Viera Wetlands

Located between the Moccasin Island Tract of the River Lakes Conservation Area and the Brevard Zoo, the Viera Wetlands are popular among birders, photographers, and eco-tourists. Natural Resources Management Department staff, assisted by members of the Viera Wetlands Volunteer Program, provide land management for this constructed treatment wetland system belonging to Brevard County Utility Services. The Viera Wetlands consist of the larger Ritch Grissom Memorial Wetlands at Viera and nearby Storage Ponds.

When weather conditions permit, the Ritch Grissom Memorial Wetlands are accessible by automobile, making the site popular among those who find the rigors of hiking trails and summer temperatures daunting. Even better, viewing from the comfort and safety of an automobile screens visitors from the view of birds and wildlife, enhancing the experience.

Due to safety concerns, the Storage Ponds are open to the public only occasionally, and only when accompanied by County staff or authorized volunteers. The Ritch Grissom Memorial Wetlands are open during posted hours even when vehicle access is limited by wet road conditions.  Volunteers maintain a Road Hotline with current vehicular access information: (321) 255-4488 

Ritch Grissom Wetlands

The Board of County Commissioners designated the South Central Regional Water Reclamation Facility's constructed treatment wetlands as the Ritch Grissom Memorial Wetlands at Viera in December, 2007, in memory of Ritch Grissom, a longtime employee of Brevard County who worked at the adjacent treatment facility.

In 2008, the Ritch Grissom Memorial Wetlands were included in the East Section of the Great Florida Birding Trail.

In 2014, the access road leading to the entrance of the Ritch Grissom Memorial Wetlands was named in honor of the late Charlie Corbeil, long-time volunteer at the site.

Approximately 210,000 visitors/year pass through the main entrance to the constructed treatment wetland system, many drawn by the site's breathtaking views and stunning abundance of wildlife.

The treatment wetlands are an integral component of Brevard County's water reuse system. Providing increased water quality and savings over traditional water treatment methods, the constructed wetland system polishes reclaimed water for irrigation or overflow into the adjacent Four-mile Canal.

The treatment wetlands consist of 200 acres divided into four cells of approximately 35 acres each, plus a central lake. The cells were designed to maintain differing depths of water, reflecting diverse wetland conditions.

A special mitigation littoral zone along the lake's shoreline is carefully monitored to assess wetland health and wildlife utilization. While functioning as a healthy, productive, and effective polishing system for water reuse, the wetlands further provide for a biologically diverse ecosystem — affording visitors a wonderful, close-up opportunity to view Brevard County's native wildlife and vegetation.

In November 2006, Brevard County Natural Resource Management Department was awarded an $11,004.00 educational grant by the Florida Wildflower Foundation, Inc. to demonstrate the use of wildflowers along the banks of lakes, ponds, and similar freshwater settings. The funds were provided through the sale of Florida Wildflower License Plates, featuring the state wildflower, the coreopsis.

The wetlands were selected as the site for this project due to their unique setting and popularity as a birding and eco-tourism destination. The entire wetlands central lake perimeter, approximately one mile of shoreline, was seeded with Florida wildflower species.

A covered gazebo surrounded by a butterfly garden and demonstration rain barrel system were funded through the grant, and overlook the central lake.