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Comprehensive Plan Conservation Element o Indian River Lagoon Between 1996 and 2007, Indian River Lagoon water quality remained fairly constant. Within the lagoon, water quality is measured at various points. At each point, water quality generally fluctuates within established ranges. Recently, water quality at several water monitoring stations showed improvement. This improvement may be the result of several recent water quality projects, including muck dredging in the St. Sebastian River; construction of sub -regional stormwater treatment facilities in Vero Lake Estates, Gifford and Roseland; and improved sedimentation and erosion control practices through County implementation of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Act. Once completed, several projects that are currently under construction will contribute even more to water quality improvement. These projects include the Egret Marsh and Spoonbill Marsh water treatment projects, as well as the Main Relief Canal Pollution Control Facility. In 1996, the portion of the Indian River Lagoon from approximately Grand Harbor south to the south county line was a "Class III" waterbody. In 2008, the portion of the lagoon from the northern tip of Round Island south to the south county line was upgraded to a "Class 11" waterbody. At the same time, water quality was downgraded from "Class II" to "Class III" from the North Relief Canal south to the northern limits of the city of Vero Beach. The slight increase in water quality in the lagoon indicates that water quality improvement projects are having a positive effect. For that reason, the County should consider construction of pollution control facilities in the North and South Relief canals, using series screening methodology similar to the Main Relief canal project. In that vein, the County should continue its policy of seeking funds through Section 319 Grants, Snook Tag grants, the Surface Water Improvement Management (SWIM) program, and other funding sources for stormwater management and pollution control projects that benefit lagoon water quality. In the future, the County should analyze water quality measurements taken throughout the Indian River Lagoon to assess the specific effects that water improvement projects are having. Going forward, the county should work with other agencies, not only to monitor water quality results, but also to identifij new water quality improvement project sites. In 1990, the County adopted land development regulations requiring shoreline protection buffers along the St. Sebastian River and along the aquatic preserves in the Indian River Lagoon. The regulations prohibit development, excepti for docks, boat ramps, pervious walkways and elevated walkways which provide riparian access for landowners, within the protection buffers. Since 1990, the shoreline buffers have been applied to all parcels along the rivers, even those parcels that are platted lots with seawalls and no pre-existing shoreline vegetation. In the future, the County should continue its policy of requiring shoreline protection buffers, but should consider exempting existing platted lots with seawalls from the requirement, since applying the buffer in such circumstances does not serve the intent of the regulation. Community Development Department Indian River County 96