The BIRLC was formed in the early 2000s as an informal organization to support and enable the community to push to enact the necessary fertilizer ordinances throughout all of Brevard County to help sustain the Indian River Lagoon.

With little to no attention or public outcry following the algal blooms in early 2016 that resulted in the March 2016 fish kill, Melbourne resident Spence Guerin led the efforts to establish a citizen-led coalition to save the Indian River Lagoon.