Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge ESTABLISHED: March 14, 1903 SIZE: 4,760 acres OWNERSHIP: USFWS and lease with State of Florida

PURPOSE AND LOCATION
Pelican Island, located near Sebastian, Florida, became the Nation's first national wildlife refuge under legislation signed by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1903. Today, the major purpose of Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge is to protect the historic significance of this national landmark. Encroaching residential development is threatening both the historic and scenic values of the refuge as well as the habitat provided for wildlife. Immediate action is needed to acquire an insulating buffer to screen and separate the refuge from adjacent upland development.

Another major purpose is identifying Pelican Island's place in conservation history. Currently, no facilities exist to allow the public to see Pelican Island or hear the story of the birth and growth of the Refuge System. Plans are underway to acquire lands for the development of needed public use facilities.

ACTIVITIES
Since 1987, a major thrust has been to acquire the needed buffer of wetland vegetation along the eastern boundary of Pelican Island. The Service is also working with the State of Florida to expand the refuge boundary by approximately 250 acres to protect wetlands adjacent to the Refuge. An equally important goal is acquiring lands for the development of needed public use facilities. The Service feels there is no better place to interpret the heritage of the Refuge System than its birthplace, Pelican Island.

MAJOR ISSUES
Most of the Refuge is managed under a lease with Florida. Since its inception in 1968, the lease has restricted FWS authority and attempts to strengthen it have failed. At issue is the inability to regulate certain activities which threaten the Refuge (e.g. boating, fishing, navigation, etc.). Another weakness of the lease relates to riparian rights. The upland owners have applied to state agencies for permits to dredge canals and construct docks along our boundary. Since the Refuge manages these waters via a lease and the lease is unclear in this area, the Department's solicitor is kept busy preparing legal opinions to answer these challenges.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON PELICAN ISLAND NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, CONTACT THE REFUGE HEADQUARTERS AT (321) 861-0667 OR WRITE TO:

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