Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program2023 IRL Council Board of Directors
Chris Dzadovsky, Chair
St. Lucie County Commission

Executive Director’s Message:

Jeff Brower, Vice-Chair
Volusia County Council

Dear IRL Council Board of Directors, Indian River Lagoon National
Estuary Program (IRLNEP) Management Conference participants,
community partners, investors, and citizens:

Joe Earman, Secretary
Indian River County Council
Stacey Hetherington
Martin County Commission

The IRLNEP is pleased to present this Annual Report for Fiscal Year
2023. Our program continues to focus on investing IRL Council funds
to address high priority needs identified in the IRL Comprehensive
Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP) – Looking Ahead to 2030.

Rob Feltner
Brevard County Commission
Aaron Watkins
Florida Department of Environmental Protection
Doug Bournique
Governing Board, St. Johns River Water
Management District
Jacqui Thurlow-LippischGoverning Board, South Florida Water
Management District
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (Advisory)
Wade Lehmann/Becky Allenbach (Region 4)
Jennifer DiMaio (Region 4)
Vince Bacalan (Washington, D.C.)
IRLNEP and IRL Council Staff:
Duane E. De Freese, Ph.D.
Executive Director

Kathleen Hill
Deputy Director, Chief Communications Officer
Daniel Kolodny
Chief Operating Officer
Erin Bergman
Administrative Coordinator
Kirsten Ayres-Guerra
GIS/IT Data Scientist
Caleta Scott
Community Engagement Coordinator
Heather Stapleton
Community Engagement Coordinator
Jessy Wayles
Community Engagement Coordinator
Accounting/Business Services
Special District Services, Inc.
Communications Services
IDEAS Orlando
Independent Auditing Services
Carr, Riggs & Ingram CPAs and Advisors
Legal Services
Glen Torcivia
Torcivia, Donlon, Goddeau & Rubin, P.A.
Technical Support Services
Tetra Tech, Inc.; The Balmoral Group;
Diversity of Thought, Inc.

J. Gutowski

In past years, we have structured the IRLNEP Annual Report to reflect
both IRLNEP projects and partner projects that were not funded by the
IRL Council. To improve our reporting clarity, as well as the timing anddistribution of our Annual Report, we are focusing this Annual Reportsolely on IRLNEP projects, milestones and expenditures. We are in
the process of developing story maps, infographics and other summarycommunications that will keep stakeholders informed about ongoing andcompleted projects throughout the region.

The good news is that IRL stakeholders are implementing a wide variety of projects funded by our federal, state, local
government and non-governmental partners. Much of this work is possible due to historic levels of new funding madeavailable for IRL water quality and restoration projects.
At the federal level, passage of the 2022 bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) represented atransformational investment in our nation’s infrastructure and competitiveness. Each of the 28 National Estuary
Programs is receiving $909,800 annually for fiscal years 2022-2026. These funds are in addition to annual
Congressional appropriations to the NEP through Section 320 of the Clean Water Act. The IRLNEP will allocate these
new funds to deliver priority programs over the next five years, including the creation of an IRL seagrass nursery
network to support seagrass research and restoration. Additionally, projects that deliver benefits to underrepresented
communities will also be funded as required by IIJA funding stipulations.
At the State level, Governor Ron DeSantis issued Executive Order 23-06 calling for creation of the “Indian River
Lagoon Protection Program” with an appropriation of $100 million for fiscal year 2024. This visionary legislation was
supported by the Florida Legislature and signed into law on June 14, 2023. As part of this legislation, the IRLNEP will
be working with the South Florida Water Management District, St. Johns River Water Management District andFlorida Department of Environmental Protection to develop and implement an “Indian River Lagoon Watershed
Research and Water Quality Monitoring Program.” Adoption of the IRLNEP One Lagoon Comprehensive Monitoring
Plan in 2023 is providing valuable information to support and inform this initiative.
As we look forward to 2024, we are encouraged by the improved water quality and clarity over the past 18 months andthe beginning of seagrass recovery in many locations. These signs of ecosystem resilience and recovery give us hope forthe future. However, summer algal blooms, unusually high water temperatures, periods of low dissolved oxygen andfish mortality events provide constant reminders that the Lagoon remains highly vulnerable. Our work is not done.
We must have the resolve to continue our efforts and investments. Responsible stewardship is the foundation for
Indian River Lagoon health, regional economic prosperity and our continued quality of life.
Regards,
Duane E. De Freese, Ph.D.
Executive Director

Photo: E. Lopez

3National Estuary Programs:

There Is a Plan for Restoring the Lagoon:

Overview of the National Estuary Program:
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) established the National Estuary Program (NEP) as a core water
program authorized by Section 320 of the Clean Water Act. The mission of the NEP is to protect and restore the water
quality and ecological integrity of the 28 estuaries designated by the U.S. Congress as “Estuaries of National Significance.”

