon Project YouTube Channel - Banana River Video Playlist.

Above Banana River at Kelly Park
Above Banana River at Thousand Islands
Above Banana River at Sunset
Banana River Fish Kill 2016

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See Also

Web Links

References

  1. ↑ FWS Merritt Island Refuge Fishing
  2. ↑ FDEP 2016 Indian River Lagoon Aquatic Preserves System Management Plan (PDF, 267pp)
  3. ↑ Ulumay Wildlife Sanctuary
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Banana River Aquatic Preserve
  5. ↑ DEP Banana River Lagoon BMAP 2013 (PDF 90pp 1.49MB), retrieved 2021-01-08
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 DEP 2016 Banana River Progress Review
  7. ↑ DEP - Banana River Lagoon BMAP 2020 Draft (DOCX 137pp 5.6MB)
  8. ↑ SJRWMD 2019 BRL Stormwater and Septic to Sewer Project
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Air Force & Space Museum Banana River Naval Air Station
Indian River Lagoon Encyclopedia Article - Banana River
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