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<p class="irlsubtitle">The [[:Category:Estuary|Indian River Lagoon National Estuary]] is the most bio-diverse natural habitat in North America.<ref name=epatreasure/></p>
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==Indian River Lagoon National Estuary==
<section begin=about />
[[File:IndianRiverLagoon.jpg|320px|thumb|right|Indian River Lagoon|link=Indian River Lagoon Estuary]]
[[File:Indian River Estuary 001.jpg|320px|thumb|right|alt=Indian River Lagoon Sunset|'''[[Indian River Lagoon Estuary|Indian River Lagoon Sunset]]'''|link=Indian River Lagoon Estuary]]
From it's northern boundary at Volusia's Ponce de Leon Inlet, the 156 mile long [[Indian River Lagoon Estuary|Indian River Lagoon National Estuary]] spans across 6 counties, to it's southern boundary at Palm Beach County's Jupiter Inlet.
'''[[Indian River Lagoon Estuary|Indian River Lagoon National Estuary]]''' spans 181 miles across Florida's East Coast, from Volusia's Halifax River southward to Jupiter Inlet in Palm Beach. The Indian River Lagoon estuary ranges through six Florida counties: [[:Category:Volusia County|Volusia]], [[Brevard County|Brevard]], [[:Category:Indian River County|Indian River]], [[:Category:Saint Lucie County|St. Lucie]], [[:Category:Martin County|Martin]], and [[:Category:Palm Beach County|Palm Beach]]. 
The [[:Category:Water Body|Indian River Lagoon watershed]] includes four brackish water lagoons, five freshwater rivers, five ocean inlets, three [[:Category:National Wildlife Refuge|National Wildlife Refuges]] and a [[Canaveral National Seashore|National Seashore]].


Within the Indian River Lagoon's boundaries are 5 Atlantic Ocean Inlets, 5 State Parks, 4 National Wildlife Refuges, a National Seashore, an Intracoastal Waterway, a Navy Submarine Base, a Space Force Base, and a National Space Center.
Indian River Lagoon National Estuary is known as ''"the most bio-diverse habitat in North America"'' due to the ecosystem's temperate location, [[Habitat|varied habitat]], and 4,000 [[:Category:Biota|plant and animal species]].
<section end=about />
The estuary's forests, wetlands, [[seagrass|seagrass,]] spoil islands, shorelines and brackish water provide habitat suitable for terrestrial and marine species found in both fresh and salt water areas.
Indian River Lagoon was designated as an ''"Estuary of National Significance"'' by the EPA's [[:Category:National Estuary Program|National Estuary Program]] in 1990. From 1991 to 2015, the St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD) served as the host agency for the Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program (IRLNEP). Today, the IRLNEP is locally managed by the [[Unit:Indian_River_Lagoon_Council|Indian River Lagoon Council]], an independent district of the State of Florida.  


In 1990, the Indian River Lagoon was chosen as an Estuary of National Significance and assigned to the [[:Category:National Estuary Program|National Estuary Program (NEP)]] by the [[Unit:Environmental_Protection_Agency|United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)]].
==Geography==
Moved only by wind and a minor tidal influence, the estuary's brackish lagoons are .5 to 5 miles wide and average only 4ft in depth.


The [[:Category:Indian_River_Lagoon_National_Estuary_Program|Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program (IRLNEP)]] is currently managed by the [[Unit:Indian_River_Lagoon_Council|IRL Council]], a special district of the State of Florida.
The original 156 mile long Indian River Lagoon National Estuary covered 2,284 square miles, with a surface water area of 353 square miles.<ref name=epatreasure>[https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2018-01/documents/58692_an_river_lagoon_an_introduction_to_a_natural_treasure_2007.pdf An Introduction to a Natural Treasure]</ref>


==Geography==
At the request of the Volusia County Council (Resolution 2015-133) and with support from the IRL Council (Resolution 2015-04), the Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program (IRLNEP) adopted an Indian River Lagoon - Halifax River boundary amendment. After consideration by the IRLNEP Management Conference, the amendment was accepted by the IRL Council on November 18, 2016. The boundary revision extended the IRLNEP boundary northward 25 miles into the Volusia's Halifax River and added 198,678 acres to the estuary's watershed.<ref>[https://onelagoon.org/wp-content/uploads/IRLNEP_Final-Draft-CCMP-REVISION_2018-12-07_LowRes__20200204.pdf IRLNEP_Final-Draft-CCMP-REVISION_2018-12-07 (PDF 196pp 20MB)], "2016 EXPANSION OF THE IRLNEP PLANNING BOUNDARY", page 14, retrieved 2021-04-14.</ref> See Also: [[Geological_History]]
[[File:IRL North Satellite 320.jpg|320px|thumb|right|Indian River Estuary Aerial|link= ]]


The 156 mile long Indian River Lagoon National Estuary averages only 4' in depth and .5 to 5 miles wide. The estuary's watershed covers 2,284 square miles, with a surface water area of 353 square miles.<ref name=epatreasure/>
==Watershed==
[[File:IRLNEP_Boundary_Map.jpg|320px|thumb|right|alt=Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Boundary Map|IRLNEP Boundary Map]]
The [[:Category:Water Body|Indian River Lagoon National Estuary watershed]] comprises a [[Glossary:Bar-built estuary|bar-built estuary]] that merges five freshwater rivers (Tomoka, Eau Gallie, St. Sebastian, St. Lucie and Loxahatchee) and five saltwater inlets ([[Ponce de Leon Inlet|Ponce de Leon]], [[Sebastian Inlet|Sebastian]], Ft. Pierce, St. Lucie and Jupiter) into four brackish water basins, Halifax River, [[Mosquito Lagoon|Mosquito]], [[Banana River]], and [[Indian River]] lagoons.  


The Indian River Lagoon is a bar-built estuary that merges 5 freshwater rivers and 5 saltwater inlets, into 3 main {{Define|brackish}} [[:Category:Water Body|water bodies]], the [[Mosquito Lagoon|Mosquito]], [[Banana River]], and [[Indian River]] Lagoons.


===Mosquito Lagoon===
===Halifax River===
The {{Abbr|IRL NEP|Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program}}'s range begins at the northern tip of [[Mosquito Lagoon]], with Volusia County's Ponce De Leon Inlet. Mosquito Lagoon then spans Brevard County, where it connects to the [[Indian River]] through [[Haulover Canal]].  
The northern boundary of the Indian River Lagoon National Estuary is at Bulow Creek on the Halifax River in north Volusia County. Halifax River ranges southward to Ponce Inlet and Mosquito Lagoon.


An outdoor lover's paradise, Mosquito Lagoon is bounded on the west by the [[Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge]] (NWR), on the east by [[Canaveral National Seashore]], and by Kennedy Space Center on the south.  
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="width:330px; overflow:auto;">
<div class="irlcollapsetitle">Halifax River Tributaries</div>
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<div class="irlcollapsetext">Tributaries are listed from North to South.</div>
<div>{{#section:Water Body List|halifaxriverwater}}</div>
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===Mosquito Lagoon===
[[Mosquito Lagoon]] spans 28 miles southward to Brevard County, where it connects the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) to the Indian River lagoon via [[Haulover Canal]].


{{IRL imagemap|320px}}<!-- [[File:Indian River Lagoon Map 480.jpg|320px|thumb|right|Indian River Estuary Map|link= ]] -->
An outdoor lover's paradise, Mosquito Lagoon is bounded on the west by [[Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge|Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge (MINWR)]], on the east by [[Canaveral National Seashore]], and on the south by Kennedy Space Center.
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="width:330px; overflow:auto;">
<div class="irlcollapsetitle">Mosquito Lagoon Tributaries</div>
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<div class="irlcollapsetext">Tributaries are listed from North to South.</div>
<div>{{#section:Water Body List|mosquitolagoonwater}}</div>
</div></div>


===Banana River===
The [[Banana River]] lagoon begins at Banana Creek, near Titusville, spans south thru the Kennedy Space Center (KSC), to merge with the Indian River at  Dragon's Point, the southernmost tip of Merritt Island.


