(Brevardfl.gov, Sept 2020) The massive 3-phase Cone Road Septic-To-Sewer project is designed to stop pollution in the Indian River Lagoon from nearby septic tanks. A report on the status of the project was a topic at the September Citizen’s Oversight Committee meeting. The 12 minute discussion reviews the stages of construction with interesting before and…
(www.brevardfl.gov, Sept 11, 2020) BREVARD COUNTY, FL. – Cloud coverage and algae blooms in the Indian River Lagoon pose an elevated risk for fish kills, but Mother Nature could generate winds and rain this weekend that could help offset a potential crisis similar to one the County experienced in 2016 and 2018, according to Brevard County…
(www.Nature.com/Scientific Reports, Sept 2020) Weather – heat & rain – can worsen conditions in the Lagoon, making our actions even more important. According to Dr. Duane De Freese of the National Estuary Program: Not good news for the Indian River Lagoon. La Niña conditions may influence the current Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) conditions in Brevard…
(SpaceCoastDaily.com, Sept 8,2020) According to the Sea Turtle Preservation society (seaturtlespacecoast.org), the Indian River Lagoon is a developmental foraging habitat for juvenile loggerhead and green sea turtles. You may encounter loggerheads and greens while boating in the IRL. They spend a significant portion of their life cycle in this diverse estuary. As juveniles, the loggerheads…
(UF Thompson Earth Systems Institute, 09/2020) What does the expansion of the mangroves hold for Florida’s future? Why are the mangroves moving and what is their potential negative impact? How do humans harm them? Today, climate change and coastal development have altered the mangrove’s traditional geographic span, extending its range farther north and more inland. While…
(WTVR.com/News Sept 2,2020) Wildlife conservation efforts are being impacted by a reduced number of volunteers and lack of funding due to Covid-19. One non-profit, the Brevard Zoo, has not had to cut back on their work with wildlife, and sea turtles in particular. They also work with the restoration and conservation of the Indian River…
(UCF, August 20,2020) Longtime work to restore oyster reefs in the Indian River Lagoon has found a new, unusual ally: potato chips. The leftover potato starch collected from chip factories has been used to test a new mesh, as an alternative to the plastic material used to attract oysters to build reefs. After 14 months…
(Space Coast Magazine, 08/2020) “There is a new way of thinking about how to protect the shorelines of the Indian River Lagoon. The old way was to harden the shore by building concrete walls….” states Fred Mays, contributing writer to the Space Coast Magazine. Two local agencies, the Marine Resources Council and the Conservation Program…
(Pewtrusts.org, July 23, 2020). This article highlights why mangrove forests are some of the most valuable ecosystems on our planet. Their unique biology makes them well suited for our ever-changing coastal environment. They provide a nursery habitat for fish, help prevent erosion from storms, and also absorb carbon dioxide thereby helping our environment. But, their…
(FloridaToday.com 2020/08/03) The Indialantic-based Sea Turtle Preservation Society and the Brevard Zoo Sea Turtle Healing Center in Viera are trained in caring for sea turtle hatchlings. The recent Tropical Storm Isaias’s waves unearthed untold numbers of eggs and hatchlings during a peak time for turtle nesting. Since sea turtles are a protected species through state…
