SEBASTIAN – Ever wanted to own an island? Volunteers in Sebastian might not be allowed to own a spoil island in the Indian River Lagoon, but they can adopt one.
The Sebastian City Council recently voiced approval of the city’s Natural Resources Board’s plans to improve the spoil islands in the lagoon.
It is a “fantastic idea,” Vice Mayor Jim Hill told members of the board at a council meeting earlier this month. The adoption would be done in partnership with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, which would require the city to hold a set number of cleanup days on the island.
There are nine spoil islands along Sebastian’s shore, though only three are available for adoption, according to Ken Grudens, a members of the Natural Resources Board and the executive director of the Indian River Land Trust.
He asked the council for direction in terms of which of the three islands the board – with support of community volunteers – should adopt. He told the council the board wanted to start slowly with the Adopt-an-Island program.
The council decided the group should adopt Island 1 – a 6-acre active island that provides for camping, fishing, swimming, hiking and other nature-related activities.
The other two islands are both passive – allowing for all the same activities as the active island except camping.
With the council’s blessing. the Natural Resources Board is now looking to the public for assistance in cleaning the park and making improvements to the camping sites.
Environmental Planner Margie Reynolds told the council that the more hands they can get to pitch in, the better.
Volunteers wanting to lend a helping hand to the effort can contact the Natural Resources Board by calling Sebastian City Hall (772) 589-5330.
