Domestic
Wastewater to Wetlands Program
BCUD's Viera Wetlands
Located near Melborne, Florida, the Viera Wetlands are a popular site for
birders, photographers, and eco-tourists.
Brevard
County operates a 5.5 MGD Bardenpho activated sludge advanced wastewater
treatment plant, consisting of anaerobic tanks, anoxic tanks, extended
oxidation ditches, re-aeration tanks and chlarifyers with return activated
sludge. The constructed wetland system further polishes reclaimed water
for on-site irrigation or overflow into the adjacent Four-mile Canal. The
capacity of the wetland is 2.5 MGD with influent characteristics of 0.3
mg/L of Total Phosphourus and 3.0 mg/L Total Nitrogen. The wetlands reduce
the Total Phosphourous down to around 0.10 mg/L.
The wetlands consist of 200 acres divided into four cells of approximately
35 acres each, plus a central lake. (View larger, printable map - pdf)
The cells were designed to maintain differing depths of water, supporting
a diversity of wetland species. Cells 1 and 2 were planted with Fragrant
Water Lily, Giant and Soft Stem Bulrushes, and Spatterdock. Cells 3 and 4
were planted with a wider variety such as Arrowhead, Blue Flag, Bushy
Pondweed, Coontail, Duck Potato, Fire Flag, Pickerelweed, Sawgrass,
Spikerush, Soft-Stem Bulrush and Wild Rice. The edges of the central lake
hold Sawgrass, Buttonbush, Pickerelweed, Spikerush, Spatterdock, Cordgrass
and Softrush as well as Fragrant Water Lily in the deeper zones. Along the
edes of the berms and on the various islands in the wetland many wetland
tree and shrub species were planted, such as Bald Cypress, Buttonbush,
Carolinsa Ash, Coco Plum, Dahoon Holly, Hackberry, Leather and Royal Fern,
Loblolly and Sweet Bay, Red Cedar, Red Maple, Pond Apple, Pond and Slash
Pine, Swamp Tupelo, and Wild Coffee.
Visitor Information
Approximately 60,000 visitors per year pass through the main entrance to
the wetland system — many drawn by the site's stunning abundance of
waterfowl and wildlife such as those listed below. The site is easily
traversed by its almost 4 miles of perimeter berm trails. Along these
trails you may spot such critters as:
- Bald Eagle
- Great Blue Heron
- Crested Caracara
- Snowy Egret
- Great Egret
- Little Blue Heron
- Green Heron
- Blue-Winged Teal
- Mottled Duck
- Common Coot
- Marsh Hen
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- American Alligator
- Peninsula Cooter
- Florida Cooter
- Florida Red-Bellied Turtle
- Smooth Softshell Turtle
- Green Anole
- Brown Anole
- Southern Toad
- Bullfrog
- Pig Frog
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- Green Tree Frog
- Squirrel Tree Frog
- Southern Leopard Frog
- River Otter
- Virginia Opossom
- Nine Banded Armadillo
- Raccoon
- White Tail Deer
- Wild Hog
- Marsh Rabbit
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Location: 10001 Wickham Road - Melbourne, FL 32940
Hours: Monday through Sunday – Sunrise to Sunset
For Wetlands Information Call: 321-637-5521
Driving Directions:
The Viera Wetlands are located approximately two miles west of the
traffic circle at the intersection of Wickham Road and Lake Andrew
Drive. Visitors traveling on I-95 should take Exit 191 heading west
approximately 2.5 miles.
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