The IRLNEP fully revised its CCMP for the IRL in 2019 and is using it to direct Program activities and funding through2030. The Program will continue funding projects, tracking progress and responding to opportunities as new
information and understanding come to light. The primary goal of the CCMP is to guide the IRLNEP and its partners
toward implementing corrective actions that will restore the IRL to health. The IRL Vital Signs wheel contains 32 Vital
Signs that were developed to guide improvements to lagoon health. E ach was ranked in terms of how critical it is tothe health of the Lagoon. Six Vital Signs were ranked as the highest priority areas: Wastewater, Impaired Waters,
Stormwater, Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs), Seagrasses, and CCMP Implementation and Financing.

Restoring and Protecting the Nation’s Natural Treasures

Each NEP is governed by a Management Conference composed of diverse stakeholders. The Management Conference is
responsible for developing a 10-year Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP) to guide estuary
science, restoration and stewardship. The management conference ensures the CCMP is uniquely tailored to local
environmental conditions, is based on local input, and is focused on local priorities.
The IRLNEP was established in 1990 and joined the NEP in 1991. Today, the IRLNEP is the leading organization thatconnects local, state, federal and community partners with a common goal to restore the IRL. The U.S. EPA is a valued
partner, providing funding and acting in an advisory capacity to bring technical assistance and scientific expertise to theProgram. The IRLNEP also benefits by collaborating among the other 27 NEPs through the Association of National
Estuary Programs (ANEP).

The IRLNEP encourages federal and state agencies, counties, m unicipalities, community groups and individuals todetermine which Vital Signs align with their areas of responsibility and work to address the problems over which they
have control.
To learn more and view our call-to-action video, visit onelagoon.org.

Twenty-eight Estuaries of National Significance are included in the U.S. EPA’s National Estuary Program. Graphic: ANEP.

National Estuary Programs Are:

• Science-based• Non-regulatory• Community-driven• Consensus-building• Results-oriented• Effective and efficient

For every dollar the EPA provides, NEPs leverage $17 in local funding
to protect and improve coastal environments, communities, and economies.
Vital Signs wheel adapted from Puget Sound Partnership5

2023 Summary of Conditions in the IRL:
How is the Lagoon Doing?

The Indian River Lagoon experienced another fairly goodyear in 2023. Salinity remained in the expected range
for most of the year, falling somewhat as summer rains
began. Secchi depths, which measure water clarity, weregenerally over 2 feet for much of the year, even reaching
to the bottom in some areas. Water temperatures became
unusually high in the spring. Because warmer water holds
less oxygen than cooler water, high water temperatures
raised the possibility that large fish kills might occur as
the summer months approached. Fortunately, the upshotof the year’s water quality was that seagrass showed someencouraging signs of recovery and fish kills were notextensive.
Despite generally good water quality, blooms of several
species of microalgae raised concerns that widespreadand harmful algal blooms could occur. Pseudo-nitzschia sp.,a diatom, began blooming in early 2023 and persisted atelevated numbers until June. A bioluminescentdinoflagellate, Pyrodinium bahamense, started bloomingin April. Areas with blooms became more numerous andwidespread in May and persisted through September.

Both Pseudo-nitzschia sp. and Pyrodinium bahamense tend
to form localized, patchy blooms rather than large bloomsthat spread across wide areas.
During August and September, several fish kills werereported from nearshore areas where high watertemperatures, combined with the collapse of Pyrodinium
blooms, likely resulted in stressful, low oxygen conditions
that impacted hundreds to thousands of fish in localized
areas.
St. Johns River Water Management District reported
that field observations of IRL seagrasses documented
patchy recovery. Mosquito Lagoon rebounded most, withover 50 percent cover noted at some places. Recovery was
not uniform throughout the Lagoon however, andseagrasses in some areas, particularly in the central IRL,
are still struggling.
As shown in the graphic below, mean transect lengths(black line) in 2023 increased slightly from 2022, while
mean percent cover (gray line) remained similar toprevious years. Images for a new map of the extent ofseagrass were collected in the spring, with the map dueout in early 2024.

Mean Percent Cover of Seagrasses andCaulerpa prolifera Noted During Field
Observations in Summer 2023
Seagrass 26%
Seagrass 51%
Seagrass 4%

Seagrass 33%(15% Caulerpa)

Seagrass <1%

Seagrass <4%

Seagrass 0%

Seagrass <1%(28% Caulerpa)(79% Caulerpa)(66 % Caulerpa)(50% Caulerpa)

Seagrass <1%(25% Caulerpa)

Seagrass 7%(4% Caulerpa

Field observations during Summer
2023 documented the best recovery ofseagrass in southern Mosquito Lagoon.
In the central IRL, seagrasses continue
to struggle; however, the macroalga
Caulerpa prolifera now dominates thelagoon bottom. In some areas, seagrasses
have begun to intersperse among Caulerpa
colonies. In the southern IRL, seagrasscover averaged 13 percent.

Graphic showing measures of health for seagrasses in the IRL. Note that while the extent of seagrass continued to lose ground through2021, there have been slight upticks in transect lengths in 2022 and 2023. Cover along transects remained low. A new map showing theextent of seagrasses in the Lagoon will be available in 2024. Graphic: SJRWMD.

