IRLNEP Strategic Priorities

 

LOOKING AT THE FULL SCOPE OF THE IRL, the Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program (IRLNEP) works to ensure the IRL is the healthy heart of connection between six counties, 38 cities, 1.6 million people, an economy valued at $7.6 billion annually, and more than 40% of Florida’s East coast.

One Lagoon Logo IRLNEPThis Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program publication was developed under Assistant Agreement No. 00D36215 awarded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

 

 

The Next Ten Years-Duane De Freese(Oct 2025)

  1. Research new approaches that improve restoration practices, community infrastructure, economic development, workforce development, and innovative approaches to financing estuary restoration and stewardship. Science matters.
  2. Rebuild aging and inadequate wastewater, stormwater and transportation infrastructure.
  3. Reduce nutrient pollution, sediments, and other pollutant loads from entering the lagoon from land-based sources including high velocity/high volume freshwater discharges that disrupt natural estuarine salinity regimes.
  4. Remove high-nutrient muck deposits that impact sediment health and water clarity. Where possible, remove obstructions to natural IRL water flow and patterns.
  5. Restore water quality, natural habitats and species diversity that has been lost or diminished.
  6. Respond to new scientific knowledge, technological advances, changing conditions, and innovative approaches that improve restoration outcomes, efficiencies, and decrease costs.
  7. Report current conditions, trends, discoveries, progress, and failures to our communities to keep the lagoon community well-informed and connected.
  8. Resolve to solve existing problems and avoid creating new problems. The challenges facing IRL restoration are large, complex, and expensive. There is no single quick and easy fix.
  9. Responsibility for the health of the lagoon is everyone’s business.
  10. Resilience of our human-built and natural infrastructure is achieved by planning for emergencies and unforeseen events. This includes integrating vulnerability considerations as communities prepare for and respond to storms, flooding and catastrophic events.

The above actions to return the lagoon to health require adequate, recurring, and stable financial investments with a clear understanding of cost-benefits and the return on investment provided by a heathy environment and vibrant regional economy.

Source

Read the IRL Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan looking ahead to 2030 and beyond.

 

 

 

IRLNEP Goals:

1. Attain and maintain water and sediment of sufficient quality to support a healthy
estuarine ecosystem.

2. Attain and maintain a functioning, healthy ecosystem which supports endangered
and threatened species, fisheries, commerce and recreation.

3. Achieve heightened public awareness and coordinated inter-agency management
of the Indian River Lagoon ecosystem.

4. Identify and develop long-term funding sources for prioritized projects and programs
to preserve, protect, restore and enhance the Indian River Lagoon.