Mosquito Lagoon: Difference between revisions
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==About== | ==About== | ||
The 28 mile long [[Mosquito Lagoon]] is a 36,000 acre body of water located in [[Brevard County|Brevard]] and [[Volusia County|Volusia]] counties on the east coast of Florida. Mosquito Lagoon is bounded by a National Wildlife Refuge, a National Seashore, and a National Space Center. It is part of the Intracoastal Waterway and the [[Indian River Lagoon Estuary]]. | The 28 mile long [[Mosquito Lagoon]] is a 36,000 acre body of water located in [[:Category:Brevard County|Brevard]] and [[:Category:Volusia County|Volusia]] counties on the east coast of Florida. Mosquito Lagoon is bounded by a National Wildlife Refuge, a National Seashore, and a National Space Center. It is part of the Intracoastal Waterway and the [[Indian River Lagoon Estuary]]. | ||
Mosquito Lagoon is an acclaimed [[Spotted Seatrout]] and [[Red Drum]] fishing habitat and a well-known destination for kayakers, birdwatchers and nature tours. | Mosquito Lagoon is an acclaimed [[Spotted Seatrout]] and [[Red Drum]] fishing habitat and a well-known destination for kayakers, birdwatchers and nature tours. | ||
==Location== | ==Location== | ||
Mosquito Lagoon extends from the [[Ponce de Leon Inlet]] to a point north of [[Cape Canaveral]]. It connects to the [[Indian River |Indian River]] via the [[Haulover Canal]]. The Mosquito Lagoon Aquatic Preserve includes 4740 acres in the northern end of the lagoon. The preserve originally extended to the southern end of the lagoon, but close to two-thirds of the central and southern lagoon were transferred to the Federal government and are now part of the [[Canaveral National Seashore]]. The cities of New Smyrna Beach and Edgewater in Volusia County, the [[Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge]] and the [[Kennedy Space Center]] adjoin the lagoon. | Mosquito Lagoon extends from the [[Ponce de Leon Inlet]] to a point north of [[Cape Canaveral]]. It connects to the [[Indian River |Indian River]] via the [[Haulover Canal]]. The Mosquito Lagoon Aquatic Preserve includes 4740 acres in the northern end of the lagoon. The preserve originally extended to the southern end of the lagoon, but close to two-thirds of the central and southern lagoon were transferred to the Federal government and are now part of the [[Canaveral National Seashore]]. The cities of New Smyrna Beach and Edgewater in Volusia County, the [[Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge]] and the [[Kennedy Space Center]] adjoin the lagoon. | ||
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===Water Body=== | |||
{{IRL Mosquito Lagoon Tributaries}} | |||
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[[File:North_Mosquito_Lagoon_at_Ponce_Inlet.jpg|320px|frameless|right|Mosquito Lagoon looking north to Ponce Inlet in New Symyrna Beach.]] | |||
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[[File:Mosquitolagoon.jpg|320px|frameless|right|Manatees in Mosquito Lagoon]] | |||
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[[File:Mosquito_lagoon.jpg|320px|frameless|right|Central Mosquito Lagoon near Kennedy Space Center]] | |||
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==Aquatic Preserve== | ==Aquatic Preserve== | ||
The Mosquito Lagoon Aquatic Preserve (MLAP) is located in east-central Florida, in southern Volusia County, south of Ponce de Leon Inlet. It is adjacent to two incorporated municipalities - New Smyrna Beach and Edgewater - and 50 miles northeast of Orlando. MLAP is part of the Indian River Lagoon (IRL) system, a long, wide, shallow estuarine lagoon bounded on the west by the Florida mainland, and on the east by a chain of barrier islands. | The Mosquito Lagoon Aquatic Preserve (MLAP) is located in east-central Florida, in southern Volusia County, south of Ponce de Leon Inlet. It is adjacent to two incorporated municipalities - New Smyrna Beach and Edgewater - and 50 miles northeast of Orlando. MLAP is part of the Indian River Lagoon (IRL) system, a long, wide, shallow estuarine lagoon bounded on the west by the Florida mainland, and on the east by a chain of barrier islands. | ||
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* Salinity levels in the Mosquito Lagoon are comparable to ocean levels (32-34 ppt) allowing several fish species to spawn in the lagoon that would normally spawn in the ocean. | * Salinity levels in the Mosquito Lagoon are comparable to ocean levels (32-34 ppt) allowing several fish species to spawn in the lagoon that would normally spawn in the ocean. | ||