Seagrass 13%(1% Caulerpa

In the central IRL, the macroalga Caulerpa prolifera (bottom of photo)
dominates the bottom, replacing seagrasses in many areas. However,seagrasses have shown signs of colonizing (center of photo) in someareas. Photo: SJRWMD

Seagrasses in southern Mosquito Lagoon have shown the best recovery with
26% to 51% cover in some areas during Summer 2023. Photo: SJRWMD

South of the Ft. Pierce area of the IRL, seagrass cover is stable atapproximately 13%. Photo: SJRWMD

7

IRLNEP Sources of Revenue:
IRL Council Annual Contributions:• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: $750,000• Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Funding: $909,800• South Florida Water Management District: $500,000• St. Johns River Water Management District: $500,000

Fiscal Year 2023 Budgeted Expenditures:$5,218,246

Total Expenditures(Includes fund balance forwardfrom FY 2022)$2,771,970

29 Projects Funded• Volusia County: $50,000

4 Nutrient Reduction ($414,865)
10 Restoration ($1,191,980)
8 Research/Monitoring ($668,990)
7 Community Engagement ($496,135)• Brevard County: $50,000$265,123• Florida Department of Environmental Protection: $250,000• Indian River County: $50,000

Program Operations• St. Lucie County: $50,000(includes Administrative Services,
Administrative Costs, Facilities Expenses)• Martin County: $50,000$641,963

Other 2023 Revenues:• Estimated sales of Indian River Lagoon specialty license
plate: $125,000

Salaries and Benefits$758,395

Fund Balance - End of Year

Thank You to the thousands of Florida drivers who make apersonal contribution to Lagoon restoration by purchasing
the IRL specialty license plate.
Photo: J. Angy

9

Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Funding:
A Transformational Opportunity to Build Capacity for
Lagoon Restoration

On November 15, 2021, President Biden signed into law the “Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021” (IIJA). The
law allocated $50 billion to the U.S. EPA for water infrastructure, making it the largest federal investment inwater infrastructure to date. Among its provisions, the IIJA designated $132 million in funding to be distributed
evenly among National Estuary Programs. This funding provides each program with an annual grant of $909,800, totaling$4,549,000 over the fiscal years from 2022-2026.
The IRLNEP views this initiative as a transformational opportunity to solve several logistical problems focused on
seagrass restoration efforts. Having supported a handful of pilot programs, IRLNEP staff were aware that restoration
practitioners in the region lacked adequate supply chains to successfully perform large-scale seagrass restorations in the IRL.
At the same time, there has been intense interest from a number of organizations, some new to seagrass restoration efforts,
to begin planting seagrasses in the IRL. In an effort to improve supply chains and develop a coordinated community ofpractice for seagrass restoration, the IRLNEP invested in the development of a lagoonwide Seagrass Nursery Network.

Tanks are filled at Brevard Zoo’s newly constructed seagrass nursery.
Photo: Brevard Zoo.

Brevard Zoo volunteers plant seagrasses into nursery tanks for the firsttime. Photo: Brevard Zoo.

Technicians at FAU-Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute monitor
seagrass growth in nursery tanks. Photo: FAU-Harbor Branch.

Shoal grass (Halodule wrightii) growing in FAU-Harbor Branch
Oceanographic Institute’s land-based seagrass nursery. Photo: FAUHarbor Branch.

The seagrass nursery at Florida Oceanographic Society flourishes. Photo:
Florida Oceanographic Society.

An experimental plot of planted seagrass is caged to exclude sea turtles,
herbivorous fish and manatees. Photo: Florida Oceanographic Society.

Nursery facilities for Sea and Shoreline’s Brevard County facility are
under construction. Photo: Sea and Shoreline.

Sea and Shoreline seagrass plugs are outplanted into the Moore’s Creek
restoration project in Ft. Pierce. Photo: Fort Pierce Utilities Authority.

A Request for Qualifications was released in early 2022 to determine potential partners in this effort. Five respondents
were deemed qualified: Marine Discovery Center in New Smyrna Beach, Brevard Zoo in Melbourne, FAU-Harbor Branch
Oceanographic Institute in Ft. Pierce, Florida Oceanographic Society in Jensen Beach and the private company, Sea andShoreline LLC, which would base its IRL operations in Ft. Pierce and Brevard County. As part of its work, Sea andShoreline will also develop a jobs training program focused on habitat restoration.
The Network is in varying stages of development and operations with some nurseries in full seagrass production and others
still under construction. When completed, the nursery network will be able to supply seagrasses for both scientific researchand the restoration efforts that will jumpstart seagrass recovery throughout the IRL. It is important to note however, that
seagrass planting, while helpful, is not a substitute for the clear, clean water required for optimum seagrass growth andnatural recruitment. Needed improvements to water quality will only come as progress continues to be made in removing
excess nutrients from the stormwater and wastewater that enter the lagoon on a daily basis.

Left: Map of the IRLNEP Seagrass Nursery Network. Top Right: Brevard Zoo staff monitor seagrasses planted in the Lagoon. Bottom right:
Brevard Zoo staff and volunteers plant experimental plots of seagrasses. Photos: Brevard Zoo.

