Viera Wetlands > February 2011

Michael W. Masters grayfox65@cox.net

Image Thumbnails

The Ritch Grissom Memorial Wetlands at Viera, AKA Brevard County's South Central Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant -- more commonly know to photographers as Viera Wetlands -- is one of several wastewater treatment sites along Florida’s east coast that is set up for photographers.  However, unlike Wakodahatchee and Green Cay further to the south, which are walk-in only, Viera is set up for vehicle drive-through.  This makes all the difference in the world.  One can carry a full kit in one’s car and cruise the ponds until one finds a good subject, then exit and set up at leisure.  At the end of the day one is not beat down from lugging around a big birding rig all day. There are a total of five pools at the Wetlands, each of which is quite large, providing plenty of opportunities to select a proper sun angle for photography, both morning and afternoon.  Further, across the road to the north lies two additional settling pools that attracts additional wildlife.  During a two day stay I encountered anhingas, coots, moorhens, hooded mergansers, mallards, ring-necked ducks, glossy ibises, limpkins, sandhill cranes, wood storks, white pelicans, cattle egrets, great egrets, and tricolor herons, all in addition to the occasional alligator sunning itself on the bank. Located north of Melbourne, Viera’s proximity to Merritt Island NWR, near Titusville 30 miles north, makes Viera Wetlands a great place to set up camp and stay awhile.

§