The middle section of the Banana River lagoon lies within KSC property and is closed to the public. Port Canaveral, at KSC's southern boundary, provides minor saltwater inflow when the locks are open.  
===Banana River Lagoon===
The [[Banana River]] lagoon begins at Banana Creek, near Titusville, spans southward thru Kennedy Space Center (KSC), to merge with the Indian River lagoon at Dragon's Point, the southernmost tip of Merritt Island. Northern Banana River lagoon lies within KSC property and is closed to the public.  


The Canaveral Locks, channel, and barge canal allow sea going vessels to access the Banana River (KSC deliveries), or take the channel westward across the river, transverse Merritt Island's Barge Canal, and access the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) in the Indian River.
Port Canaveral, at Banana River lagoon's mid-point, is a major cruise, cargo and naval port. It is one of the busiest passenger ship terminals in the world and home to a U.S Navy submarine base.  


===Indian River===
Port Canaveral provides minor saltwater inflow into Banana River when the [[Canaveral Lock]] is opened. The lock allows sea-going vessels to access the northen Banana River lagoon or continue westward across Merritt Island via the [[Canaveral Barge Canal]] to the access the Indian River Intracoastal Waterway.
From it's northern boundary in Brevard's Scottsmoor, the 121 mile long [[Indian River]] extends southward thru five Florida counties. Along the way, the river connects with the Atlantic Ocean at Sebastian, St. Lucie, Fort Pierce, and Jupiter inlets.  
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="width:330px; overflow:auto;">
<div class="irlcollapsetitle">Banana River Tributaries</div>
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
<div class="irlcollapsetext">Tributaries are listed from North to South.</div>
<div>{{#section:Water Body List|bananariverwater}}</div>
</div></div>


The Indian River receives freshwater from the Eau Gallie, Sebastian, St. Lucie, and Loxahatchee rivers, plus many small feeder creeks. Lake Okeechobee connects to the Indian River in St. Lucie County, via the Okeechobee Waterway and the St. Lucie River.  
===Indian River Lagoon===
From it's northern boundary at Turnbull Creek in Brevard's Scottsmoor, Indian River lagoon extends 121 miles southward thru five Florida counties, Brevard, Indian River, St. Lucie, Martin and Palm Beach. [[Indian River]] receives saltwater from [[Sebastian Inlet|Sebastian]], St. Lucie, Fort Pierce, and Jupiter inlets and receives freshwater from Eau Gallie, Sebastian, St. Lucie, and Loxahatchee Rivers. Lake Okeechobee connects to the Indian River in St. Lucie County, via the Okeechobee Waterway and the St. Lucie River.  


The southern boundary of the Indian River Lagoon National Estuary is at Martin County's Sewall's Point, where it meets Palm Beach County's Jupiter Inlet.
The southern boundary of the Indian River Lagoon National Estuary is at Martin County's Sewall's Point, where the Loxahatchee River and Indian River meet Palm Beach County's Jupiter Inlet.
<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" style="width:330px; overflow:auto;">
<div class="irlcollapsetitle">Indian River Tributaries</div>
<div class="mw-collapsible-content">
<div class="irlcollapsetext">Tributaries are listed from North to South.</div>
<div>{{#section:Water Body List|indianriverwater}}</div>
</div></div>
</div>
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==Biota==
==Biota==
[[File:Fauna-scrub-jay.jpg|320px|thumb|right|Scrub jay - MINWR|link= ]]
[[File:Pelican_Island.jpg|320px|thumb|right|alt=Aerial photo of Pelican Island on Indian River lagoon|'''[[Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge|Pelican Island NWR]]'''|link=Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge]]
Home to more than 2,100 plants and 2,200 animal species, the Indian River Lagoon National Estuary is '''''the most bio-diverse habitat in North America'''''.<ref name=epatreasure />  
Home to more than 2,100 plants and 2,200 animal species, the Indian River Lagoon National Estuary is '''''the most bio-diverse habitat in North America'''''.<ref name=epatreasure />  


The [[Glossary:Estuary|estuary]] contains many diverse natural [[habitat]]s, from seagrass flats and [[mangrove]] shorelines to upland forests, that accommodate a vast array of [[:Category:Biota|plant and animal species]]. The estuary's saltwater inlets and freshwater tributaries blend together to form the lagoon's brackish water, which provides a unique habitat, where plants and animals from both salt and freshwater habitats can reside.  
The [[Glossary:Estuary|estuary]] contains many diverse natural [[habitat]]s, from [[seagrass]] flats and [[mangrove]] shorelines to upland forests, that accommodate a vast array of [[:Category:Biota|plant and animal species]]. The estuary's saltwater inlets and freshwater tributaries blend together to form {{Define|brackish}} water, which provides a unique habitat where plants and animals from both salt and freshwater habitats can reside.  


Some species, including [[Johnson's Seagrass]] and the Atlantic salt marsh snake, are found nowhere else on earth. The IRL estuary is home to 35 plant and animal species that are listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act, more than any other estuary in North America.<ref name=epatreasure/>
Some species, including the [[Southeastern Beach Mouse|Southeastern beach mouse]], [[Atlantic salt marsh snake]] and [[Johnson's Seagrass]] are found nowhere else on earth. The Indian River Lagoon estuary is home to over 50 [[:Category:Biota|plant and animal species]] that are listed as [[:Category:Endangered Species|threatened or endangered]] under the Endangered Species Act, more than any other estuary in North America.<ref name=epatreasure/>
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===Habitat===
===Habitat===
[[File:Roseate_Spoonbills_320.jpg|320px|thumb|right|Roseate spoonbills]]
[[File:Fauna-scrub-jay.jpg|320px|thumb|right|alt=Florida Scrub Jay at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge.|'''[[Florida scrub jay|Scrub jay at MINWR]]'''|link=Florida scrub jay]]
Because the Indian River Lagoon National Estuary is located in an area where tropical and temperate climates meet, it's over 4,000 [[:Category:Biota|plant and animal species]] include native subtropical and tropical residents, plus many migratory winter visitors. The estuary's diverse [[Habitat|habitats]], including freshwater tributaries, spoil islands, salt marshes, [[seagrass]] flats, oyster bars, [[mangrove|mangroves]], shorelines, and sandy pine forests provide homes for both aquatic and terrestrial plants and animals.
Because the Indian River Lagoon National Estuary is located in an area where tropical and temperate climates meet, it's over 4,000 plant and animal species include native subtropical and tropical residents, plus many migratory winter visitors. The estuary's diverse [[habitat]]s, including freshwater tributaries, spoil islands, salt marshes, seagrass flats, oyster bars, mangroves, shorelines, and sandy pine forests, provide homes for both aquatic and terrestrial plants and animals.  


===Flora===
===Flora===
[[Mangrove]] forests provide shoreline protection, water purification, and nurseries for small fish, shrimp and crab. Seagrasses are a critical component to the overall health of the lagoon.
[[Mangrove]] forests provide shoreline protection, water purification, and nurseries for small fish, shrimp and crab. [[Seagrass]] is a keystone indicator species for the overall health of the lagoon.


===Fauna===
===Fauna===
[[File:Fauna-green-heron.jpg|320px|thumb|right|Green heron|link= ]]
[[File:Fauna-green-heron.jpg|320px|thumb|right|alt=Green heron|Green heron|link= ]]
The estuary serves as a spawning and nursery ground for many different species of salt and brackish water fish and shellfish. Aquatic animals such as alligator, sea turtle, [[Bottlenose dolphin|dolphin]], manatee, fresh and saltwater fish forage in the seagrass flats. Red Drum, Spotted sea trout, Common snook, and Tarpon are the main gamefish found in the estuary's lagoons.
The estuary serves as a spawning and nursery ground for many different species of salt and brackish water fish and shellfish. Aquatic animals such as [[American alligator|alligator]], sea turtle, [[Bottlenose dolphin|dolphin]], [[West Indian Manatee|Florida manatee]] and [[:Category:Fish|saltwater fish]] forage in the [[seagrass]] flats. [[Black drum]], [[Red drum]], [[Spotted Seatrout|Spotted seatrout]], [[Common snook]], and [[Atlantic tarpon]] are the main gamefish found in the estuary's lagoons.


