The Sebastian Inlet District – which is responsible for maintaining the navigational channel between the Indian River Lagoon and Atlantic Ocean, as well as beach renourishment and environmental protection – has a new administrator. Former Indian River County natural resources manager and coastal engineer James Gray, Jr. is stepping in to succeed Marty Smithson, who is retiring after 14 years of running day-to-day operations at the district.
Gray will report to the five-member Sebastian Inlet District Commission, which includes two members from Indian River County and three from Brevard County. Smithson will work alongside his successor for several months during the transition.
“Indian River County and the Sebastian Inlet District have worked together collaboratively for many years, so I’m very familiar with District operations,” Gray said. “Marty and the commissioners have completed a number of important and noteworthy projects in the last 15 years, and I hope to build on that legacy.”
During Smithson’s tenure, the District completed a 3,120-foot channel extension connecting the inlet to the Intracoastal Waterway in 2007. New channel markers were installed and caution signs erected to keep boaters in the channel and off fragile sea grass beds. Smithson also oversaw dredging and beach restoration projects and monitoring of environmentally-sensitive habitats around the inlet.
In his years with the county, Gray managed beach and lagoon restoration and artificial reef programs and helped coordinate the rapid response to last October’s red tide bloom.
Gray’s artificial reef and beach renourishment duties are being assumed by Kendra Cope, the county’s environmental specialist and sea turtle coordinator. County Public Works Director Rich Szpyrka will conduct a search for a new natural resources manager to replace Gray.
