INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — The loss of habitat and shortages in staffing and funding are just some of the challenges facing the nation's first wildlife sanctuary.

Finding solutions to such problems is a top priority of Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge officials, who have drawn up a draft management plan for the more than 5,000-acre refuge west of State Road A1A between Sebastian Inlet and County Road 510.

The draft plan later will be the basis for a 15-year management plan for the refuge, which is overseen by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The final plan will act as a guide by listing the refuge's needs and including possible solutions to problems, such as the loss of habitat because of development and other human activities.

For example, the namesake of Pelican Island was 5.5 acres in 1903, when President Theodore Roosevelt named it the nation's first refuge. Over time, the island shrunk to about half that size, in large part because of erosion from waves caused by boaters in the Indian River Lagoon. Recent shoreline restoration projects have increased the island to about 2.8 acres.

In the draft plan, refuge officials cite reasons why more protection of the island is needed. In 1910, about 5,000 nesting pairs of brown pelicans were counted during the peak nesting season. Last year, 47 nesting pairs were counted, according to refuge information.

The draft plan lists some possible island protection strategies, such as adding broken shells and additional vegetation to existing buffer areas, and designating slow speed areas around the island.

And it calls for an 11-member refuge staff.

"Funding and staffing shortages continue to limit the (Fish and Wildlife) Service's ability to protect resources, and to provide the best quality experiences to the public," Service officials wrote in the draft plan.

Refuge Manager Paul Tritaik recently said the refuge's biologist, biologist technician and administrative assistant left for other jobs since last December. That left himself, an assistant manager and a refuge ranger, and each of them also work for the nearby Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge.

Filling the three vacant positions alone might be difficult, said Tritaik, citing a declining operating budget.- tony.judnich@scripps.com

Managing the refuge

Until Sept. 26, U.S. Fish and Wildlife is accepting public comments on the draft version of its 15-year management plan for the Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge.

• To view a copy of the proposed plan, visit the Indian River County libraries, at 1600 21st St., Vero Beach, or 1001 County Road 512, Sebastian. Copies also are available at http://www.fws.gov/southeast/planning//, or request a copy by calling the refuge at (772) 562-3909 ext. 275.

• To make comments, write to Pelican Island CCP, P.O. Box 6504, Titusville, FL 32782-6504, or send an e-mail to PelicanIslandCCP@fws.gov. Include your name and address with submitted comments.

• Direct questions about the plan to Refuge Manager Paul Tritaik, at (772) 562-3909, ext. 244, or by e-mail to Paul_Tritaik@fws.gov, or to Cheri Ehrhardt, Natural Resource Planner, at (321) 861-2368, or by e-mail to PelicanIslandCCP@fws.gov.

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