Nearly 1/3 of the nation's manatee population lives in the estuary or migrates through the area seasonally. Between 200 and 800 [[Bottlenose dolphin|Bottlenose dolphins]] (''Tursiops truncatus'') live year-round in the Mosquito, Banana River and Indian River lagoons.<ref name=NOAAdolphins/> At night the lagoons are lit up with bioluminescent {{Define|dinoflagellates}} in the summer and ctenophore in the winter.
Nearly 1/3 of the nation's [[West Indian Manatee|manatee]] population lives in the estuary or migrates through the area seasonally. Between 200 and 800 [[Bottlenose dolphin|Bottlenose dolphins]] (''Tursiops truncatus'') live year-round in the [[Mosquito Lagoon|Mosquito]], [[Banana River]] and [[Indian River]] lagoons.<ref name=NOAAdolphins>[http://www.nefsc.noaa.gov/publications/tm/tm213/pdfs/F2009BODO_IRLES.pdf Indian River Lagoon Estuarine System Stock - Bottlenose Dolphin]</ref> At night the lagoons are lit up with bioluminescent {{Define|dinoflagellates}} in the summer and ctenophore in the winter.


In the [[Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge]], a world-class birding destination, many types of shorebirds, waterfowl and wading birds, like the [[Roseate spoonbill]], [[Snowy egret]], and [[Brown pelican]], can be seen feeding on shrimp, crustaceans and mollusks near the shorelines and [[Mangrove]] covered spoil islands. Birds of prey including kites, hawks, osprey, owls, eagles feed on reptiles and rodents or fish.  
In the [[Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge]], a world-class birding destination, many types of shorebirds, waterfowl and wading birds, like the [[Roseate spoonbill]], [[Snowy Egret|Snowy egret]], and [[Brown pelican]], can be seen feeding on shrimp, crustaceans and mollusks near the shorelines and [[mangrove]] covered spoil islands. Birds of prey including kites, hawks, osprey, owls, and eagles feed on reptiles, rodents and fish.  


Higher up, in the sandy palmetto and pine uplands, the terrestrial animals might include boar, panther, bobcat, deer, raccoons, opossum, Nine-banded armadillo, and [[Gopher_Tortoise|Florida Gopher tortoise]].
Higher up, in the sandy palmetto and pine uplands, the terrestrial animals might include boar, bobcat, deer, raccoon, opossum, [[Nine-banded armadillo|armadillo]], [[Gopher_Tortoise|Gopher tortoise]] and [[Florida scrub jay]].
 
==Economy==
[[File:Indian River Lagoon Economic Impact Brochure 2016.jpg|320px|thumb|right|alt=Indian River Lagoon 2016 Economic Impact Brouchure|IRL 2016 Economic Impact Brochure|link=https://drive.google.com/open?id=1487mR-7_wizqbcgzYewcparXiJmo99P8]]
A healthy estuary is a vital economic factor in Florida's East Coast communities.
 
===Direct Income===
 
The Indian River Lagoon provides direct income for those working both on, and off the water.
* Commercial fishing
* Ecotourism Industry: Fishing, Hunting and Tour Guides
* Watercraft/Auto sales, rentals, service and fuel
* Fish Camps, Marinas and Ports
* Outdoor Equipment, Bait and Tackle vendors
* Fishing and Hunting License sales fund Florida's wildlife conservation projects.
 
===Indirect Income===
 
The economic success of direct income industries also indirectly increases income for:
 
* Tourist Destinations
* Visitor Transportation: Airport, Rental Car, Limo, Shuttle, Uber, Fuel and Service
* Hospitality: Hotel, Restaurant, Gift & Souvenir Shops, Convenience Stores
* Vacation rentals and Real Estate sales
 
A 2016 IRL Economic Valuation Study, conducted by Hazen and Sawyer water consultants for the St. John Water Management District (SJWMD), estimated the Indian River Lagoon Estuary's economic value at $7,640,311,564 per year.<ref name=irleconreport>[https://drive.google.com/file/d/17s4CwBRA2zUIF-HqFM-MTKnqQxy2vkqX 2016 IRL Economic Impact Report]</ref>


==History==
==History==
[[File:Mosquito Lagoon Water Body 001.jpg|320px|thumb|right|alt=Turtle Mound - Mosquito Lagoon|link=Mosquito Lagoon]]
[[File:Mosquito Lagoon Water Body 001.jpg|320px|thumb|right|alt=View of Mosquito Lagoon from Turtle Mound|Mosquito Lagoon from Turtle Mound|link=Mosquito Lagoon]]


During glacial periods, the ocean receded. The area that is now the lagoon was grassland, 30 miles from the beach. When the glacier melted, the sea rose. The lagoon remained as captured water.<ref name=mrc2018 />
During glacial periods, the ocean receded. The area that is now the lagoon was grassland, 30 miles from the beach. When the glacier melted, the sea rose. The lagoon remained as captured water.


The indigenous people who lived along the lagoon thrived on its fish and shellfish. This was determined by analyzing the middens they left behind, piled with refuse from clams, oysters, and mussels.<ref name=mrc2018 />
The indigenous people who lived along the lagoon thrived on its fish and shellfish. This was determined by analyzing the [[Turtle Mound|middens]] they left behind, piled with refuse from clams, oysters, and mussels.


The Indian River Lagoon was originally known on early Spanish maps as the ''Rio de Ais,'' after the Ais Indian tribe, who lived along the east coast of Florida. An expedition in 1605 by Alvero Mexia resulted in the mapping of most of the lagoon. Original place names on the map included ''Los Mosquitos'' (the Mosquito Lagoon and the Halifax River), ''Haulover'' (current Haulover Canal area), ''Ulumay Lagoon'' (Banana River) ''Rio d' Ais'' (North Indian River), and ''Pentoya Lagoon'' (Indian River Melbourne to Ft. Pierce)
The Indian River Lagoon was originally known on early Spanish maps as the ''Rio de Ais,'' after the Ais Indian tribe, who lived along the east coast of Florida. An expedition in 1605 by Alvero Mexia resulted in the mapping of most of the lagoon. Original place names on the map included ''Los Mosquitos'' (the Mosquito Lagoon and the Halifax River), ''Haulover'' (current Haulover Canal area), ''Ulumay Lagoon'' (Banana River) ''Rio d' Ais'' (North Indian River), and ''Pentoya Lagoon'' (Indian River Melbourne to Ft. Pierce)


Early European settlers drained the swamps to raise pineapples and citrus. They dug canals discharging freshwater into the lagoon, five times the historical volume.<ref name=mrc2018/>
Early European settlers drained the swamps to raise pineapples and citrus. They dug canals discharging freshwater into the lagoon at five times the historical volume.


Prior to the arrival of the railroad, the river was an essential transportation link.
Prior to the arrival of the railroad, the river was an essential transportation link.
Line 85: Line 139:
In 1896 and 1902, there were fish kills in the lagoon from gas from the muck below.
In 1896 and 1902, there were fish kills in the lagoon from gas from the muck below.


The advent of the automobile, starting in the 1930s, resulted in {{Define|causeway}}s which diverted the sluggish flow of the waterway. Huge population influx resulted in sewage, and stormwater runoff from roadways, polluting the lagoon.<ref name=mrc2018/>
The advent of the automobile, starting in the 1930s, resulted in {{Define|causeway}}s which diverted the sluggish flow of the waterway. Huge population influx resulted in sewage, and stormwater runoff from roadways, polluting the lagoon.


From 1989 to 2013, the population along the lagoon increased 50% to 1.6 million people.
From 1989 to 2013, the population along the lagoon increased by 50% to 1.6 million people.


