Misplaced Pages

#532467

48-473: In 1925, construction began on the first wooden bridge across the Indian River Lagoon . On February 22, 1926, George Washington's Birthday, the bridge opened to traffic. The bridge connected to a sand trail that led to Canova Beach . At this time, there was no railing on the bridge for a year after its construction. There are no records that anyone fell off the bridge during this time. In 1944

96-410: A "wall of water" over the barrier island (elevation, 3.1 m (10 ft)) devastating Cape Canaveral and adjacent areas. The ocean waves flooded the homesteaders and discouraged further settlement in the area. The beach near the lighthouse was severely eroded prompting its relocation 1.6 km (0.99 mi) west inland. The 1890 graduating class of Harvard University started a gun club called

144-502: A 200 feet (61 m) section of the bridge burned. On February 22, 1955, George Washington's Birthday, a new multimillion-dollar concrete bridge was dedicated to Dr. William Jackson Creel . The second Eau Gallie Causeway featured a swing span drawbridge . The third bridge, a high-rise causeway , was completed in 1988. Just north of the bridge, the Indian River Lagoon splits to form the Banana River Lagoon east of

192-663: Is the site of the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station . Since many U.S. spacecraft have been launched from both the station and the Kennedy Space Center on adjacent Merritt Island , the two are sometimes conflated with each other. Other features of the cape include Port Canaveral , one of the busiest cruise ports in the world, and the Cape Canaveral Lighthouse . The city of Cape Canaveral lies just south of

240-755: Is worse in areas near no inlets, such as the Mosquito Lagoon, North IRL, and the Banana River. According to the Florida Oceanographic Society , nearly 1 million people live and work in the Indian River Lagoon region. The Lagoon accounts for $ 300 million in fisheries revenues, includes a $ 2.1 billion citrus industry, and generates more than $ 300 million in boat and marine sales annually. In 2007, visitors spent an estimated 3.2 million person-days in recreation on

288-578: The Ais language . In the early 16th century, Cape Canaveral was noted on maps, although without being named. It was named by Spanish explorers in the first half of the 16th century as Cabo Cañaveral . The name "Canaveral" ( cañaveral in Spanish , meaning ' reed bed ' or ' sugarcane plantation ') is the third oldest surviving European place name in the United States. The first application of

336-512: The Australian spotted jellyfish , eat clams and fish larvae . In 2016, there were an estimated 300,000 septic tanks in the five-county area bordering the Lagoon. At one time, sewer plants were worse polluters. In 1986, there were 46 sewer plants along the 156 miles (251 km) lagoon. They discharged about 55,000,000 US gallons (210,000,000 L; 46,000,000 imp gal) daily into

384-593: The Cape Canaveral Space Force Station is the easternmost near the tip of the cape. In 1999, the North American Numbering Plan Administration allocated telephone area code 321 (as in a launch countdown ) to the Cape Canaveral area in homage to its spacefaring heritage. A post office in the area was built and listed in the U.S. Post Office application as "Artesia" and retained this name from 1893 to 1954. It

432-858: The Pineda Causeway , SR 3 was removed from the Eau Gallie Causeway, and State Road 518 has been crossing the Intracoastal Waterway over it (and connecting with Interstate 95 ) since then. Indian River Lagoon The Indian River Lagoon is a grouping of three lagoons : the Mosquito Lagoon , the Banana River , and the Indian River , on the Atlantic Coast of Florida ; one of

480-648: The Rio de Ais, after the Ais Indian tribe, who lived along the east coast of Florida. An expedition in 1605 by Alvero Mexia resulted in the mapping of most of the lagoon. Original place names on the map included Los Mosquitos (the Mosquito Lagoon and the Halifax River), Haulover (current Haulover Canal area), Ulumay Lagoon (Banana River) Rio d' Ais (North Indian River), and Pentoya Lagoon (Indian River Melbourne to Ft. Pierce) Early European settlers drained

528-599: The Spanish Governor of Florida Pedro de Ibarra sent Alvaro Mexia on a diplomatic mission to the Ais Indian nation. The mission was a success; diplomatic ties were made and an agreement for the Ais to receive ransoms for all the shipwrecked sailors they returned. The first Cape Canaveral Lighthouse was completed in January 1848 to warn ships of the coral shoals off the coast. The hurricane of August 1885, pushed

SECTION 10

#1732790975533

576-695: The final Mercury mission had concluded six months earlier. Although the name change was approved by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names of the Department of the Interior in December 1963, it was not popular in Florida from the outset, especially in the bordering city of Cape Canaveral . In May 1973, the Florida Legislature passed a law restoring the former 400-year-old name, and

