Indian River Lagoon Questions
From Indian River Lagoon Project
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the Indian River Lagoon National Estuary including the Mosquito, Banana River and Indian River Lagoons.
What is an Estuary?
Estuaries are bodies of water usually found where rivers meet the sea. Estuaries are home to unique plant and animal communities that have adapted to brackish water.
What is a lagoon?
A Lagoon is a shallow stretch of salt or brackish water, partly or completely separated from a sea or lake by an offshore reef, barrier island or sandbank. The word "lagoon" derives from the Italian word laguna, which means "pond" or "lake."
Why is the lagoon so clear right now?
Florida's seasonal droughts bring clarity to the estuary's lagoons. The annual decrease in stormwater run-off means less pollution flowing into the estuary, and clearer water in the lagoons. Summer's frequent rains increase stormwater run-off and the estuary's brackish water becomes murky again.
What is the Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program (IRLNEP)?
Florida's Banana River, Indian River and Mosquito Lagoons were recognized as an Estuary of National Significance and placed in the Environmental Protection Agency's National Estuary Program in 1990. The Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program (IRLNEP) is managed by the IRL Council, a special district of the State of Florida.
Where is the Indian River Lagoon National Estuary located?
From it's northern boundary in Volusia County, Florida, the 156 mile long IRL National Estuary ranges across Brevard, Indian River, St. Lucie and Martin counties, to it's southern boundary in Palm Beach County. Coordinates: 28°03′19″N 80°34′34″W / 28.05528°N 80.57611°W / 28.05528; -80.57611
What type of estuary is the Indian River Lagoon National Estuary?
The Banana River, Indian River and Mosquito lagoons are bar-built estuaries, formed by ocean waves pushing sand up to form a barrier island between the Atlantic Ocean and the mainland. The shallow coastal lagoons receive water from ocean inlets and freshwater rivers.
Is the Indian River Lagoon National Estuary freshwater or saltwater?
The estuary's "brackish water" lagoons are a mixture of saltwater from five Atlantic Ocean inlets and freshwater from numerous wetlands, creeks, rivers and canals. The salinity of the brackish water varies with the amount of freshwater rainfall and strength of ocean tides.
How long is the Indian River Lagoon National Estuary?
From it's northern boundary at Ponce de Leon Inlet in Volusia County, Florida to it's southern boundary at Jupiter Inlet in Palm Beach County, the Indian River Lagoon National Estuary is 156 miles long.
How big is the Indian River Lagoon National Estuary?
Averaging only 4' in depth and .5 to 5 miles wide, the 156 mile long Indian River Lagoon National Estuary covers 2,284 square miles, with a surface water area of 353 square miles.