==Timeline==
==Timeline==
In 1916, the St. Lucie Canal (C-44) diverts excess nutrient-rich water from Lake Okeechobee into the South Lagoon. While this helps prevent life-threatening flooding in the Okeechobee area, it creates toxic blooms after entering the Lagoon, a threat to flora, fauna, and humans. This situation is proving difficult to address in the 21st century.<ref name=mrc2018/>
In 1916, the St. Lucie Canal (C-44) diverts excess nutrient-rich water from Lake Okeechobee into the South Indian River Lagoon. While this helps prevent life-threatening flooding in the Okeechobee area, it creates toxic blooms after entering the Lagoon, a threat to flora, fauna, and humans. This situation is proving difficult to address in the 21st century.


From 1913 to 2013, activity by humans has increased the watershed for the lagoon from 572000 to 1400000 acres increasing runoff of freshwater and nutrients from farms. Both have been detrimental to lagoon health. The wetlands are needed to cleanse the lagoon. About 40000 acres of land were lost to mosquito control and have been restored, but by 2013, recovery was incomplete.
From 1913 to 2013, activity by humans has increased the watershed for the lagoon from 572,000 to 1,400,000 acres increasing runoff of freshwater and nutrients from farms. Both have been detrimental to lagoon health. The wetlands are needed to cleanse the lagoon. About 40000 acres of land were lost to mosquito control and have been restored, but by 2013, recovery was incomplete.


[[Mangrove]]s are a keystone species that help prevent shoreline erosion and provide critical habitat for marine life.  Between the 1940s and 2013, 85% of them had been removed for housing development.
[[Mangrove]]s are a keystone species that help prevent shoreline erosion and provide critical habitat for marine life.  Between the 1940s and 2013, 85% of them had been removed for housing development.


In 1986, there were  46 sewer plants along the 156 mile lagoon. They discharged about 55000000 gallons daily into the estuary.  
In 1986, there were  46 sewer plants along the 156 mile lagoon. They discharged about 55,000,000 gallons daily into the estuary.  


In 1990, the Florida Legislature passed the Indian River Lagoon Act, requiring most sewer plants to stop discharging into the lagoon by 1996.
In 1990, the Florida Legislature passed the Indian River Lagoon Act, requiring most sewer plants to stop discharging into the lagoon by 1996.


Some sports fish rebounded in population in the 1990s when gill nets were banned and pollution in the lagoon was reduced. In 1995 the seagrass covered over 100000 acres.<ref name=Dawes/>
Some sports fish rebounded in population in the 1990s when gill nets were banned and pollution in the lagoon was reduced. In 1995 the [[seagrass]] covered over 100,000 acres.<ref name=Dawes>[http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/umrsmas/bullmar/1995/00000057/00000001/art00008 Seagrass biodiversity in the Indian River Lagoon]</ref>


In 2007, concerns were raised about the future of the lagoon system, especially in the southern half where frequent freshwater discharges seriously threatened water quality, decreasing the salinity needed by many fish species, and have contributed to large algae blooms promoted by water saturated with plant fertilizers.
In 2007, concerns were raised about the future of the lagoon system, especially in the southern half where frequent freshwater discharges seriously threatened water quality, decreasing the salinity needed by many fish species, and have contributed to large algae blooms promoted by water saturated with plant fertilizers.
In the mid 1990s, the lagoon has been the subject of research on light penetration for photosynthesis in submerged aquatic vegetation.<ref name=Hanisak/>
In the mid 1990s, the lagoon has been the subject of research on light penetration for photosynthesis in submerged aquatic vegetation.<ref name=Hanisak>{{cite journal |author=Hanisak, M. Dennis |title=Continuous Monitoring of Underwater Light in Indian River Lagoon: Comparison of Cosine and Spherical Sensors. |journal=In: EJ Maney, Jr and CH Ellis, Jr (Eds.) the Diving for Science…1997, Proceedings of the American Academy of Underwater Sciences, Seventeenth Annual Scientific Diving Symposium |year=1997 |url=http://archive.rubicon-foundation.org/4641 |accessdate=2009-04-02}}</ref>
[[File:Port-Canaveral-Super-Bloom.jpg|320px|thumb|right|alt=2016 Banana River Super Bloom|2016 Banana River Super Bloom at Port Canaveral|link= ]]
In 2010, 3,300,000 lbs of nitrogen and 475,000 lbs of phosphorus entered the lagoon.


In 2010, 3300000 lbs of nitrogen and 475000 lbs of phosphorus entered the lagoon.
In 2011, a superbloom of phytoplankton resulted in the loss of 32,000 acres of lagoon [[seagrass]]. In 2012, a brown tide bloom fouled the northern lagoon.


In 2011, a superbloom of phytoplankton resulted in the loss of 32000 acres of lagoon seagrass. In 2012, a brown tide bloom fouled the northern lagoon. The county has approval for funds to investigate these unusual blooms to see if they can be prevented.
Catches of blue crabs (''Callinectes sapidus'') dropped unevenly from 4265063 lb in 1987 to 389,795 lb in 2012, but with high catches in 1998, 1991, alternating with low catch years. These crabs require 2% salt content in the water to survive. Drought increases the salt content and heavy rainfall decreases it. Both of these conditions have recurred over the past decades and are believed to have had an adverse effect on the crab population.<ref name=waymer>{{Cite news | first=Jim | last=Waymer | title=Lagoon crab catches dwindle | url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20130908/NEWS01/309080030/Crab-catch-dwindles-Indian-River-Lagoon|  newspaper=Florida Today | location=Melbourne, Florida | pages= 1A,3A | date=September 8, 2013 | accessdate=September 13, 2013}}</ref>
 
Catches of blue crabs (''Callinectes sapidus'') dropped unevenly from 4265063 lb in 1987 to 389,795 lb in 2012, but with high catches in 1998, 1991, alternating with low catch years. These crabs require 2% salt content in the water to survive. Drought increases the salt content and heavy rainfall decreases it. Both of these conditions have recurred over the past decades and are believed to have had an adverse effect on the crab population.<ref name=waymer/>


In 2013, algae blooms and loss of sea grass destroyed all gains.
In 2013, algae blooms and loss of sea grass destroyed all gains.
Line 121: Line 175:
In 2016, there were an estimated 300,000 septic tanks in the five-county area bordering the Lagoon.<!--<ref>{{YouTube|1V_lmt-ZtNQ|How septic tanks may imperil this Florida ecosystem'}}</ref>-->
In 2016, there were an estimated 300,000 septic tanks in the five-county area bordering the Lagoon.<!--<ref>{{YouTube|1V_lmt-ZtNQ|How septic tanks may imperil this Florida ecosystem'}}</ref>-->


In 2018, lagoon health is better near ocean inlets. Pollution is worse in areas with no inlets, such as the Mosquito Lagoon, North IRL, and the Banana River.<ref name=mrc2018/>
In 2018, lagoon health is better near ocean inlets. Pollution is worse in areas with no inlets, such as the Mosquito Lagoon, North IRL, and the Banana River.


==Human Impact==
==Human Impact==
[[File:Port-Canaveral-Super-Bloom.jpg|320px|thumb|right|alt=2016 Super Bloom - Port Canaveral|link= ]]
[[File:IRL_Nitrogen_Pollution_Source_Chart.jpg|320px|thumb|right|alt=A chart of IRL Nitrogen Pollution Sources|IRL Nitrogen Pollution Sources|link= ]]
The Indian River Lagoon National Estuary spreads across Volusia, Brevard, Indian River, St. Lucie, Martin, and Palm Beach counties with a rapidly growing population of 1.5 million residents. Waterfront residents enjoy a panoramic view, a parade of watercraft, unique wildlife sightings, and private boat docks with instant water access. Condominium dwellers enjoy well-manicured landscaping, large paved parking lots, and a convenient shopping plaza nearby. Human impact from inadequate sewer utilities, seeping septic tank drain fields, stormwater run-off polluted with lawn fertilizer, and excessive wetland development has drastically affected the estuary's health.  
The Indian River Lagoon National Estuary spreads across Volusia, Brevard, Indian River, St. Lucie, Martin, and Palm Beach counties with a rapidly growing population of 1.5 million residents. Waterfront residents enjoy a panoramic view, a parade of watercraft, wildlife encounters, and backyard boat docks with instant water access. Condominium dwellers enjoy well-manicured landscaping, large paved parking lots, and a convenient shopping plaza nearby.  