11

Your NEP at Work:
The IRLNEP increased the size of its staff in Fiscal Year 2023 with the addition of a GIS/IT Data Scientist and three
Community Engagement Coordinators. These staff additions expand the Program’s capacity to engage with the public andour partners and build new relationships in communities where the Program lacked a presence.
Through the work of our Data Scientist in 2023, the IRLNEP has expanded its communications and data visualization andcommunications capabilities and has undertaken the development of several story maps that will bring project information
to the public. When completed, website users will have access to project information, final reports and photos from eachproject the IRLNEP has funded since 2016.
Community Engagement Coordinators have participated in over 200 meetings, 150 events and have undertaken over 200
outreach activities, some of which include restoration events, speaking engagements, monitoring activities and volunteer
coordination. The photos below highlight some of the many activities staff participated in during 2023.

Community Engagement Coordinator, Heather Stapleton, gives a talkat the Florida-Friendly Landscaping Seminar.

Community Engagement Coordinator, Caleta Scott, helps children use
a microscope to view plankton collected from the Lagoon.

GIS/IT Data Scientist, KJ Ayres-Guerra presenting to the ESRI User
Conference about IRLNEP efforts to map seagrass recovery.

Administrative Coordinator, Erin Bergman, was a site leader forInternational Coastal Cleanup where more than 100 volunteers worked
to collect trash from the lagoon shoreline in Sebastian.

Left: Community Engagement Coordinator, Jessy Wayles, recording a podcast with Tailor Trash Fly Fishing. Center: Chief Operating Officer, Daniel
Kolodny, giving a TEDx talk (available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWIrgwNxMw8) on the IRLNEP’s efforts to build capacity for seagrass
restoration. Right: Deputy Director, Kathy Hill, giving a talk to the bipartisan House Estuaries Caucus in Washington D.C. in March.

Kathy Hill and Daniel Kolodny attending the joint meetings of the U.S. EPA, Association of National Estuary Programs, the National Estuarine
Research Reserve Association, Restore America’s Estuaries and the Coastal States Organization.

Executive Director, Duane De Freese, learns that the future aquarium
being built by Brevard Zoo will host a conservation center named in his
honor.

12

Heather Stapleton and Caleta Scott assist Dana Becker from Florida
Oceanographic Society in monitoring seagrasses as part of the FOS Citizen
Science Seagrass Network.

13

1. University of Central Florida: Enhancing Living Shorelines
2. Marine Discovery Center: Non-Plastic Restoration Materials in Mosquito Lagoon and Tomoka Basin
3. Marine Discovery Center: Enhancement of Habitat Using Non-Plastic Materials
4. University of Central Florida: Charge on: Habitat Restoration in Mosquito Lagoon, Florida
5. University of Central Florida: Unintended Consequences - Are Non-Plastic Materials Always Better?
6. City of Cocoa: Dixon Blvd. at Indian River Drive Water Quality and Resiliency Project (D&E)
7. Brevard Zoo: Restore Our Shores: Community-Based Seagrass Restoration in the IRL
8. Florida Institute of Technology: Suffocating Sand; Mapping Hypoxia and its Impacts
9. Florida Institute of Technology: Optimization of an Environmentally-Friendly Denitrification Bioreactor, Year 2
10. Florida Institute of Technology: Optimization of an Environmentally-Friendly Biological Denitrification System
11. Bethune-Cookman University: IRL Seagrass Restoration Using a Mosquito Control Impoundment
12. WSP USA Environment & Infrastructure, Inc.: Atmospheric Deposition - Nutrient Monitoring Year 3
13. Indian River Land Trust: Mosquito Impoundment Management to Increase Value as Vital Fish Nurseries Year 2
14. Indian River County: Restoration for the Lost Tree Island Conservation Area, Phase 4
15. St. Lucie County: Sheraton Stormwater Treatment Area
16. Manatee Observation and Education Center: Seagrass Restoration Project
17. Sea and Shoreline: Tucker Cove Seagrass Restoration
18. City of Port St. Lucie: Septic to Sewer Conversion Along Elkcam Waterway
19. FWC: Monitoring Improved Hydrology, Water Quality, and Mangrove Recovery in the Jensen Beach Impoundment
20. Martin County: Connect to Protect Septic to Sewer Program Year 3
21. City of Stuart: SE Illinois Avenue Living Shoreline Project
22. City of Stuart: Tressler Drive Water Quality Improvement Project
23. Martin County: Connect to Protect Septic to Sewer Nutrient Removal Year 2
24. Martin County: Hobe-Heights Jimmy Graham Stormwater Park
25. University of Florida: Restoration of Clam Populations in the Indian River Lagoon for Water Quality Year 3
26. University of Florida and Florida Atlantic University-Harbor Branch: Harmful Algal Bloom Monitoring Year 3
27. Tetra Tech: CCMP Project Inventory and Support for CCMP Implementation
28. Smithsonian Marine Station at Ft. Pierce: IRL Biodiversity and IRL Species Inventory Update Year 3
29. Florida Atlantic University: Sampling to Assess Toxins Produced by HABs in the Indian River Lagoon
30. IRLNEP: Capacity-Building Support and Grants Writing, with Natua Strategies, T. Pinney, and Angie Brewer, Inc.
31. Applied Ecology: State of the Lagoon Technical Report Year 3
32. IRLNEP: Building Lagoon-wide Capacity for IRL Seagrass Recovery Through Infrastructure Investments
33. IDEAS Orlando: One Lagoon Communication and Brand Activation
34. IRLNEP Small Grants Program
35. IRLNEP: Support for Science Symposia, Conferences , Workshops and Events
36. Various: (5 contracts) Building Lagoon‐wide Capacity for Seagrass Recovery Through Infrastructure Investments
37. University of Florida: Restoration of Clam Populations in the Indian River Lagoon for Water Quality Year 4
38. WSP USA Environment & Infrastructure, Inc.: Atmospheric Deposition Monitoring Stations
38. Florida Institute of Technology: Characterization of Microcystin in Coastal-Dwelling Mammals in the IRL
40. University of Florida and Florida Atlantic University-Harbor Branch: Harmful Algal Bloom Monitoring Year 4
41. Smithsonian Marine Station at Ft. Pierce: IRL Biodiversity and IRL Species Inventory Update Year 4
42. IRLNEP Small Grants Program
43. IRLNEP: Support for Science Symposia, Conferences , Workshops and Events
44. Applied Ecology: State of the Lagoon Technical Report Year 4
45. IRLNEP: Replacement Vessel
46. IDEAS Orlando: One Lagoon Communication and Brand Activation
47. IRLNEP: Community Engagement Coordinators
48. Tetra Tech: CCMP Project Inventory and Support for CCMP Implementation
15