* Mosquito Lagoon supports the northernmost extent of red and black mangrove habitat, low marsh and high marsh habitats, extensive oyster bars, and tidal flats.<ref name=FWCMLAP>[https://floridadep.gov/rcp/aquatic-preserve/locations/mosquito-lagoon-aquatic-preserve FWC - Mosquito Lagoon Aquatic Preserve]</ref> | * Mosquito Lagoon supports the northernmost extent of red and black mangrove habitat, low marsh and high marsh habitats, extensive oyster bars, and tidal flats.<ref name=FWCMLAP>[https://floridadep.gov/rcp/aquatic-preserve/locations/mosquito-lagoon-aquatic-preserve FWC - Mosquito Lagoon Aquatic Preserve]</ref> | ||
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==Spotlight== | ==Spotlight== | ||
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[[Category:Volusia County]] | [[Category:Volusia County Locale]] | ||
[[Category:Brevard County]] | [[Category:Brevard County Locale]] | ||
[[Category:Mosquito Lagoon]] | [[Category:Mosquito Lagoon]] | ||
[[Category:Mosquito Lagoon Water Body]] | [[Category:Mosquito Lagoon Water Body]] | ||
Revision as of 00:24, November 1, 2019
Mosquito Lagoon is one of the least developed regions on the east coast of Florida.
About
The 28 mile long Mosquito Lagoon is a 36,000 acre body of water located in Brevard and Volusia counties on the east coast of Florida. Mosquito Lagoon is bounded by a National Wildlife Refuge, a National Seashore, and a National Space Center. It is part of the Intracoastal Waterway and the Indian River Lagoon Estuary.
Mosquito Lagoon is an acclaimed Spotted Seatrout and Red Drum fishing habitat and a well-known destination for kayakers, birdwatchers and nature tours.
Location
Mosquito Lagoon extends from the Ponce de Leon Inlet to a point north of Cape Canaveral. It connects to the Indian River via the Haulover Canal. The Mosquito Lagoon Aquatic Preserve includes 4740 acres in the northern end of the lagoon. The preserve originally extended to the southern end of the lagoon, but close to two-thirds of the central and southern lagoon were transferred to the Federal government and are now part of the Canaveral National Seashore. The cities of New Smyrna Beach and Edgewater in Volusia County, the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge and the Kennedy Space Center adjoin the lagoon.
Water Body
Aquatic Preserve
The Mosquito Lagoon Aquatic Preserve (MLAP) is located in east-central Florida, in southern Volusia County, south of Ponce de Leon Inlet. It is adjacent to two incorporated municipalities - New Smyrna Beach and Edgewater - and 50 miles northeast of Orlando. MLAP is part of the Indian River Lagoon (IRL) system, a long, wide, shallow estuarine lagoon bounded on the west by the Florida mainland, and on the east by a chain of barrier islands.
MLAP is in the northernmost sub-basin of the IRL system and is a bar-built type of estuary. Lagoons are estuaries characterized by restricted outlets to the sea, limiting the mixing of oceanic saltwater with terrestrially derived freshwater from rivers, streams and rainwater runoff. Three distinct bodies of water comprise the IRL system: the Indian River Lagoon, the Banana River Lagoon and Mosquito Lagoon.
MLAP is unique among the inland waters of the Atlantic Coast of Florida and a feeling of relative isolation is attainable just a short distance from nearby boat ramps. Once outside the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, local knowledge of water depths and channels of the Lagoon system is essential. Elevated landmarks are difficult to see at times, and it is easy to become disorientated among the winding turns and dead end waterways.
- Mosquito Lagoon is one of the least developed regions on the east coast of Florida.
- Nearly two-thirds of the original aquatic preserve boundary is now a part of Canaveral National Seashore or Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge.
- Mosquito Lagoon has a resident population of Atlantic bottlenose dolphins.
- Salinity levels in the Mosquito Lagoon are comparable to ocean levels (32-34 ppt) allowing several fish species to spawn in the lagoon that would normally spawn in the ocean.
- Mosquito Lagoon supports the northernmost extent of red and black mangrove habitat, low marsh and high marsh habitats, extensive oyster bars, and tidal flats.[1]