The result of this adverse human impact could be seen in a 2016 green algae outbreak. Fueled by an excess of phosphorous and nitrogen, the blooming algae growth created a lack of oxygen in the water, that caused widespread fish kills across Florida's east coast. The harmful_algae_bloom (HAB) rendered parts of the estuary unusable; turned lush waterfront real estate into undesirable neighborhoods; created respiratory health problems for residents; killed many plants and animals; and completely devastated the local ecotourism industry.  
Over twenty [[:Category:Bridges|causeways and bridges]] have been built across the estuary to accommodate an ever increasing barrier island population. The estuary's water is primarily moved by wind, and every causeway impedes nature's ability to refresh the lagoon's stagnant water. {{Define|Detritus}} piles up at the causeway corners, rots in the summer heat, and makes the Indian River smell like rotten eggs.


The recent Economic Valuation Study reported that for every $1 spent restoring the estuary, $33 would be returned to the local economy.<ref name=irleconreport />
Human impact from excessive development, inadequate sewer utilities, seeping [[Septic System|septic systems]], stormwater run-off laden with lawn fertilizer, and the destruction of wetlands for development has drastically affected the estuary's health.  


==Economy==
The result of this adverse human impact could be seen in a 2016 green algae outbreak. Fueled by [[Nutrient Pollution|nutrient pollution]], the blooming algae growth created a lack of oxygen ({{Define|eutrophication}}) in the water that caused widespread fish kills across Florida's East Coast. The resulting harmful algae bloom (HAB) rendered parts of the estuary unusable; turned lush waterfront real estate into least desirable neighborhoods; created respiratory health problems for residents; killed many aquatic plants and animals; and totally devastated the local ecotourism industry; all known [[Nutrient_Pollution#Nutrient_Pollution_Effects|effects of excessive nutrient pollution]].
A healthy estuary is a vital economic factor in Florida's East Coast communities. The estuary provides direct income for resident's who work both on and off the water. Commercial fishing, ecotourism, outdoor equipment retail, watercraft sales/service, and marina industries all directly depend on the estuary for income. Indirectly, the economic success of the above industries also increases earnings for local tourism, hospitality, transportation and real estate industries. A 2016 Economic Valuation Study, conducted by Hazen and Sawyer water consultants for the St. John Water Management District (SJWMD), estimated the Indian River Lagoon Estuary's economic value at $7,640,311,564 per year.<ref name=irleconreport>[http://tcrpc.org/special_projects/IRL_Econ_Valu/FinalReportIRL08_26_2016.pdf IRL Economic Impact Report 2016]</ref>
[[File:Irl economic impact brochure 2016.pdf|800px|center|border|Indian River Lagoon Facts and Figures PDF|page=1]]


==Restoration and Preservation==
==Restoration and Preservation==
In 2016, the citizens of Brevard County voted in a .5% sales tax increase to fund a program to restore and preserve the Indian River estuary. Brevard's [[Unit:Save Our Indian River Lagoon|Save Our Indian River Lagoon (SOIRL)]] trust has received over $114 million in sales tax revenue to date (2019). Directed by the Brevard County Natural Resources Department, overseen by the Citizen Oversight Committee (COC), counseled by the NEP's IRL Council<ref name=irlcouncil />, and guided by scientists from the Indian River Lagoon Research Institute (IRLRI) at Florida Institute of Technology (FIT), the SOIRL currently has several restoration projects underway.<ref name=soirl>[https://www.brevardfl.gov/SaveOurLagoon/Home Save Our Indian River Lagoon]</ref>
Hazen and Sawyer's Economic Valuation Study also reported that for every $1 spent restoring the Indian River lagoon, $33 would be returned to the local economy.<ref name=irleconreport />
 
In 2016, the citizens of Brevard County voted in a .5% sales tax increase to fund a program to restore and preserve the Indian River Lagoon. Brevard's [[Unit:Save Our Indian River Lagoon|Save Our Indian River Lagoon (SOIRL)]] trust has received over $114 million in sales tax revenue to date (2019). Directed by the Brevard County Natural Resources Department, overseen by the Citizen Oversight Committee (COC), counseled by the NEP's IRL Council<ref name=irlcouncil>{{cite web|url=https://onelagoon.org/|title=Website of the IRL Council|work=onelagoon.org|accessdate=12 March 2021}}</ref>, and guided by scientists from the Indian River Lagoon Research Institute (IRLRI) at Florida Institute of Technology (FIT), the SOIRL currently has several restoration projects underway.<ref name=soirl>[https://www.brevardfl.gov/SaveOurLagoon/Home Save Our Indian River Lagoon]</ref>


The 2019 SOIRL Project Plan<ref>[https://www.dropbox.com/s/j9pxd59mt1baf7q/Revised%202019%20Save%20Our%20Indian%20River%20Lagoon%20Project%20Plan%20Update%20032519.pdf?dl=0 SOIRL Project Plan 2019]</ref> includes:
The 2019 SOIRL Project Plan<ref>[https://www.dropbox.com/s/j9pxd59mt1baf7q/Revised%202019%20Save%20Our%20Indian%20River%20Lagoon%20Project%20Plan%20Update%20032519.pdf?dl=0 SOIRL Project Plan 2019]</ref> includes:
* Research and Monitoring by IRLRI and SJWMD
* Research and Monitoring by IRLRI and SJRWMD
* Muck dredging<ref>[https://www.brevardfl.gov/docs/default-source/natural-resources-documents/muck-fact-sheet.pdf?sfvrsn=0 Muck Fact Sheet (PDF)]</ref>
* Muck dredging
* Septic tank to sewer system conversion<ref>[https://www.brevardfl.gov/docs/default-source/save-our-lagoon-documents/septic-tanks-fact-sheet.pdf?sfvrsn=4 Septic Tank Fact Sheet (PDF)]</ref>
* Septic tank to sewer system conversion
* Barrier island sewer utility overhaul
* Barrier island sewer utility overhaul
* Living Shoreline and oyster bar restoration<ref>[https://www.brevardfl.gov/docs/default-source/save-our-lagoon-documents/living-shorelines-fact-sheet.pdf?sfvrsn=4 Living Shorelines Fact Sheet (PDF)]</ref>
* Living Shoreline and oyster bar restoration
* Public information campaigns on fertilizer<ref>[https://www.brevardfl.gov/docs/default-source/save-our-lagoon-documents/fertilizer-fact-sheet.pdf?sfvrsn=4 Fertilizer Fact Sheet (PDF)]</ref> and stormwater impact
* Public information campaigns on fertilizer and stormwater impact
</div>
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<div class="irlcontentbottom">
<div class="irlcontentbottom">


==Web Links==
==Web Links==
* [http://tcrpc.org/special_projects/IRL_Econ_Valu/IRL%20Brochure%20FINAL072216.pdf IRL Economic Valuation Brochure]
* [https://www.epa.gov/nep EPA - National Estuary Program]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090608195121/http://www.protectingourwater.org/watersheds/map/indian_river_lagoon/ DEP Indian River Lagoon Watershed]
* [https://onelagoon.org/ NEP - Indian River Lagoon Council]
* [http://www.floridatoday.com/news/from-the-water/ Florida Today:From the Water: Healing our Lagoon]
* [https://www.sjrwmd.com/waterways/indian-river-lagoon/ SJRWMD - Indian River Lagoon]
* [https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2015-09/documents/2009_12_23_estuaries_pdf_nep_brochure_timeless_new.pdf National Estuary Program Brochure (PDF 11pp 2.83MB)]
* [http://www.brevardfl.gov/SaveOurLagoon Brevard County - Save Our Indian River Lagoon]
* [https://restoreourshores.org/ Brevard Zoo - Restore Our Shores]
* [https://naturalhistory2.si.edu/smsfp/irlspec/09index.htm Indian River Lagoon Species Inventory]
* [https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/tutorial_estuaries/welcome.html NOAA Estuary Education Kit]
* [https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/tutorial_estuaries/welcome.html NOAA Estuary Education Kit]
* [https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2018-01/documents/58692_an_river_lagoon_an_introduction_to_a_natural_treasure_2007.pdf EPA - An Introduction to a National Treasure (PDF 40pp 4.09MB)]
* [https://www.epa.gov/watershedacademy EPA - Watershed Academy]
 