Your NEP at Work:IRLNEP-Funded Projects FY 2023:
Numbers preceding project names correspond to map locations for FY 2023 IRLNEP projects. FY 2022 projects are not described below
but are shown on the map as recent projects. For details of these projects, see the IRLNEP 2022 Annual Report.

1. Enhancing Living Shorelines: How Can We Manipulate Spartina alterniflora Plantings to Improve
Impaired Waters by Stabilizing Sediment and Reducing Nutrients?

Sponsor and Partners: University of Florida, Florida Sea Grant, Florida Fish and Wildlife Comm.
Outputs: 		This projects optimizes living shoreline function by identifying planting designs that promote			sediment trapping and habitat improvement. Two sites will support plant survey work for this			
project: New Smyrna Beach, planted with Spartina in 2014, which currently serves as a nursery			source for restoration projects; and North Peninsula State Park, planted from 2010 through 2015.
Outcomes:		
In the short-term, the project provides needed tools to implement living shoreline projects. In			the mid-term, the project will provide planting designs for maximizing sediment trapping,			
nutrient retention and habitat improvement. In the long-term, improved water quality, enhanced			
quality and functionality of restored areas are expected.
IRLNEP Contribution: $ 99,618
Partner Match:$ 34,601
Total Project Cost:$ 134,219

3. Enhancement of Habitat and Biodiversity in Mosquito Lagoon Using Non-Plastic Materials

Sponsor and Partners: Marine Discovery Center, University of Central Florida
Outputs: 		Project will restore 4 oyster reefs in Mosquito Lagoon using BESETM biodegradable mesh			with stainless wire, or pH-balanced cement/jute patties. Eight-hundred linear feet of living			
shoreline will also be restored in Mosquito Lagoon using cement/jute breakwaters or steel mesh			bags filled with oyster shell. A minimum of 20 community events will be held and over 90,000			pounds of oyster shell will be recycled through the Shuck & Share Program.
Outcomes:
Short-term: 10,000 live oysters, 1,000 plants, 0.5 cm accretion of sediment; long-term, 40,000 live			oysters, retention of reproductive plants, accretion of 4 cm of sediments and improved water and			habitat quality in Mosquito Lagoon. Over 500 volunteers will contribute 2,000 hours and learn			more about the ecosystem of the IRL.
IRLNEP Contribution: $ 99,000
Partner Match:$ 170,722
Total Project Cost:$ 269,722

4. Charge on: Habitat Restoration in Mosquito Lagoon, Florida

Sponsor and Partners: University of Central Florida, Marine Discovery Center
Outputs: 		This project will improve water quality and increase resiliency of IRL to sea level rise and storm			
surge through habitat restoration of 6 oyster reefs and 600 feet of eroded shoreline in Mosquito			
Lagoon using volunteers and nonplastic, biodegradable materials. Efforts will co-locate urgently			
needed seagrass (Halodule wrightii) restoration based on successful pilot studies plus natural
			
recruitment recorded in April 2022 associated with 2021 restoration efforts.
Outcomes:		
Project improves in both water quality and habitat quality by providing both oyster and seagrass			restoration. Public engagement enhances volunteer knowledge of the IRL, its ecology and			habitats, and provides opportunities for those wishing to take action to protect the IRL.
IRLNEP Contribution: $ 127,713
Partner Match:$ 103,181
Total Project Cost:$ 230,894

Photo: L. Walters

1717

Your NEP at Work:IRLNEP-Funded Projects FY 2023:
5. Unintended Consequences: Are Non-Plastic Materials Now Used in Coastal Restoration Always
Better for the Indian River Lagoon?

