Several Indian River County environmentalists and fishermen this month questioned why the public can’t visit the Sand Lakes Restoration Area or enjoy greater access to the Fellsmere Water Management Area.
The reason is negotiations have dragged out between the St. John’s River Water Management District and other stakeholders in the massive conservation tracts, said Brian Emanuel, the district’s land resources chief.
The 1,256-acre Sand Lakes Restoration Area, located west of Interstate 95, just within Fellsmere’s southern boundary, has been in public ownership since 1999. But there still is no public access 20 years later.
“Audubon worked really hard to improve that,” said Pelican Island Audubon Society President Richard Baker. “What is the problem with getting that so folks can go visit? What is the hold up?”
Negotiations on a recreation plan for Sand Lakes stalled because of the differing goals of the district, the City of Fellsmere, which will eventually take ownership, and Indian River County, which owns a 23 percent interest, Emanuel said.
“There is no access to it,” Emanuel said. “The three entities that are involved with negotiating it don’t seem to be able to get on the same page. The public access can’t happen until there’s an agreement finalized.”
District officials are also engaged in detailed negotiations with Fellsmere Joint Venture LLC on a recreation plan for the southern 6,000 acres of the Fellsmere Water Management Area, Emanuel said.
Public access for hunting, fishing and paddling is currently allowed on in the small game area on the northern 4,000 acres.
Motor boats are banned from the Fellsmere Water Management Area, but will be allowed once a new floating boat dock and parking area for 32 trailers are completed, Emanuel said.
Work on the $812,930 project is expected to start in August and be finished by the end of the year, said Hector Herrera, the project manager.
Meanwhile, SJRWMD Executive Director Ann Shortelle, intends to meet regularly with Fellsmere Joint Ventures, the neighboring property owner, to negotiate terms for public access and recreational uses, among other issues Emanuel said.
The reservoir is used for water supply, water quality and flood control, in addition to recreation, district records show.
The district and Fellsmere Joint Venture are also discussing how to provide security in the remote area of far northwestern Indian River County, south of Fellsmere Grade Road.
“The purpose of the plan is to make sure there are no adverse impacts from the recreation to the resource,” Emanuel said. “I don’t know when the plan is coming out. I really don’t have that information for you. It’s being batted back and forth.”