==Documents==
* [https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2018-01/documents/58692_an_river_lagoon_an_introduction_to_a_natural_treasure_2007.pdf Indian River Lagoon - An Introduction to a National Treasure (PDF 40pp 4.09MB)]
* [https://soils.ifas.ufl.edu/media/soilsifasufledu/sws-main-site/pdf/technical-papers/Smith_Keri_Six_Month_Embargo.pdf Keri Smith - An Overview of the Indian River Lagoon (PDF 22pp 930KB)]
* [https://drive.google.com/file/d/17s4CwBRA2zUIF-HqFM-MTKnqQxy2vkqX 2016 IRL Economic Valuation Report (PDF 69pp 3MB)]
* [https://drive.google.com/open?id=1487mR-7_wizqbcgzYewcparXiJmo99P8 2016 IRL Economic Valuation Brochure (PDF 2pp 3MB)]


==References==
==References==
<references>
<references />
<ref name=epatreasure>[https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2018-01/documents/58692_an_river_lagoon_an_introduction_to_a_natural_treasure_2007.pdf An Introduction to a Natural Treasure]</ref>
{{IRL footer estuary|cat=National Estuary}}
<ref name=NOAAdolphins>[http://www.nefsc.noaa.gov/publications/tm/tm213/pdfs/F2009BODO_IRLES.pdf Indian River Lagoon Estuarine System Stock - Bottlenose Dolphin]</ref>
<ref name=irlcouncil>[http://www.irlcouncil.com/ Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program]</ref>
<ref name=mrc2018>[https://www.indianriverlagoon.com A History of the Lagoon]</ref>
<ref name=Dawes>[http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/umrsmas/bullmar/1995/00000057/00000001/art00008 Seagrass biodiversity in the Indian River Lagoon]</ref>
<ref name=Hanisak>[http://archive.rubicon-foundation.org/4641 Continuous Monitoring of Underwater Light in Indian River Lagoon: Comparison of Cosine and Spherical Sensors. 1997]</ref>
<ref name=waymer>[http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20130908/NEWS01/309080030/Crab-catch-dwindles-Indian-River-Lagoon Lagoon crab catches dwindle (2013)]</ref>
</references>
<!--
==Citations==
{{reflist|colwidth=32em}}
need to CITE these ref links
<ref>Section 7. {{cite web |url=http://www.sjrwmd.com/itsyourlagoon/pdfs/IRL_Economic_Assessment_2007.pdf |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2013-04-17 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130107093022/http://www.sjrwmd.com/itsyourlagoon/pdfs/IRL_Economic_Assessment_2007.pdf |archivedate=2013-01-07 }}</ref>
<ref>{{cite journal |date=Summer 2008 |title=Visitors spend big on the lagoon |journal=Indian River Lagoon Update |volume=XVI |issue=3 |pages=1 |id= |url= |accessdate= |quote= }}</ref>
<ref>{{Cite news | first=Jim | last=Waymer | title=Lagoon crab catches dwindle | url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20130908/NEWS01/309080030/Crab-catch-dwindles-Indian-River-Lagoon|  newspaper=Florida Today | location=Melbourne, Florida | pages= 1A,3A | date=September 8, 2013 | accessdate=September 13, 2013}}</ref>
<ref name=Hanisak>{{cite journal |author=Hanisak, M. Dennis |title=Continuous Monitoring of Underwater Light in Indian River Lagoon: Comparison of Cosine and Spherical Sensors. |journal=In: EJ Maney, Jr and CH Ellis, Jr (Eds.) the Diving for Science…1997, Proceedings of the American Academy of Underwater Sciences, Seventeenth Annual Scientific Diving Symposium |year=1997 |url=http://archive.rubicon-foundation.org/4641 |accessdate=2009-04-02}}</ref>
<ref name="ft131013">{{Cite news | first=Jim | last=Waymer | title=Leaders to discuss lagoon cures during special meeting.Talking solutions | url=http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20131014/NEWS01/310040046/Leaders-discuss-lagoon-cures-during-special-meeting| work= | newspaper=Florida Today | location=Melbourne, Florida| pages= 6A | date=October 13, 2013 |publisher=Gannett | accessdate=October 19, 2013}}</ref>
<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sjrwmd.com|title=Website of the St. Johns River Water Management District|work=sjrwmd.com|accessdate=1 February 2017}}</ref>
<ref name="HarborBranch2018">{{cite web |author1=Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution |title=Indian River Lagoon - Facts and Figures |url=https://www.fau.edu/hboi/irlo/docs/IRL.Fact.Sheet.pdf |publisher=Florida Atlantic University |accessdate=29 September 2018 |location=Fort Pierce, Florida |page=1 |date=2018}}</ref>
<ref>{{cite web |last1=KENNEDY DUCKETT |first1=MARYELLEN |title=Florida by Water: Experience Bioluminescence |url=https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/florida-land-and-sea/experience-bioluminescence/ |accessdate=31 July 2018|date=2015-02-10 }}</ref>
https://www.fws.gov/refuge/Merritt_Island/ MI NWR
https://www.fws.gov/refuge/Merritt_Island/Purpose.html.aspx
*{{cite web| last1=Stolen | first1= Megan K. | first2=Jay |last2=Barlow | date= October 2003 | title= A Model Life Table for Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) from the Indian River Lagoon System, Florida, U.S.A. |work= Marine Mammal Science.''19(4)| pages=630–649 |url= http://swfsc.noaa.gov/uploadedFiles/Divisions/PRD/Programs/Coastal_Marine_Mammal/StolenandBarlow.pdf}}
-->
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[[Category:National Estuary]]
[[Category:National Estuary]]

Latest revision as of 08:01, April 8, 2023

Indian River Lagoon Encyclopedia
Indian River Lagoon Encyclopedia - National Estuary
National Estuary
Indian River Lagoon Sunset
Indian River Lagoon Sunset

Indian River Lagoon National Estuary spans 181 miles across Florida's East Coast, from Volusia's Halifax River southward to Jupiter Inlet in Palm Beach. The Indian River Lagoon estuary ranges through six Florida counties: Volusia, Brevard, Indian River, St. Lucie, Martin, and Palm Beach.

The Indian River Lagoon watershed includes four brackish water lagoons, five freshwater rivers, five ocean inlets, three National Wildlife Refuges and a National Seashore.

Indian River Lagoon National Estuary is known as "the most bio-diverse habitat in North America" due to the ecosystem's temperate location, varied habitat, and 4,000 plant and animal species.

The estuary's forests, wetlands, seagrass, spoil islands, shorelines and brackish water provide habitat suitable for terrestrial and marine species found in both fresh and salt water areas. Indian River Lagoon was designated as an "Estuary of National Significance" by the EPA's National Estuary Program in 1990. From 1991 to 2015, the St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD) served as the host agency for the Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program (IRLNEP). Today, the IRLNEP is locally managed by the Indian River Lagoon Council, an independent district of the State of Florida.

Geography

Moved only by wind and a minor tidal influence, the estuary's brackish lagoons are .5 to 5 miles wide and average only 4ft in depth.

