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Page 4 Attachment B: Supporting Research November 24, 2020 Update 2— Research Review Phase of IRL Plan species to re -colonize. Portions have also been re -vegetated with a mixture of native upland and wetland plant species. While removing invasive species and replanting native vegetation is one option, this option can become very expensive with continued monitoring and mass quantities of water needed to ensure viability of these new plants. One alternative option would be to restore the hydroperiod to an island by conducting island scraping and invasive plant removal. St. Lucie County utilized this option as a mitigation project for their spoil island, SL -15, and had very successful results when it came to increased biological diversity and native restoration. However, this option is also very costly and requires numerous studies of various parameters in order to best prepare for project viability and success. Finally, the County should work on promoting and pushing for the designation of IR -26B and IR -37 as Critical Wildlife Areas (CWAs). CWAs are designated by FWC, protected by Florida Administrative Code (FAC), and are closed to public access with the ability for enforcement. These two islands within the County are proven productive and successful rookery locations, including locations for threatened and listed birds, and would benefit from increased protection and regulation. There are various types of large fauna that play an important role as umbrella species for the overall health of the Lagoon and well-being for other organisms. Visitors come from all over to view manatees, dolphins, and sea turtles that utilize the Lagoon, which contributes to the local economy. Dolphins, manatees, and (some species of) turtles are federally protected species. All of these organisms have experienced habitat degradation because of development around the Lagoon. They each face threats from pollutants of emerging concerns, including pollution ranging from antibiotics to thermal pollution. Asa popular boating area, these organisms also can suffer from boat strikes, which is why it is important for boaters to follow speed zones designated throughout the Lagoon. Harmful algal blooms and cold water temperatures also affect these animals, with increased mortality rates correlated to such events. Numerous dolphin populations live in the Lagoon year-round and show site fidelity, which means they typically stay in the portions of the Lagoon throughout their lives, ranging an average of 17 miles. Health differences have been observed in these populations in relation to the portion of the Lagoon they reside, north versus south. Dolphins found in the northern portions of the Lagoon, the Mosquito Lagoon area and Banana River area, are found to have far greater health issues when compared to dolphins in the southern portions of the Lagoon and the St. Lucie Estuary area. Research conducted recently studied how diseases affecting dolphins are related to potential environmental stressors, such as harmful algal blooms, and how they serve as an early warning system of changes that could affect animal and human health. This study began in 2003 and was a collaborative effort between Florida Atlantic University (FAU) Harbor Branch, Georgia Aquarium, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Ocean Service Center for Coastal Environmental Health and Biomolecular Research. This study is known as the Health and Environmental Risk Assessment (HERA). Another concern for these populations is connected to contaminants of emerging concern. These contaminants do not have assigned regulatory standards and have recently been "discovered" in waters because of improved testing methods. While they may not be new contaminants, their impacts and significance are only now being studied because they were not part of routine monitoring parameters. A recent study conducted by FAU found that of 733 tissue samples taken from dolphins in the Lagoon, 88% were found to contain bacteria resistant to at least one antibiotic, with the most common being erythromycin, which is a drug used in human and veterinary 105