The planning and approval process for the West Viera expansion as a DRI (Development of Regional Impact) is a complex endeavor. Planning a community, which involves so many aspects and details, requires a great deal of thought and discussion with a variety of interests. That is why The Viera Company has made a concerted effort to meet with individuals, agencies and others who have a particular concern about the plan. Over the past several months we have had productive meetings with those whose interest is the environmental aspects of the plan, as well as Brevard County staff to discuss transportation issues related to the plan. The Viera Company remains committed to ongoing conversations with these individuals and others to try and find common ground so that the project meets the short- and long-term needs of the Viera community and its Brevard County neighbors.
The Viera Wilderness Park and a Plan for Habitat Management
The cornerstone of the conservation strategy for the West Viera Expansion Area lies with the creation of the Viera Wilderness Park.
The wilderness park combines preservation of natural habitats and protection of agricultural lands that together comprise over 5,112 acres, or 44 percent of the proposed expansion area. The wilderness park buffers the proposed development of West Viera from the adjacent River Lakes Conservation Area, protects the St. Johns River floodplain, preserves and enhances high quality upland and wetland systems, and most importantly, protects wetlands and listed species habitat.
The land contained in the Viera Wilderness Park includes a diverse collection of natural communities such as pine flatwoods, live oak and cabbage palm hammocks, and wet prairie. These natural features of the land, as well as areas of improved pasture, provide important habitat for state- and federally-protected species of wildlife, including the bald eagle, Florida sandhill crane, gopher tortoise, burrowing owl, and Audubon’s crested caracara.
If the Viera Wilderness Park is the place where land is preserved, then the Habitat Management Plan is the strategy that will direct all future activities within the wilderness park. The Habitat Management Plan establishes specific actions, procedures and guidelines for the management of the park’s ecosystems and listed species. Long-term management actions include:
1) Resource protection for listed species and natural ecosystems
2) Prescribed burns
3) Vegetation management
4) Wetland enhancement
5) Cattle grazing
6) Monitoring of vegetative and listed wildlife species
7) Community outreach and collaboration through education, volunteerism, and the sharing of knowledge, resources, and cooperation with natural resource agencies
The Habitat Management Plan will adapt to new science and changing environmental conditions over time to maintain the unique ecological assets of the Viera Wilderness Park, creating a regional conservation asset that will be protected and managed for generations to come.
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