624-573: The "Canaveral Club" at the Cape. This was founded by C. B. Horton of Boston and George H. Reed. A number of distinguished visitors including presidents Grover Cleveland and Benjamin Harrison were reported to have stayed here. In the 1920s, the grand building fell into disrepair and later burned to the ground. In the 20th century, several communities sprang up in Cape Canaveral with names like Canaveral, Canaveral Harbor, Artesia and De Soto Beach. While

672-475: The 16 gauged canals emptying into the St. Lucie Estuary and Indian River Lagoon, predicted shelf tides, and wind speeds and directions recorded along the west side of the lagoon at about 27°32'N (corresponding to Segment 11 of the model). In 2007, concerns were raised about the future of the lagoon system, especially in the southern half where frequent freshwater discharges seriously threatened water quality, decreasing

720-646: The 16th century. A Presbyterian missionary was wrecked here and lived among the Indians. Other histories tell of French survivors from Jean Ribault 's colony at Fort Caroline , whose ship the Trinité wrecked on the shores of Cape Canaveral in 1565, and built a fort from its timbers. In December 1571, Pedro Menéndez was wrecked off the Coast of Cape Canaveral and encountered the Ais Indians. From 1605 to 1606,

768-824: The Archaic period, from 2000 BC to 500 BC, the Mount Taylor culture was succeeded by the Orange culture , which was among the earliest cultures in North America to produce pottery. The Orange culture was followed by the St. Johns culture , from 500 BC until after European contact. The area around the Indian River was in the Indian River variant of the St. Johns culture, with influences from the Belle Glade culture to

816-476: The Board went along. The name restoration to Cape Canaveral became official on 9 October 1973. Senator Ted Kennedy had stated in 1970 that it was a matter to be decided by the citizens of Florida. The Kennedy family issued a letter stating they "understood the decision". NASA's Kennedy Space Center retains the "Kennedy" name. The Gemini , Apollo , and the first Skylab missions were all launched while

864-398: The Cape Canaveral facility would be an appropriate memorial. Johnson recommended the renaming of the entire cape, announced in a televised address on November 28, 1963, six days after the assassination, on Thanksgiving evening. Accordingly, Cape Canaveral was officially renamed Cape Kennedy. Kennedy's last visit to the space facility was on 16 November 1963, six days before his death;

912-486: The Cape was a V-2 rocket named Bumper 8 from Launch Complex 3 on 24 July 1950. On 6 February 1959, the first successful test firing of a Titan intercontinental ballistic missile was accomplished. NASA 's Project Mercury and Gemini space flights were launched from Cape Canaveral, as were Apollo flights using the Saturn I and Saturn IB rockets. Cape Canaveral was chosen for rocket launches to take advantage of

960-566: The Earth's rotation. The linear velocity of the Earth's surface is greatest towards the equator ; the relatively southerly location of the cape allows rockets to take advantage of this by launching eastward, in the same direction as the Earth's rotation. It is also highly desirable to have the downrange area sparsely populated, in case of accidents; an ocean is ideal for this. The east coast of Florida has logistical advantages over potential competing sites. The Spaceport Florida Launch Complex 46 of

1008-635: The Indian River Lagoon. Red Drum , Spotted seatrout , Common snook , and the Tarpon are the main gamefish in the Titusville area of the lagoon system. Avians include the American kestrel , Reddish egret and spoonbills . Butterflies include the Polydamas swallowtail . Indian River Lagoon is abundant with bioluminescent dinoflagellates in the summer and ctenophore (comb jellies) in

SECTION 20

#1732790975533

1056-552: The Lagoon seasonally. There was a mass death of manatees in 2021 due to the loss of seagrass, caused by leaks from septic systems and overuse of fertilizers. Nine-banded armadillos comprise one of the 34 mammals in the area. It is a 1920s immigrant from the Southwestern United States. In 2016 a Right whale with her calf entered the lagoon by mistake and safely exited to the ocean. Between 200 and 800 Bottlenose dolphins ( Tursiops truncatus ) also live in

1104-555: The Port Canaveral District. Mosquito Lagoon , the Indian River , Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge and Canaveral National Seashore are also features of this area. Humans have occupied the area for at least 12,000 years. During the middle Archaic period , from 5000 BC to 2000 BC, the Mount Taylor period culture region covered northeast Florida, including the area around Cape Canaveral. Late in

1152-668: The South Lagoon. While this helps prevent life-threatening flooding in the Okeechobee area, it creates toxic blooms after entering the Lagoon, a threat to flora, fauna, and humans. This situation is proving difficult to address in the 21st century. From 1913 to 2013, activity by humans has increased the watershed for the lagoon from 572,000 acres (231,000 ha) to 1,400,000 acres (570,000 ha) increasing runoff of freshwater and nutrients from farms. Both have been detrimental to lagoon health. The wetlands are needed to cleanse

