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H501 SE Port St Lucie Blvd, Suite 101
<br /> Port St Lucie, Florida 34984
<br /> E N G-7' 1 N E E RS I N C _ Ph (772) 249-0733. Fax (772) 220-7881
<br /> CIVILIZATION ENGINEERED
<br /> INDIAN RIVER LAGOON WORKING GROUP
<br /> July 16, 2013
<br /> PROJECT UNDERSTANDING
<br /> The Indian River Lagoon is North America's most diverse estuary with more than 4,300 species of
<br /> plants (2,100) and animals (2,200), including 35 that are listed on either the threatened or endangered
<br /> species list, more than any other estuary in North America. The Lagoon varies in width from .5 to 5
<br /> miles (0.80 to 8.0 km) and averages 4 feet (1.2 m) in depth. It is nearly 156 miles (251 km) long,
<br /> extending from Ponce de Leon Inlet in Volusia County, to Jupiter Inlet in Palm Beach County.
<br /> The Lagoon serves as a spawning and nursery ground for many different species of oceanic and
<br /> Lagoon fish and shellfish. The Lagoon also maintains one of the most diverse bird populations
<br /> anywhere in America. Lastly, it provides refuge for nearly 30% of the nation's manatee population,
<br /> which migrates through the Lagoon seasonally.
<br /> In 2007, concerns were raised about the future of the Lagoon system, especially where frequent
<br /> freshwater discharges seriously threaten water quality (decreasing the salinity needed by many fish and
<br /> plant species) and contribute to large algae blooms (water heavily saturated with nutrients promotes the
<br /> algae blooms). In 2010, annual nutrient loads into the Lagoon were been quantified at 3,300,000
<br /> pounds (1,500,000 kg) of nitrogen and 475,000 pounds (215,000 kg) of phosphorus.
<br /> In 2011, a superbloom of phytoplankton resulted in the loss of 32,000 acres (13,000 ha) and by 2012,
<br /> 47,000 acres (19,000 ha), or 60% of Lagoon seagrass had died off compared to the 2010 inventory.
<br /> Nearly a third of all seagrass losses, 12,000 acres, have been within Indian River County. The
<br /> seagrass is considered a critical component to the overall health of the Lagoon, as it provides the
<br /> foundation for much of the aquatic life in the Lagoon. In 2012, a brown tide bloom fouled the northern
<br /> Lagoon. This caused immediate alarm in the scientific and general communities. Not only was the
<br /> foundation of the ecosystem at risk of collapse, but the seagrass die off also threatened the $3.7 billion
<br /> the Lagoon generates for local economies annually.
<br /> In response to public outcry, Commissioner Tim Zorc of Indian River County hosted the Indian River
<br /> Lagoon Symposium on March 26, 2013. The symposium was a multi-institutional, multi-agency forum
<br /> discussing science and the health of the Indian River Lagoon. The symposium was open to scientists,
<br /> decision makers, students, education and outreach professionals, and the interested public. The intent
<br /> was to help facilitate better communication among these groups so that the gaps between research, its
<br /> coordination, and its application can be narrowed.
<br /> One of the most significant needs identified during the symposium was one for unified and coordinated
<br /> effort when considering options to restore appropriate environmental conditions within the Lagoon.
<br /> Therefore, in efforts to efficiently expedite private and publicly funded Lagoon restoration efforts
<br /> between the Sebastian and Fort Pierce Inlets, primarily within Indian River County, an assembly of 20
<br /> stakeholders has been created. These 20 stakeholders will be tasked with the goal of identifying
<br /> restoration targets for this portion of the Lagoon, evaluating various regulatory, technological, and
<br /> Melbourne Port St Lucie „ Stuart Tallahassee
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