Sebastian Inlet facts for kids
Sebastian Inlet is a cool spot in Sebastian Inlet State Park, located in Brevard County, Florida and Indian River County, Florida. It's famous for surfing and fishing! You can find it off State Road A1A, about 12 miles north of Vero Beach. Every year, there are big surf tournaments for both pros and amateurs. People also love to fish here, especially for types of fish called Snook and Redfish.
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History of Sebastian Inlet
Sunken Treasure and Early Attempts
Long ago, in 1715, a Spanish Treasure Fleet sank right in this area! The place where the survivors camped was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1970. Today, you can visit the McLarty Treasure Museum inside the park to see amazing items from the shipwrecks.
People have tried to dig an opening, or "inlet," to the ocean at Sebastian for a very long time. The first known attempt was in 1872 by David Peter Gibson. His "Gibson's Cut" was even on maps by 1880. But it was hard work, and the cut often filled back up with sand.
Over the years, many groups tried to open the inlet. They spent a lot of money and time. For example, in 1891, the St. Sebastian Inlet Association tried, but they didn't succeed. In 1897, a group called The Roseland Inlet Corporation also tried. They even dug part of the way across the island, but they couldn't finish the job.
Why an Inlet Was Needed
By the early 1900s, the water quality in the nearby Indian River Lagoon was getting bad. Algae blooms were harming fish, and oyster populations were disappearing. Many people believed that opening an inlet would let clean ocean water flow in and help clean up the lagoon.
In 1905, a group of people finally managed to open an inlet! It was a big deal for the community. However, their joy didn't last long. The high sand banks kept washing into the new opening, and it quickly filled up with sand again.
The Fight for a Permanent Inlet
The idea of a permanent inlet kept coming up. In 1914, residents asked for money to open the inlet, but some people thought roads were more important. Others worried the inlet would only help the fishing business.
The United States Army Corps of Engineers also had concerns. They worried that a new inlet might cause sand to build up in the East Coast Canal, which they had to keep clear. They also wanted a local tax district to pay for the inlet's upkeep, so federal money wouldn't be needed.
In 1917, a special election was held for people in Brevard County to decide if they wanted to use tax money for the inlet. But the idea lost, mostly because people in the northern part of the county voted against it.
Success at Last
Even after many setbacks, people like Roy Couch kept pushing for the Sebastian Inlet. Food was scarce during World War I, and many families relied on fish from the Indian River.
Finally, in April 1918, the Sebastian Inlet Association was formed. Just two days later, they received a permit to dig the inlet! There were rules, though: if the inlet caused sand to build up in the East Coast Canal, the Association had to clean it up. They also had to put up a $10,000 bond.
Work started quickly. But even after the inlet was opened in 1918, it filled with sand and debris again. Some people, like grove owners and the Florida East Coast Rail Road, were against the inlet. They worried that saltwater from the ocean would harm their freshwater wells or damage the wooden supports of their railroad bridges. Some even tried to block the newly opened inlet with trees and dynamite!
Roy Couch and others didn't give up. They went to Washington, D.C., to get another permit. They also worked to create the Sebastian Inlet Tax District in 1919. This new group could raise money through taxes to keep the inlet open.
In June 1923, the inlet was finally opened for good! In 1924, jetties (long walls) made of coquina rock were built to help keep the inlet open. These didn't last through the first big storm. Later, stronger granite rock was used, and the jetties became a permanent part of the inlet, helping it stay open to this day.
Modern Times
In 1961, the first public telephone booth was put in at Sebastian Inlet. Before that, if there was an emergency on the beach, people had to knock on private homes to ask to use a phone.
In 2010, an unwanted fish called the lionfish was found in the waters here. These fish are not native and can be a threat to the local sea creatures.