1200-458: The application of fertilizer; 2) an estimated 8 to 11% septic tank failures of tens of thousands of septic tanks in the county. 3) Muck from construction, farming, erosion and dead plants find their way to the bottom of the lagoon, preventing growth and consuming vital oxygen essential to marine flora and fauna; 4) Invasive species, including the Asian green mussel , South American charru mussel, and

1248-550: The area was predominantly a farming and fishing community, some visionaries saw its potential as a resort for vacationers. However, the stock market crash of 1929 hampered its development. In the 1930s, a group of wealthy journalists started a community called "Journalista Beach", now called Avon by the Sea. The Brossier brothers built houses in this area and started a publication entitled the Evening Star Reporter that

1296-571: The estuary. The state ended most sewer plant pollution by 1995. The worst fish kill to date occurred in March 2016, with 30 species impacted. A brown tide bloom, caused by the algae species Aureoumbra lagunensis , was blamed for the low oxygen levels. The algae growth originated in the no-motor zone of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge . In 2018, lagoon health is better near ocean inlets. Pollution

1344-459: The lagoon by 1996. Some sports fish rebounded in population in the 1990s when gill nets were banned and pollution in the lagoon was reduced. In 1995 the seagrass covered over 100,000 acres (40,000 ha). The 1993–1996 data base used to track the movement of water through the St. Lucie Estuary and into Indian River Lagoon is described in Smith (2007). This includes daily mean discharge rates for

1392-417: The lagoon was grassland, 30 miles (48 km) from the beach. When the glaciers melted, the sea rose. The lagoon remained as captured water. The indigenous people who lived along the lagoon thrived on its fish and shellfish. This was determined by analyzing the middens they left behind, piled with refuse from clams, oysters, and mussels. The Indian River Lagoon was originally known on early Spanish maps as

1440-584: The lagoon. In 2008, Hazen and Sawyer, P.C. submitted a report titled "Indian River Lagoon Economic Assessment and Analysis Update" to the Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program, St. Johns River Water Management District . The report described the estimated 2007 recreational uses and economic value of the Indian River Lagoon to residents and visitors of the five counties that comprise the Lagoon system. The sum of recreational expenditures and recreational use value

1488-539: The lagoon. In 2011, a superbloom of phytoplankton resulted in the loss of 32,000 acres (13,000 ha) of lagoon seagrass. In 2012, a brown tide bloom fouled the northern lagoon. The county has approval for funds to investigate these unusual blooms to see if they can be prevented. Catches of blue crabs dropped unevenly from 4,265,063 pounds (1,934,600 kg) in 1987 to 389,795 pounds (176,808 kg) in 2012, but with high catches in 1998, 1991, alternating with low catch years. These crabs require 2% salt content in

Eau Gallie Causeway - Misplaced Pages Continue

1536-570: The lagoon. The lagoon contains 35 species listed as threatened or endangered — more than any other estuary in North America. The lagoon has about 2,500 types of animals in it. It serves as a spawning and nursery ground for different species of oceanic and lagoon fish and shellfish. The lagoon also has one of the most diverse bird populations anywhere in America. Nearly 1/3 of the nation's manatee population lives here or migrates through

1584-476: The lagoon. About 40,000 acres (16,000 ha) of land were lost to mosquito control and have been restored, but by 2013, recovery was incomplete. Mangroves are important to marine life. Between the 1940s and 2013, 85% of them had been removed for housing development. In 1990, the Florida Legislature passed the Indian River Lagoon Act, requiring most sewer plants to stop discharging into

1632-471: The most biodiverse estuaries in the Northern Hemisphere and is home to more than 4,300 species of plants and animals. The Lagoon contains five state parks, four federal wildlife refuges and a national seashore. The Lagoon varies in width from 0.5 to 5 miles (0.80 to 8.05 km) and averages 4 feet (1.2 m) in depth. During glacial periods , the ocean receded. The area that is now

1680-627: The name, according to the Smithsonian Institution , was from the 1521–1525 explorations of Spanish explorer Francisco Gordillo . A point of land jutting out into an area of the Atlantic Ocean with swift currents, it became a landing spot for many shipwrecked sailors. An early alternative name was "Cape of Currents". By at least 1564, the name appeared on maps. English privateer John Hawkins and his journalist John Sparke gave an account of their landing at Cape Canaveral in

1728-475: The non-profit Marine Resources Council has divided the lagoon into 4 major divisions, with a total of ten subdivisions: The Indian River Lagoon is North America's most diverse estuary , with more than 2100 species of plants and 2200 animals. The diversity is the result of being located near a climate boundary, 5 miles (8.0 km) from the Gulf Stream . Migratory ocean fish swimming nearby, were swept into

