Our Mission

The mission of the Friends of St. Sebastian River is to maintain and improve the health and beauty of the St. Sebastian River and its watershed.

The Friends of St. Sebastian River is a 501(c)3, non-profit organization, governed by an independent Board of Directors elected by the general membership. The following are the goals of the organization, as established by our Articles of Incorporation and the Board:

• To promote and protect the environment and recreational opportunities of the St. Sebastian River and tributaries.
• To promote public education and awareness . . . and encourage an attitude of conservation.
• To protect wildlife . . . and support effective manatee protection.
• To improve water quality, working to eliminate point and non-point sources of pollution . . . and stormwater runoff.
• To promote safe boating practices . . . and compatible uses.
• To support the restoration and preservation of the St. Sebastian River and tributaries to their natural state.
• To participate and cooperate with agencies and organizations protecting the St. Sebastian River basin through such programs as the Surface Water Improvement and Management (SWIM), Florida Yards and Neighborhoods (FYN) and the Marine Resources Council (MRC).

    . . . is one of the few remaining coastal rivers in East Florida which has not been heavily developed. It is home to a wide variety of wildlife, including several endangered species. Eagles, otters, dolphins, woodstorks, alligators, and several kinds of wading birds can be observed along the river. The upland area includes habitat for other rare creatures, including the Gopher Tortoise and Florida Scrub Jay. The river is home to many game fish such as tarpon and snook, and a few rare and endemic fish species.
    Endangered West Indian Manatees can be found here at any season, and the river is a year-round designated slow speed zone. At times, over one hundred manatees congregate in the St. Sebastian River. Recognizing the river's importance to the survival of the manatee as a species, the State of Florida has purchased large pieces of property with shoreline and uplands along the river.
    The winding river is perfect for canoeing and fishing. In some places, the untouched shoreline offers a view of wild Florida as it used to be. Guided tours are available by canoe, kayak or powerboat. There are public parks and boat ramps.
    As population increases, we will need to take special care of this beautiful resource. In spite of its beauty, there are problems. Water quality must be improved. Discharge of excess freshwater and nutrients from development and agricultural lands is a major concern. Manatees and other endangered species need better protection.
    The Friends of St. Sebastian River has become an effective voice for conservation. With broad community support, we hope to take good care of our river and protect it for future generations to enjoy.

    There has been a great deal of recent discussion about the name of our river. Most people when they arrive here are told that it is the Sebastian River. However, the official name of our river is the St. Sebastian River. George Keyes has researched this subject, and on December 21, 1988, the U.S. Board of Geographic Names approved "the names Saint Sebastian River, North Prong Saint Sebastian River and South Prong Saint Sebastian River." Here is the information he submitted to obtain this ruling:

