Category:National Estuary: Difference between revisions
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== | ==A National Treasure== | ||
In 1990, the Indian River Lagoon was chosen as an Estuary of National Significance and assigned to the National Estuary Program (NEP) by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).<ref name=epanep>[https://www.epa.gov/nep EPA - National Estuary Program]</ref> The new National Estuary's first steward was Florida's St. Johns Water Management District (SJWMD). In 2015, the IRL Council<ref name=irlcouncil>[http://www.irlcouncil.com/ IRL Council]</ref>, a special district of the State of Florida, was created to oversee the Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program (IRLNEP). | In 1990, the Indian River Lagoon was chosen as an Estuary of National Significance and assigned to the National Estuary Program (NEP) by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).<ref name=epanep>[https://www.epa.gov/nep EPA - National Estuary Program]</ref> The new National Estuary's first steward was Florida's St. Johns Water Management District (SJWMD). In 2015, the IRL Council<ref name=irlcouncil>[http://www.irlcouncil.com/ IRL Council]</ref>, a special district of the State of Florida, was created to oversee the Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program (IRLNEP). | ||
In 2016, the citizens of Brevard County voted in a .5% sales tax increase to fund a program to restore and preserve the National Estuary. 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 NEP's IRL Council, 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> | In 2016, the citizens of Brevard County voted in a .5% sales tax increase to fund a program to restore and preserve the National Estuary. 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 NEP's IRL Council, 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> | ||
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==Web Links== | ==Web Links== | ||
* [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/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)] | ||
Revision as of 20:32, November 10, 2019
The United States Environmental Protection Agency has designated the Indian River Lagoon as an Estuary of National Significance in it's National Estuary Program.
About the IRL National Estuary
The Indian River Lagoon National Estuary is a 156-mile long estuary spanning 40% of Florida's East Coast. The estuary's 3 main water bodies are the Mosquito, Banana River and Indian River lagoons.[1]
Despite it's name, the Indian River is actually a bar-built lagoon with no directional current flow. It's brackish water body is a confluence of 4 saltwater Atlantic Ocean inlets, 5 freshwater rivers and numerous feeder creeks. Within it's boundaries are an Air Force Base, a National Space Center, a National Seashore, two National Wildlife Refuges, and several wildlife sanctuaries. It's vast waters provide an outdoor recreational playground for boaters, fishers, birders, campers, hikers, bikers and day trippers alike.
It's temperate location and varied habitats make the Indian River Estuary one of the most bio-diverse habitats in North America. The estuary's mangrove shorelines, spoil islands, oyster bars, saltwater marshes, and seagrass flats provide habitat for terrestrial and aquatic species found in both fresh, and salt water ecosystems. The estuary is home to over 4000 plant and animal species, some threatened or endangered.
Economy
A healthy estuary is a vital economic factor in the community. 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.[2]
Human Impact
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 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 green algae growth 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.
The recent Economic Valuation Study reported that for every $1 spent restoring the estuary, $33 would be returned to the local economy.[2]
A National Treasure
In 1990, the Indian River Lagoon was chosen as an Estuary of National Significance and assigned to the National Estuary Program (NEP) by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).[3] The new National Estuary's first steward was Florida's St. Johns Water Management District (SJWMD). In 2015, the IRL Council[4], a special district of the State of Florida, was created to oversee the Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program (IRLNEP).
In 2016, the citizens of Brevard County voted in a .5% sales tax increase to fund a program to restore and preserve the National Estuary. 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 NEP's IRL Council, 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.[5]
Web Links
Pages in category "National Estuary"
The following 5 pages are in this category, out of 5 total.
