Public and project partners celebrate grand opening of Micco Water Management Area

District Executive Director Ann Shortelle talks about the recreational opportunities offered at Micco Water Management Area during the grand opening on Wednesday.

PALM BAY, Fla., June 27, 2018 — Today, outdoor lovers celebrated the opening of the St. Johns River Water Management District’s latest property available for recreation: Micco Water Management Area (WMA) in south Brevard.

“The primary purpose of this beautiful park is to capture nutrients from stormwater before they reach the Indian River Lagoon, but we jump at any opportunity to blend function with recreational amenities,” said District Executive Director Dr. Ann Shortelle. “Micco Stormwater Management Area is an example of government agencies working together to accomplish a beneficial project that none of us would likely have been able to accomplish individually.”

The district, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Florida Department of Transportation and Brevard County jointly funded the development of the 458-acre park, which captures stormwater runoff from a 21,000-acre watershed and removes nutrients, including phosphorus and nitrogen before they can reach the Sebastian River, a tributary of the Indian River Lagoon.

This grand opening of the Micco Water Management Area will not only benefit the Indian River Lagoon, but it offers more outdoor recreational opportunities for residents and visitors in Brevard County,” said Aaron Watkins, Assistant Director of DEP’s Central District. “Through our partnerships and innovative solutions, we are protecting Florida’s water and state parks together.”

“The Fleming Grant Wet Detention Pond, a part of the Micco Water Management Area, was a cooperative effort which has produced a valuable contribution in our combined efforts to reduce nutrient loads to the Indian River Lagoon,” said Bach McClure, Brevard County’s stormwater project manager.  “We continually search for effective and efficient cooperative opportunities which enable us to improve water quality in the Indian River Lagoon and the St. Johns River.  We look forward to working with the St. Johns River Water Management District on additional projects to help our lagoon.”

Members of the public, elected official and project partners toured the park’s hiking and biking trails, new steel foot bridge and waterfront vistas. Micco WMA is located at 8890 Fleming Grant Road, on the south side of Micco Road.

Visit the district’s website for maps and information about Micco WMA.