Sponsor and Partners: University of Central Florida
Outputs: 		Recent research documented the IRL as a hotspot for microplastics in filter-feeding animals. To			date, no assessments have been performed on alternative materials being embraced to replace			plastics. This project will provide chemical analyses of components released by non-plastic
			materials breaking down over time. 			
Outcomes:		
Project will identify biodegradable materials with limited vs. substantial nutrient and heavy metal			
impacts on IRL species and ecology. Dissemination of results and data will allow comparison
			among restoration materials to determine those that are least impactful.
IRLNEP Contribution: $ 60,435
Partner Match:$ 20,208
Total Project Cost:$ 80,643

6. Dixon Blvd. at Indian River Drive Water Quality and Resiliency Project (Design & Engineering)Sponsor and Partners: City of Cocoa
Outputs: 		This project funds design and permitting for a nutrient-separating baffle box that will treat 2 out			falls and potentially others. The roadway will be elevated for safety and resiliency and the baffle			
box will provide stormwater treatment and trash removal.
Outcomes: 		Three key benefits of this project include water quality, education, and resiliency. This project has			
the potential to treat approximately 37 acres of vacant, multi-family, and single-family land-uses.
			The removals will improve local resiliency, reduce turbidity and provide improved community			aesthetics via trash removal from the local environment.
IRLNEP Contribution: $ 40,000
Partner Match:$ 40,000
Total Project Cost:$ 80,000

Photo: L. Walters

7. Restore Our Shores: Community-Based Seagrass Restoration in the IRL

Sponsor and Partners: Brevard Zoo, Seagrass Ecosystems Analysts, Hubbs-SeaWorld Research InstituteOutputs: 		
The project will construct a seagrass nursery at the Hubbs-SeaWorld facility in Brevard County.
			The system will produce 4,800 square feet of seagrasses annually. Using this nursery stock,			
Brevard Zoo volunteers, who contribute as much as 500 hours of time, will plant 24 seagrass beds			
totaling 4,800 square feet in several locations throughout the IRL.
Outcomes:		
Approximately 4,800 feet of seagrass habitats will be restored and a sustainable seagrass nursery			will be established. Findings from this project will inform future site selection and best practices
			for seagrass restoration. Natural recruitment and planting of seagrasses will restore vital			
functioning of the herbivore food chain in the IRL.
IRLNEP Contribution: $ 60,000
Partner Match:$ 124,496
Total Project Cost:$ 184,496

8. Suffocating Sand; Mapping Hypoxia and its Impacts on Benthic Nutrient Fluxes in the IRL

Sponsor and Partners: Florida Institute of Technology, Brevard County, Brevard Zoo, City of Cocoa Beach
Outputs: 		Previous efforts have shown that during hypoxic events, healthy sediments switch from a sink			
to a source of nitrogen and can release large pulses of phosphorus. This study will use relatively			
low-cost continuous monitoring stations to track the extent, duration and movement of bottom		water in the IRL. Resulting nutrient flux data, will link nutrient cycling to changes in DO.
Outcomes:		
The study will quantify the extent and duration of hypoxia in sub-basins of the IRL. Medium term			
outcomes include enhanced site selection for restoration (e.g., determination of Habitat Suitability			Indices) by project partners and others and developing mechanisms to track the success of			restoration projects. In the long-term, improved water, sediment and habitat quality is expected as			
the result of informed placement and enhanced success of restoration projects.
IRLNEP Contribution: $ 73,898
Partner Match:$ 30,900
Total Project Cost:$ 110,798

19
19

Clean Water - Healthy Lagoon
9. Optimization of an Environmentally-Friendly Denitrification Bioreactor, Year 2Sponsor and Partners: Florida Institute of Technology, Oxsolve and Lapin Services
Outputs: 		
The project continues use of a bioreactor to remove nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) from 					stormwater to treat 5,000 - 7,000 gallons per day. Dissolved oxygen and denitrification media are			managed to promote the growth of denitrifying bacteria that occur naturally.
Outcomes:		
Analysis of treated water shows at least 70% ammonium nitrogen and 80% phosphate removal
			from water and dredge material. Improvements in water quality are expected as cities and			counties integrate the method into stormwater management plans.
IRLNEP Contribution: $ 74,865
Partner Match:$ 92,000
Total Project Cost:$ 166,865

11. IRL Seagrass Restoration Using a Mosquito Control Impoundment

Sponsor and Partners: Bethune-Cookman University
Outputs: 		Ruppia is a fast-growing seagrass that promotes ecological succession by reducing turbidity and			erosion, providing stability. The project establishes a population of Ruppia maritima in a 17-acre			impoundment. Approx. 4,000 planting units will be installed in a restoration area of 11,000 sq. ft.
Outcomes:		
The restored impoundment may act as a source area for seagrass transplants. Natural dispersal of			 Ruppia seeds and shoots from the impoundment may also enhance seagrass recovery as these			materials are exported from the impoundment.
IRLNEP Contribution: $ 32,500
Partner Match:$ 37,630
Total Project Cost:$ 70,130