The original 156 mile long Indian River Lagoon National Estuary covered 2,284 square miles, with a surface water area of 353 square miles.[1]

At the request of the Volusia County Council (Resolution 2015-133) and with support from the IRL Council (Resolution 2015-04), the Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program (IRLNEP) adopted an Indian River Lagoon - Halifax River boundary amendment. After consideration by the IRLNEP Management Conference, the amendment was accepted by the IRL Council on November 18, 2016. The boundary revision extended the IRLNEP boundary northward 25 miles into the Volusia's Halifax River and added 198,678 acres to the estuary's watershed.[2] See Also: Geological_History

Watershed

Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Boundary Map
IRLNEP Boundary Map

The Indian River Lagoon National Estuary watershed comprises a bar-built estuary that merges five freshwater rivers (Tomoka, Eau Gallie, St. Sebastian, St. Lucie and Loxahatchee) and five saltwater inlets (Ponce de Leon, Sebastian, Ft. Pierce, St. Lucie and Jupiter) into four brackish water basins, Halifax River, Mosquito, Banana River, and Indian River lagoons.


Halifax River

The northern boundary of the Indian River Lagoon National Estuary is at Bulow Creek on the Halifax River in north Volusia County. Halifax River ranges southward to Ponce Inlet and Mosquito Lagoon.

Halifax River Tributaries
Tributaries are listed from North to South.
  • Bulow Creek
  • Tomoka River
  • Fozzard Creek
  • Wilbur Bay
  • Rose Bay
  • Mill Creek
  • Spruce Creek
  • Braddock Creek
  • Hunter Creek
  • Callalisa Creek
  • Elwinder Creek
  • Bottle Island Creek


Mosquito Lagoon

Mosquito Lagoon spans 28 miles southward to Brevard County, where it connects the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) to the Indian River lagoon via Haulover Canal.

An outdoor lover's paradise, Mosquito Lagoon is bounded on the west by Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge (MINWR), on the east by Canaveral National Seashore, and on the south by Kennedy Space Center.

Mosquito Lagoon Tributaries
Tributaries are listed from North to South.

Volusia County

Brevard County


Banana River Lagoon

The Banana River lagoon begins at Banana Creek, near Titusville, spans southward thru Kennedy Space Center (KSC), to merge with the Indian River lagoon at Dragon's Point, the southernmost tip of Merritt Island. Northern Banana River lagoon lies within KSC property and is closed to the public.

Port Canaveral, at Banana River lagoon's mid-point, is a major cruise, cargo and naval port. It is one of the busiest passenger ship terminals in the world and home to a U.S Navy submarine base.

Port Canaveral provides minor saltwater inflow into Banana River when the Canaveral Lock is opened. The lock allows sea-going vessels to access the northen Banana River lagoon or continue westward across Merritt Island via the Canaveral Barge Canal to the access the Indian River Intracoastal Waterway.

Banana River Tributaries
Tributaries are listed from North to South.

Brevard

Indian River Lagoon

From it's northern boundary at Turnbull Creek in Brevard's Scottsmoor, Indian River lagoon extends 121 miles southward thru five Florida counties, Brevard, Indian River, St. Lucie, Martin and Palm Beach. Indian River receives saltwater from Sebastian, St. Lucie, Fort Pierce, and Jupiter inlets and receives freshwater from Eau Gallie, Sebastian, St. Lucie, and Loxahatchee Rivers. Lake Okeechobee connects to the Indian River in St. Lucie County, via the Okeechobee Waterway and the St. Lucie River.

The southern boundary of the Indian River Lagoon National Estuary is at Martin County's Sewall's Point, where the Loxahatchee River and Indian River meet Palm Beach County's Jupiter Inlet.

Indian River Tributaries
Tributaries are listed from North to South.

Brevard County

Indian River County

St. Lucie County

  • Taylor Creek
  • Fort Pierce Inlet
  • Moores Creek

Martin County

  • Saint Lucie River
  • Saint Lucie Inlet

Palm Beach County

  • Loxahatchee River
  • Jupiter Inlet

Biota

Aerial photo of Pelican Island on Indian River lagoon
Pelican Island NWR

Home to more than 2,100 plants and 2,200 animal species, the Indian River Lagoon National Estuary is the most bio-diverse habitat in North America.[1]

The estuary contains many diverse natural habitats, from seagrass flats and mangrove shorelines to upland forests, that accommodate a vast array of plant and animal species. The estuary's saltwater inlets and freshwater tributaries blend together to form brackish water, which provides a unique habitat where plants and animals from both salt and freshwater habitats can reside.

Some species, including the Southeastern beach mouse, Atlantic salt marsh snake and Johnson's Seagrass are found nowhere else on earth. The Indian River Lagoon estuary is home to over 50 plant and animal species that are listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act, more than any other estuary in North America.[1] .

Habitat

Florida Scrub Jay at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge.
Scrub jay at MINWR

Because the Indian River Lagoon National Estuary is located in an area where tropical and temperate climates meet, it's over 4,000 plant and animal species include native subtropical and tropical residents, plus many migratory winter visitors. The estuary's diverse habitats, including freshwater tributaries, spoil islands, salt marshes, seagrass flats, oyster bars, mangroves, shorelines, and sandy pine forests provide homes for both aquatic and terrestrial plants and animals.

Flora

Mangrove forests provide shoreline protection, water purification, and nurseries for small fish, shrimp and crab. Seagrass is a keystone indicator species for the overall health of the lagoon.

Fauna

Green heron
Green heron

The estuary serves as a spawning and nursery ground for many different species of salt and brackish water fish and shellfish. Aquatic animals such as alligator, sea turtle, dolphin, Florida manatee and saltwater fish forage in the seagrass flats. Black drum, Red drum, Spotted seatrout, Common snook, and Atlantic tarpon are the main gamefish found in the estuary's lagoons.

Nearly 1/3 of the nation's manatee population lives in the estuary or migrates through the area seasonally. Between 200 and 800 Bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) live year-round in the Mosquito, Banana River and Indian River lagoons.[3] At night the lagoons are lit up with bioluminescent dinoflagellates in the summer and ctenophore in the winter.

In the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, a world-class birding destination, many types of shorebirds, waterfowl and wading birds, like the Roseate spoonbill, Snowy egret, and Brown pelican, can be seen feeding on shrimp, crustaceans and mollusks near the shorelines and mangrove covered spoil islands. Birds of prey including kites, hawks, osprey, owls, and eagles feed on reptiles, rodents and fish.

Higher up, in the sandy palmetto and pine uplands, the terrestrial animals might include boar, bobcat, deer, raccoon, opossum, armadillo, Gopher tortoise and Florida scrub jay.

Economy

Indian River Lagoon 2016 Economic Impact Brouchure
IRL 2016 Economic Impact Brochure

A healthy estuary is a vital economic factor in Florida's East Coast communities.

Direct Income

The Indian River Lagoon provides direct income for those working both on, and off the water.

  • Commercial fishing
  • Ecotourism Industry: Fishing, Hunting and Tour Guides
  • Watercraft/Auto sales, rentals, service and fuel
  • Fish Camps, Marinas and Ports
  • Outdoor Equipment, Bait and Tackle vendors
  • Fishing and Hunting License sales fund Florida's wildlife conservation projects.

Indirect Income

The economic success of direct income industries also indirectly increases income for:

  • Tourist Destinations
  • Visitor Transportation: Airport, Rental Car, Limo, Shuttle, Uber, Fuel and Service
  • Hospitality: Hotel, Restaurant, Gift & Souvenir Shops, Convenience Stores
  • Vacation rentals and Real Estate sales

A 2016 IRL Economic Valuation Study, conducted by Hazen and Sawyer water consultants for the St. John Water Management District (SJWMD), estimated the Indian River Lagoon Estuary's economic value at $7,640,311,564 per year.[4]

History

View of Mosquito Lagoon from Turtle Mound
Mosquito Lagoon from Turtle Mound

During glacial periods, the ocean receded. The area that is now the lagoon was grassland, 30 miles from the beach. When the glacier melted, the sea rose. The lagoon remained as captured water.

The indigenous people who lived along the lagoon thrived on its fish and shellfish. This was determined by analyzing the middens they left behind, piled with refuse from clams, oysters, and mussels.