    This historical name of our river is described by Bernard Romans, cartographer for King George III, in his book, A Concise Natural History of East and West Florida, "the shore stretches nearly south, to opposite the mouth of the Saint Sebastian River in lat. 27° 56"... in the lagoon and sound many streams of fine fresh water empty themselves; the principal are the rivers St. Sebastian and St. Lucia as the map showes (sic). Romans' 1774 map shows the river as the San Sebastian River."
    Don Andres Burgevin surveyed the 20,000 acres of the Fleming Grant for the Captain of the Spanish Militia, Don George Fleming, by decree of the Spanish Government, made June 8, 1819. The entrance to the grant is shown as the St. Sebastian River.
    From the book Observations Upon the Floridas by Charles Vignoles, published in 1823, we find the river mentioned, "Five miles below the mouth of the St. Sebastian river (sic), distant altogether eighteen miles from the south end of Meritt's (sic) island, and distinguished by a high red sand bluff on the south point of entrance, the stream like the preceding ones has pine lands alone on its banks, etc."
    James Gasden surveyed for a road from St. Augustine to Cape Florida for the U.S. Army along the east coast in 1825. In his report to the Quartermaster General he mentions the names of the principal rivers as obstructions to the opening of a road; on the list is the St. Sebastian. He also mentions that a ferry would be necessary on the St. Sebastian River as it was not fordable.
    During the Second Seminole War, Lt. Powell of the Navy, attached to the 1st Reg. of Artillery under the command of Lt. Col. Benjamin Pierce, was ordered down the Indian River with 33 small light boats with two hundred men, with a mixed group of soldiers, sailors and volunteers. On Dec. 28, 1837, they camped on a high oak bluff on the north bank of the St. Sebastian River where they were to ascend at night looking for indians (sic).
    Following the Third Seminole War, often called the Bowlegs War, we found that Andrew Canova, discharged from the Florida Volunteers, had built a thatched hut near the mouth of the St. Sebastian River where he lived with Ed. (sic) Marr for three years until he went to St. Augustine to join the Confederate Army in 1861.
    Dr. James Henshall from Cynthia, Ky, made three trips to our local river during the years of 1879-1881, in his book Camping and Cruising in Florida he states, "the St. Sebastian from its mouth to this point is from a fourth to one half mile in width, and a mile long. Here it seperates (sic) into the North, West and South Prongs."
    In 1889, Dr. Frank Chapman, from the American Museum of Natural History, ascended the South Prong to the headwaters of the St. Sebastian River while on a search for Carolina Paroquets. We find Chapman's description of the river from a paper read (sic) 1 November 1889. "The St. Sebastian River is a beautiful river; no words of mine can adequately describe it. Half mile wide at its mouth, it narrows rapidly, and three miles above appears as a mere stream, etc.
    Sylvanus Kitching wrote to his friend in England on Feb.11, 1898, "Yesterday a party of over twenty of us went out on the St. Sebastian River on a fishing picnic."
    When Indian River County was formed in an Act of the Legislature, Session 1925, Chapter 10148 (no.126), Approved May 30, 1925, some of the description reads in part, "line intersects the medial line of the South fork of the St. Sebastian River; thence Northerly down the middle of said stream to the main stream of the St. Sebastian River; thence down the middle of the St. Sebastian River to its confluence with the Indian River, etc."
    After the Sebastian Area Historical Society was founded in 1985 we found a variety of names had been in use for our local river. Some were Sebastian Creek, St. Sebastian Creek, Sebastian River, San Sebastian River, San Sebastian Bay, and St. Sebastian River. On Nov. 1, 1988, the historical society filed a request with the United States Department of Interior, Board of Geographic Names for a correction to restore the original historic name St. Sebastian River, located in Latitude 27°, 15" and Longitude 80° 29'29"W.
    The society received a reply from the Board on Nov.15, 1988 which states "This will acknowledge your proposal to have the name Saint Sebastian River made official for Federal maps and other publications. This proposal has been submitted to the Board on Geographic Names by the National Ocean Service, and the name is on the docket for Board consideration."
    On Dec.21, 1988, a letter was sent to the society from the United States Board on Geographic Names which states, "We are pleased to inform you that the Board on Geographic Names, at its Dec. 8, 1988 meeting, approved the names Saint Sebastian River, North Prong Saint Sebastian River and South Prong Saint Sebastian River. These names will be published in Decision List 8804."
    On Sept.18, 1989, the Indian River County Board of County Commissioners approved the corrected name St. Sebastian River. In November 1993 Indian River County, through the efforts of the Friends of the (sic) St. Sebastian River, placed signs at both ends of the bridge on CR 512 which indicate South Prong St. Sebastian River.
    The Intracoastal Waterway chart #11472, published by the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Ocean Service, corrected in 1991, now records the Saint Sebastian River instead of the old designation Sebastian Creek. The signs on the US 1 bridge over the same body of water remained Sebastian River until about 1994 when the Florida Department of Transportation changed the signs to read St. Sebastian River.
    Dolph Map Co. of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, corrected their road maps in 1991 to read St. Sebastian River. Dolph Map Co. now does the printing for Rand McNalley (sic).

George Keyes, Sebastian Area Historical Society

  Awards Presented

  George Schum Memorial Award

  Environmental Enhancement Award

1. Landscaping
1. Using environmentally friendly plants
2. Pest plant removal
2. Water quality projects
1. Storm water runoff control
2. Muck removal
3. Pollution reduction - fertilizer and other chemicals, installation of sewers, etc.
3. Open land conservation
1. Donation or purchase of conservation easement
4. Erosion control
1. Planting of appropriate plants along vulnerable areas

  Awards Received

Appreciation of Contribution, May 17, 2001
Sebastian Elementary School
"Hand-on-Habitat" Environmental Group

"Academy of Stars 2001", May 15, 2001
Indian River County School District

Certificate of Appreciation, December 19, 1995
Sebastian River Chamber of Commerce
1995 Winter Wonderland Activities

Indian River County Commission Proclamation, May 16, 1995
Shoreline enhancement work - Donald MacDonald Park, Sebastian

Eleanor Kleckner Memorial Conservationists of the Year, 1995
Pelican Island Audubon Society