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The History of the Sebastian Inlet
In 1872, Captain David P. Gibson promoted a movement to dig an inlet on a strip of barrier island near
present day Sebastian Inlet. At that time, the barrier island at the site of the proposed cut was
approximately 260 feet wide. Six efforts to open the inlet took place from 1901 to 1915 with sand
washing into the inlet as soon as it was excavated. In 1905 a figure arrived in Brevard County whose
name is synonymous with the Sebastian Inlet, Roy O. Couch. Mr. Couch invested a great deal of his
own money and raised money from private individuals and formed the Sebastian Inlet Association.
With Mr. Couch's persistent lobbying with the legislature and the Army Corps of Engineers and the
formation of the Sebastian Inlet Association, a permit was finally issued by the War Department in
April of 1918 and the seventh effort to open the inlet began. The permit expired in December of 1918,
giving the dredgers a very short time frame to complete the work. The impossible time frame in which
to accomplish the work led Mr. Couch and several other prominent businessmen to Tallahassee to push
through a bill for the land that surrounded the inlet to be encompassed into a local taxing district.
In 1919 the Florida Legislature created the Sebastian Inlet District.
In 1924, the Sebastian Inlet was opened at its current location and small jetties were completed.
In 1939, Approximately 72,000 cubic yards of sediment are removed from the inlet at a cost of $6,000.
In 1941 the Inlet
closed due to a northeaster. For safety reasons, it was left closed during World War II, then permanently blasted open
in 1947 and has remained open since.
1950's - Throughout the 1950's, several maintenance dredging projects were completed to deepen and
widen the inlet channel. New construction extended both the north and south jetties.
1960's - The Back Bay navigation channel is dredged and the inlet sand trap is excavated to capture
sand that would otherwise cause shoaling.
1970's - North and South jetties are extended further, the sand trap is blasted deeper and sand
is dredged and placed on the downdrift beach to counter erosion.
1980's - Several dredging events occurred placing over 200,00 cubic yards of sand on the south
beach. Sand is stockpiled on Coconut Point and truck hauled to the beach.
1990's - In addition to maintenance dredging events, taking sand from the inlet trap and channel
and placing on the downdrift beach, a number of studies and monitoring projects were conducted at
the inlet. Engineering assessments of jetties, geotechnical evaluation of sand trap and shoals,
and biological studies focusing on sea turtles, seagrass and reefs were conducted. Over 800,000
cubic yards of sand were placed on the downdrift beaches. State permit received in 1996 for
dredging the navigation channel extension to the ICW, however, Federal permits denied due to
presence of protected seagrass.
2000 - Present - Over 300,000 cubic yards of sand placed on downdrift beaches. Major renovation
of North jetty completed with elevated concrete cap, handrails and grate system. Jetties survived
2004 and 2005 hurricanes without significant damage. Navigation channel temporarily reoriented to
southwest with buoy channel markers due to shoaling at west end of channel. Permanent piling markers
placed in inlet throat to better define channel and manatee slow speed zone. State and Federal Permits
received to dredge the connection from the Inlet to the ICW. Dredging completed and navigation
markers installed July, 2007.
We invite you to learn more by touring the interactive timeline feature
below. Enjoy a decade by decade history of the Sebastian Inlet.
Interactive Timeline (Click on the dates below for visuals and description.)
1918
1922
1923
1925
1926
1933
1940
1944
1947
1948
1948
1950's
1960's
1970's
1980's
1990's
2000- Present
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| © 2004-2008 Sebastian Inlet District Commission · 114 Sixth Avenue · Indialantic, Florida 32903 |
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