The Indian River Lagoon was originally known on early Spanish maps as the Rio de Ais, after the Ais Indian tribe, who lived along the east coast of Florida. An expedition in 1605 by Alvero Mexia resulted in the mapping of most of the lagoon. Original place names on the map included Los Mosquitos (the Mosquito Lagoon and the Halifax River), Haulover (current Haulover Canal area), Ulumay Lagoon (Banana River) Rio d' Ais (North Indian River), and Pentoya Lagoon (Indian River Melbourne to Ft. Pierce)

Early European settlers drained the swamps to raise pineapples and citrus. They dug canals discharging freshwater into the lagoon at five times the historical volume.

Prior to the arrival of the railroad, the river was an essential transportation link.

In 1896 and 1902, there were fish kills in the lagoon from gas from the muck below.

The advent of the automobile, starting in the 1930s, resulted in causeways which diverted the sluggish flow of the waterway. Huge population influx resulted in sewage, and stormwater runoff from roadways, polluting the lagoon.

From 1989 to 2013, the population along the lagoon increased by 50% to 1.6 million people.

Timeline

In 1916, the St. Lucie Canal (C-44) diverts excess nutrient-rich water from Lake Okeechobee into the South Indian River Lagoon. While this helps prevent life-threatening flooding in the Okeechobee area, it creates toxic blooms after entering the Lagoon, a threat to flora, fauna, and humans. This situation is proving difficult to address in the 21st century.

From 1913 to 2013, activity by humans has increased the watershed for the lagoon from 572,000 to 1,400,000 acres increasing runoff of freshwater and nutrients from farms. Both have been detrimental to lagoon health. The wetlands are needed to cleanse the lagoon. About 40000 acres of land were lost to mosquito control and have been restored, but by 2013, recovery was incomplete.

Mangroves are a keystone species that help prevent shoreline erosion and provide critical habitat for marine life. Between the 1940s and 2013, 85% of them had been removed for housing development.

In 1986, there were 46 sewer plants along the 156 mile lagoon. They discharged about 55,000,000 gallons daily into the estuary.

In 1990, the Florida Legislature passed the Indian River Lagoon Act, requiring most sewer plants to stop discharging into the lagoon by 1996.

Some sports fish rebounded in population in the 1990s when gill nets were banned and pollution in the lagoon was reduced. In 1995 the seagrass covered over 100,000 acres.[5]

In 2007, concerns were raised about the future of the lagoon system, especially in the southern half where frequent freshwater discharges seriously threatened water quality, decreasing the salinity needed by many fish species, and have contributed to large algae blooms promoted by water saturated with plant fertilizers. In the mid 1990s, the lagoon has been the subject of research on light penetration for photosynthesis in submerged aquatic vegetation.[6]

2016 Banana River Super Bloom
2016 Banana River Super Bloom at Port Canaveral

In 2010, 3,300,000 lbs of nitrogen and 475,000 lbs of phosphorus entered the lagoon.

In 2011, a superbloom of phytoplankton resulted in the loss of 32,000 acres of lagoon seagrass. In 2012, a brown tide bloom fouled the northern lagoon.

Catches of blue crabs (Callinectes sapidus) dropped unevenly from 4265063 lb in 1987 to 389,795 lb in 2012, but with high catches in 1998, 1991, alternating with low catch years. These crabs require 2% salt content in the water to survive. Drought increases the salt content and heavy rainfall decreases it. Both of these conditions have recurred over the past decades and are believed to have had an adverse effect on the crab population.[7]

In 2013, algae blooms and loss of sea grass destroyed all gains.

In 2013, four major problems with lagoon water quality were identified.

  1. Excess nitrogen and phosphorus from runoff from the application of fertilizer;
  2. an estimated 8 to 11% septic tank failures of tens of thousands of septic tanks in the county.
  3. Muck from construction, farming, erosion, and dead plants find their way to the bottom of the lagoon, preventing growth and consuming vital oxygen essential to marine flora and fauna;
  4. Invasive species, including the Asian green mussel, South American charru mussel, and the Australian spotted jellyfish (Phyllorhiza punctata), eat clams and fish larvae.

In 2016, there were an estimated 300,000 septic tanks in the five-county area bordering the Lagoon.

In 2018, lagoon health is better near ocean inlets. Pollution is worse in areas with no inlets, such as the Mosquito Lagoon, North IRL, and the Banana River.

Human Impact

A chart of IRL Nitrogen Pollution Sources
IRL Nitrogen Pollution Sources

The Indian River Lagoon National Estuary spreads across Volusia, Brevard, Indian River, St. Lucie, Martin, and Palm Beach counties with a rapidly growing population of 1.5 million residents. Waterfront residents enjoy a panoramic view, a parade of watercraft, wildlife encounters, and backyard boat docks with instant water access. Condominium dwellers enjoy well-manicured landscaping, large paved parking lots, and a convenient shopping plaza nearby.

Over twenty causeways and bridges have been built across the estuary to accommodate an ever increasing barrier island population. The estuary's water is primarily moved by wind, and every causeway impedes nature's ability to refresh the lagoon's stagnant water. Detritus piles up at the causeway corners, rots in the summer heat, and makes the Indian River smell like rotten eggs.

Human impact from excessive development, inadequate sewer utilities, seeping septic systems, stormwater run-off laden with lawn fertilizer, and the destruction of wetlands for development has drastically affected the estuary's health.

The result of this adverse human impact could be seen in a 2016 green algae outbreak. Fueled by nutrient pollution, the blooming algae growth created a lack of oxygen (eutrophication) in the water that caused widespread fish kills across Florida's East Coast. The resulting harmful algae bloom (HAB) rendered parts of the estuary unusable; turned lush waterfront real estate into least desirable neighborhoods; created respiratory health problems for residents; killed many aquatic plants and animals; and totally devastated the local ecotourism industry; all known effects of excessive nutrient pollution.

Restoration and Preservation

Hazen and Sawyer's Economic Valuation Study also reported that for every $1 spent restoring the Indian River lagoon, $33 would be returned to the local economy.[4]

In 2016, the citizens of Brevard County voted in a .5% sales tax increase to fund a program to restore and preserve the Indian River Lagoon. Brevard's Save Our Indian River Lagoon (SOIRL) trust has received over $114 million in sales tax revenue to date (2019). Directed by the Brevard County Natural Resources Department, overseen by the Citizen Oversight Committee (COC), counseled by the NEP's IRL Council[8], and guided by scientists from the Indian River Lagoon Research Institute (IRLRI) at Florida Institute of Technology (FIT), the SOIRL currently has several restoration projects underway.[9]

The 2019 SOIRL Project Plan[10] includes:

  • Research and Monitoring by IRLRI and SJRWMD
  • Muck dredging
  • Septic tank to sewer system conversion
  • Barrier island sewer utility overhaul
  • Living Shoreline and oyster bar restoration
  • Public information campaigns on fertilizer and stormwater impact

Web Links

Documents

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 An Introduction to a Natural Treasure
  2. ↑ IRLNEP_Final-Draft-CCMP-REVISION_2018-12-07 (PDF 196pp 20MB), "2016 EXPANSION OF THE IRLNEP PLANNING BOUNDARY", page 14, retrieved 2021-04-14.
  3. ↑ Indian River Lagoon Estuarine System Stock - Bottlenose Dolphin
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 2016 IRL Economic Impact Report
  5. ↑ Seagrass biodiversity in the Indian River Lagoon
  6. ↑ Hanisak, M. Dennis (1997). "Continuous Monitoring of Underwater Light in Indian River Lagoon: Comparison of Cosine and Spherical Sensors". In: EJ Maney, Jr and CH Ellis, Jr (Eds.) the Diving for Science…1997, Proceedings of the American Academy of Underwater Sciences, Seventeenth Annual Scientific Diving Symposium. Retrieved 2009-04-02.
  7. ↑ Waymer, Jim (September 8, 2013). "Lagoon crab catches dwindle". Florida Today. Melbourne, Florida. pp. 1A, 3A. Retrieved September 13, 2013.
  8. ↑ "Website of the IRL Council". onelagoon.org. Retrieved 12 March 2021.
  9. ↑ Save Our Indian River Lagoon
  10. ↑ SOIRL Project Plan 2019
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