Oyster Bar Marsh Conservation Area
FIND IT
Location: West of A1A - 4.6 Miles South of the 17th Street Bridge, Vero Beach, FL
GPS Coordinates: Latitude: 27° 34'18.44" Longitude: -80° 19' 54.97"
Conservation Area Size: 96 acres
Hours of Operation: 7am to dusk
Open to Public: Yes
- Pollinator Trail: Come enjoy our pollinator trail adjacent to the parking area. See how many native plants you can identify.
- Impoundment Loop: Take a stroll on our 3-mile (round trip) trail along the IRL.
- Mangrove Overlook: Take a detour along the impoundment loop, and walk the boardwalk through the mangroves. There is a covered picnic area at the end. Keep an eye out for wading birds and other wildlife that spend time in the mangroves.
- Lagoon Overlook: Approximately half-way down the loop trail, a newly constructed boardwalk provides a wonderful view of the IRL. You may spot a manatee slowly passing by, or some faster swimming dolphins.
- Parking withHandicap spaces
Dogs must be on leash, No Alcohol, No Glass Containers, No Open Fires, No Overnight Parking, No Camping.
Description
Purchased in 20021, Oyster Bar Marsh Conservation Area is a 132-acre riverfront property that Indian River County manages in partnership with the Florida Communities Trust and the Indian River Land Trust. The site is dominated by a mangrove impoundment that was constructed as part of mosquito control efforts instituted in the 1950’s. Impoundments were constructed by creating dikes around saltmarsh areas along the Indian River Lagoon (IRL). These impounded herbaceous wetlands transition over time into mangrove swamps, which are treated seasonally to control the production of mosquitos. The impoundments are connected to the IRL through a series of large culverts. These culverts serve to maintain water quality in the interior areas of the impoundment, and also provide a connection for aquatic species to move into, and out of, the impoundment.