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Legislative Priorities And The County's Position L 1. Indian River Lagoon Background: The 156 -mile -long Indian River Lagoon ("Lagoon") is one of the most biodiverse ecosystems in the nation and is a treasure for the State of Florida. The Lagoon provides an economic benefit by promoting tourism and creating recreational opportunities for residents. The Lagoon is also an important element in the protection of our environment, including endangered and protected plant and animal populations. As guardian of 22 miles of the Lagoon, Indian River County ("County") has been a pioneer for the development and deployment of new water quality technologies. Using a mixture of Optional Sales Tax, Utilities funds, and grant funding, the County has invested over $29 million dollars on four infrastructure projects aimed at improv- ing the health of the Lagoon. Collectively, the County's projects have removed over 128,000 pounds of Total Nitrogen and over 29,000 pounds of Total Phosphorus from canals which lead to the Lagoon. The County hopes to continue its partnership with the State of Florida on future ventures that will reduce the nutrient load in the Lagoon so future generations can enjoy this natural wonder. Although no specific legislation concerning the Indian River Lagoon was passed by the Florida Legisla- ture, the Florida Legislature did allocate $682.6 million for water quality restoration. This includes $500,000 for the Indian River County North Sebastian Septic to Sewer Phase II project and $650,000 for the Indian River County North Relief Canal Aquatic Plant Project. 81 2