14. Restoration for the Lost Tree Island Conservation Area, Phase 4Sponsor and Partners: Indian River County
Outputs: 		Phase 4 of the Lost Tree Islands Conservation Area restoration involves enhancement work			that does not require state or federal permits. Project includes 13.7 acres of upland enhancement,			which will have invasive plants treated and removed, replaced with native plants. County staff			and contractors will monitor the enhanced planting area.
Outcomes:		
Project provides resource benefits to the IRL via the creation and enhancement of transitional			
wetlands, coastal hammock, and estuarine wetlands. These communities provide numerous			ecological and public benefits including: increased biodiversity; creation of spoil island habitats;			
removal of exotic species; protection for wildlife; and expanded public educational opportunities.
IRLNEP Contribution: $ 50,000
Partner Match:$ 165,804
Total Project Cost:$ 215,804

15. Sheraton Stormwater Treatment Area

Sponsor and Partners: St. Lucie County
Outputs: 		Project will engineer, permit, and design a water quality improvement project along the C25
			Canal in St. Lucie County. The County will construct a 16-acre linear STA along the canal to			
improve water quality entering the IRL from the C25. Estimated load reductions are estimated at			
1,132.2 lb./yr. nitrogen and 179 lb./yr. phosphorus.
Outcomes:		
This project will result in less flooding, improved IRL water quality, and enhanced passive
			recreational opportunities. The project also provides benefits to neighboring underserved			
communities that currently lack drainage and water quality infrastructure.
IRLNEP Contribution: $ 100,000
Partner Match:$ 398,400
Total Project Cost:$ 498,400
Photo: S. VanMeter

21

Healthy Lagoon – Vibrant Communities
16. Manatee Observation and Education Center Seagrass Restoration ProjectSponsor and Partners: Manatee Observation and Education Center
Outputs: 		
The project restores approximately 1 acre of seagrass to Moore’s Creek in Ft. Pierce. It will also			enhance an additional 0.5 acres of adjacent seagrass community. The project will assess the			effectiveness and costs-benefits of several restoration methods to assist future restorations.
Outcomes:		Benefits include 1.5 acres of seagrasses restored or enhanced with seagrasses expected to become			self-sustaining. Long-term benefits include improvements to habitat and water quality, increased
			biodiversity in restored areas, improved water clarity and nutrient sequestration.
IRLNEP Contribution: $ 39,875
Partner Match:$ 79,184
Total Project Cost:$ 119,059

20. The Martin County Connect to Protect Septic to Sewer Nutrient Removal Program Year 3

Sponsor and Partners: Martin County
Outputs: 		
The next prioritized project in the initial 5-year work plan is the Rio East-Crossroads Hill Sewer			
Project, which will connect 382 residences to the county’s centralized sewer system. This phase			will partially fund the construction of force mains to facilitate connection.
Outcomes: 		Improved water quality and ecosystem health; reduced nutrients, BOD, and fecal coliform
			
concentrations; load reductions of total nitrogen by about 4,900 lbs./yr. and total phosphorus by		
about 725 lbs./yr.
IRLNEP Contribution: $ 200,000
Partner Match:$ 640,400
Total Project Cost:$ 840,400

21. SE Illinois Avenue Living Shoreline ProjectSponsor and Partners: City of Stuart
Outputs: 		
The project will plan, design and install living and buffered shorelines to treat stormwater and			
improve community resiliency. The project upgrades existing infrastructure, reduces discharges
			and nutrient loading.
Outcomes:		
The project improves resiliency and helps meet BMAP requirements for improving water quality
			in the St. Lucie River. Living shoreline will prevent erosion and provide storm protection,
			 improving community resiliency.
IRLNEP Contribution: $ 85,000
Partner Match:$ 85,000
Total Project Cost:$ 170,000

36. Building Lagoon‐wide Capacity for Seagrass Recovery Through Infrastructure Investments, Year 2Sponsor and Partners: IRLNEP, Sea and Shoreline, LLC; Florida Atlantic University-Harbor Branch; Florida			Oceanographic Society; Brevard Zoo; Marine Discovery Center
Outputs: 		
The project builds capacity for IRL seagrass restoration through recurring investments in			infrastructure, equipment and personnel to create land-based or in-lagoon seagrass nursery			
supply chains that support restoration efforts and associated research to better understand			
seagrass ecophysiology and cultivation.
Outcomes:		
Four regional restoration centers and a processing facility will address the needs of restoration			practitioners in the IRL, primarily as these pertain to available supplies of filter feeders, shoreline			plants and seagrasses. The project will increase knowledge of three species: Halodule wrightii,
			 Ruppia maritima and Syringodium filiforme and document best practices for raising seagrasses.
IRLNEP Contribution: $ 500,000
Partner Match:
Not required
Total Project Cost:$ 500,000

Photo: C. Palmer

23
23Vibrant Communities – Thriving Economy

Progress Powered by One Lagoon:

37. Restoration of Clam Populations in the IRL for Water Quality Improvement, Year 4Sponsor and Partners: University of Florida, St. Johns River Water Management District, Florida Fish and Wildlife,			
Coastal Conservation Association, Riverside Conservancy, Blair Wiggins Outdoors, Florida
			 Oceanographic Society
Outputs: 		
The project continues efforts to spawn stress-resistant broodstock and produce larvae to out			planting size. Seed clams will be repatriated to the IRL at densities necessary to support
			
reproduction. New in this phase is to co-plant clams with seagrasses and monitor results.
Outcomes:		
Restoration of native clam populations in the IRL will result in reduced turbidity and improved			water quality in repopulated areas. Nutrient reductions and improved conditions for seagrass			recruitment are expected.
IRLNEP Contribution: $ 197,892
Partner Match:$ 441,716
Total Project Cost:$ 639,608

