Kayak among the numerous islands of the beautiful Indian River Lagoon, the most diverse estuary in North America! Wide expanses of grass flats surround these islands creating a habitat enriched with numerous fish, crabs, stingrays, dolphin, manatee, birds, and more! Explore quiet trails that wind through the mangrove forests. Sandy beaches invite exploration and provide an ideal spot for a gourmet lunch or dinner.The Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge is located here.Join us for a few hours of exploration or spend a night or two or more!, camping.We are your local experts for tours of the lagoon. Your naturalist guide can open a new window to understanding this amazing ecosystem.

The diversity of life, paired with beautiful scenery, make kayaking this area a must for vacationers and residents alike. Paddle the still mangrove backwaters as osprey soar overhead- perhaps carrying a freshly caught mullet. Cross expansive grassflats and perhaps see the lagoon's top predator- the dolphin- working the flats. Mangroves and seagrass beds create an environment very conducive to the marine life that support the osprey and dolphin, along with many other animals. More than 4000 animal and plant species, including manatees, stingrays, sea turtles, seahorses, 700 species of fish and 310 species of birds call the Indian River Lagoon "home".

The Indian River Lagoon is located on the east coast of central Florida. It stretches 156 miles from Ponce DeLeon Inlet south to Jupiter Inlet.Width varies from 1/2 mile to 5 miles.The lagoon is an estuary, a body of water where fresh water draining from the mainland mixes with the ocean's salt water. Five ocean inlets are the source of salt water for the lagoon. The fresh water supply comes from tributary rivers and creeks.With an average depth of 3 feet, the lagoon waters are best seen by kayak. Watch for a cormorant to surface or a pelican to dive in the vast schools of fish that fill these waters.Thrill to the sight of numerous leaping mullet. The lagoon serves as a spawning ground and nursery for both ocean and lagoon fish.
The Indian River Lagoon is a plant-based ecosystem, comprised of seagrasses, mangroves and algaes. The marine life that depends on these plants for food include zooplanktons, mullet, and manatee. Among the numerous life forms that live in the seagrasses are shrimp,seahorses, marine snails, crabs, and many types of fish. These are food for stingrays, trout, snook, and other predators. The mangroves and seagrasses filter impurities from the water. Mangrove forests line the shores of the lagoon and its islands. Their root systems stabilize the shorelines and provide a nursery environment for crustaceans, fish and shellfish. Oysters and barnacles attach themselves to mangrove roots. These forests provide nesting and roosting sites for pelicans, egrets and a variety of coastal birds.
The lagoon is located on the Atlantic Flyway, a highway for birds migrating south. Great flocks of egrets, ibis, and pelicans can be seen in the fall and spring of the year. Several rookeries give year long opportunities to see a variety of birds nesting, such as brown pelicans, great blue herons, little blue herons, snowy egrets, and woodstorks. You may even see colorful roseate spoonbills! Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge, established in 1903, was the first wildlife refuge in the United States. Also located in the lagoon is the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge.
Nearly one-third of the remaining population of the endangered Florida manatee live in the Indian River Lagoon. At an average length of 12 feet and a weight of over 1000 pounds, this gentle giant is an impressive sight. Commonly refered to as sea cows, manatees spend 6-8 hours a day grazing in the seagrass beds. They consume up to 200 pounds of aquatic plants per day! But they do take time to play and frolic in the water. Manatees can live to 50 years of age. Females give birth to usually one calf every 2-3 years. A newborn manatee weighs about 60 pounds and is about 4 feet long. The calf will remain with its mother for 2 1/2 years.
The Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphin is a common sight in the lagoon. On going studies have identified at least 350 dolphins that live in the lagoon's waters. A plentiful food source and calm, protected waters, in comparison to the ocean, make the lagoon a desirable place for them to live.
Dolphins live in a group called a "pod" with an average of 12 members. They live to around 25 years of age, reach a length of about 8 feet and a weight of 400-500 pounds. The young stay with their mothers 4-5 years. Females can give birth every 2-3 years. The age at which they mature varies. Females mature at 5-12 years of age, and males at 9-13 years of age.

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