1776-566: The northern boundary was moved north-ward to Highbridge Road for management purposes. The Lagoon covers one-third of Florida's East Coast. Brevard County incorporates 71% of the lagoon's surface. Lake Okeechobee is connected to the lagoon by the Okeechobee Waterway and the St. Lucie River meeting in Sewall's Point . From north to south, the Indian River Lagoon system includes the following: For water quality measurement,

1824-399: The salinity needed by many fish species, and have contributed to large algae blooms promoted by water saturated with plant fertilizers. In the mid 1990s, the lagoon has been the subject of research on light penetration for photosynthesis in submerged aquatic vegetation . In 2010, 3,300,000 pounds (1,500,000 kg) of nitrogen and 475,000 pounds (215,000 kg) of phosphorus entered

1872-594: The sluggish flow of the waterway. Huge population influx resulted in sewage, and stormwater runoff from roadways, polluting the lagoon. From 1989 to 2013, the population along the lagoon increased 50% to 1.6 million people. The full length of the Indian River Lagoon is 156 miles (251 km), extending from Ponce de León Inlet in Volusia County, Florida , to Jupiter Inlet in Palm Beach County, Florida , and includes Cape Canaveral . In 2016,

1920-512: The south. During the first Spanish colonial period the area around the Indian River , to the south of Cape Canaveral, was occupied by the Ais people , while the area around the Mosquito Lagoon , to the north of the Cape, was occupied by the Surruque people. The Surruque were allied with the Ais, but it is not clear whether the Surruque spoke a Timucua language , or a language related to

1968-399: The southern tip of Merritt Island, Florida . Its southern tip has been known locally as Dragon's Point since 1971 when a green dragon was built there. However, in 2002 most of the dragon collapsed into the river and was nearly destroyed. From 1945 until 1971, State Road 3 extended from Merritt Island to Melbourne over both Mathers Bridge and the Eau Gallie Causeway; after the opening of

Eau Gallie Causeway - Misplaced Pages Continue

2016-402: The swamps to raise pineapples and citrus. They dug canals discharging fresh water into the lagoon, five times the historical volume. Prior to the arrival of the railroad, the river was an essential transportation link. In 1896 and 1902, there were fish kills in the lagoon from gas from the muck below. The advent of the automobile, starting in the 1930s, resulted in causeways which diverted

2064-565: The test site for missiles when the legislation for the Joint Long Range Proving Ground was passed by the 81st Congress and signed by President Harry Truman on 11 May 1949. Work began on 9 May 1950, under a contract with the Duval Engineering Company of Jacksonville, Florida , to build the Cape's first paved access road and its first permanent launch site. The first rocket launched at

2112-419: The water to survive. A drought increases the salt content and heavy rainfall decreases it. Both of these conditions have recurred over the past decades and are believed to have had an adverse effect on the crab population. In 2013, algae blooms and loss of sea grass destroyed all gains. In 2013, four major problems with lagoon water quality were identified. 1) Excess nitrogen and phosphorus from runoff from

2160-404: The winter. Seagrass is a critical component to the overall health of the lagoon. By 1990, it had surpassed levels reached in 1943. The lagoon also contains night-blooming cereus . 95% of the seagrass, the main diet of manatees, disappeared by 2017 after an algae bloom fuel by fertilizers. In 1916, the St. Lucie Canal (C-44) diverts excess nutrient-rich water from Lake Okeechobee into

2208-586: Was "Port Canaveral" from 1954 to 1962, and then the City of Cape Canaveral from 1962 to 1963, when a larger post office was built. In 1963, President Lyndon Johnson issued an executive order renaming the area "Cape Kennedy", after President John F. Kennedy , who had set the goal of landing on the Moon . After Kennedy's assassination in November 1963, his widow, Jacqueline Kennedy , suggested to Johnson that renaming

2256-583: Was estimated at $ 2.1 billion. Cape Canaveral Cape Canaveral ( Spanish : Cabo Cañaveral ) is a cape in Brevard County, Florida , in the United States , near the center of the state's Atlantic coast. Officially Cape Kennedy from 1963 to 1973, it lies east of Merritt Island , separated from it by the Banana River . It is part of a region known as the Space Coast , and

2304-519: Was the forerunner of the Orlando Sentinel . Construction of Port Canaveral for military and commercial purposes was started in July 1950 and dedicated on 4 November 1953. Congress approved the construction of a deep-water port in 1929, half a century after it was first petitioned by the U.S. Navy in 1878. It is now the major deep-water port of Central Florida . Cape Canaveral became

#532467