38. Atmospheric Deposition Monitoring Stations

Sponsor and Partners: IRLNEP, WSP USA Environment & Infrastructure, Inc, St. Johns River Water Management
			
District, Indian River County Environmental Health Department, FAU-Harbor Branch
Outputs: 		Project continues operations for dry and wet atmospheric deposition monitoring of total			phosphorus and total nitrogen from the region’s only atmospheric monitoring station. This year,			
2 additional monitoring stations will be added under an additional contract.
Outcomes:		
The project is vital to better understand the role of atmospheric deposition in the IRL’s nutrient			budget. Long-term data collection and analysis will produce robust datasets for use in Total
			Maximum Daily Load determinations and development of Basin Management Action Plans.
IRLNEP Contribution: $ 139,000
Partner Match:
Not required
Total Project Cost:$ 139,000

39. A Preliminary Characterization of Microcystin in Coastal-Dwelling Mammals in the IRL

Sponsor and Partners: Florida Institute of Technology
Outputs: 		This study will provide proof of concept to evaluate minimally-invasive sampling of free-ranging
			wildlife for microcystin toxins; measure microcystin levels in tissues and bodily fluids of stranded			dolphins and river otters and correlate findings to health biomarkers; and establish preliminary			
reference ranges of microcystin toxins based on sample type.
Outcomes:		
Improved understanding of the potential health challenges to marine mammals in the IRL from			
the presence of Microcystis and associated toxins; development of innovative screening methods			that can identify potential harmful impacts to public health and safety.
IRLNEP Contribution: $ 30,039
Partner Match:$ 30,039
Total Project Cost:$ 60,078

40. Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) Monitoring

Graphic: IRLNEP

Sponsor and Partners: University of Florida and Florida Atlantic University - Harbor Branch
Outputs: 		
Data collected are reported to the IRLNEP on a quarterly basis and more widely as conditions			
require. Combined data are used in developing quantitative models. Additional water quality data			from St. Johns River and South Florida Water Management Districts are included in all models.
Outcomes:		
Improved knowledge of current conditions in the IRL; Improved modeling will identify relevant			
environmental drivers triggering HABs.
IRLNEP Contribution: $ 150,000
Partner Match:
Not required
Total Project Cost:$ 150,000
25

Your NEP at Work:IRLNEP-Funded Projects FY 2023:
41. Indian River Lagoon Biodiversity Inventory

Sponsor and Partners: Smithsonian Marine Station at Ft. Pierce
Outputs: 		Continue to improve and organize the IRL Species Inventory; develop and refine the data portal
			 Symbiota, an open-source, content management system for curating specimen and observational			data; and communicate the availability of the Inventory as a learning tool.
Outcomes:		
Improved citizen knowledge, understanding and stewardship for the IRL and its species;			
preservation of existing information in the Species Inventory; expansion that keeps focus on			Lagoon biodiversity and continues to engage students, researchers, resource managers.
IRLNEP Contribution: $ 25,000
Partner Match:
Not Required
Total Project Cost:$ 25,000

42. IRLNEP Small Grants Program

Sponsor and Partners: IRLNEP, various community partners
Outputs: 		Project delivers a suite of small restoration and citizen engagement projects funded between $500
			and $5,000, with a focus on community engagement, education focused on the IRL, stewardship			and restoration activities.
Outcomes:		Enhanced citizen engagement and knowledge of the IRL leading to improved support for			restoration and protection efforts; improved habitat and water quality; enhanced student and			citizen innovation, problem-solving skills, and increased knowledge of the local environment.
IRLNEP Contribution: $ 25,000
Partner Match:
Not Required
Total Project Cost:$ 25,000

43. IRLNEP Technical Support of Conferences and Workshops

Sponsor and Partners: IRLNEP, various community partners
Outputs: 		
The IRLNEP will continue to assist community partners in developing and delivering high			
quality conferences, workshops, symposia and public events that align with CCMP priorities.
Outcomes:		
Expanded community outreach/education to better-inform stakeholders and resource managers
			about IRL issues, advancing the IRLNEP mission and leveraging available funds efficiently.
IRLNEP Contribution: $ 25,000
Partner Match:
Not Required
Total Project Cost:$ 25,000

44. State of the Indian River Lagoon Technical Report

Sponsor and Partners: Applied Ecology, Stetson University, Florida Institute of Technology, University of Central
			Florida, Florida Atlantic University-Harbor Branch, Marine Resources Council
Outputs: 		Project will generate a comprehensive State-of-the-IRL technical report. Applied Ecology will			
work with the IRLNEP Management Conference and staff to acquire and synthesize data into a			
technical report that includes all relevant issues, maps, and other information that illustrate the			state of the IRL and the key elements that challenge its health.
Outcomes:		
The State-of-the-Lagoon technical report will inform future CCMP revision by providing			
direction for future initiatives and priorities, assisting resource managers and the scientific			
community in improving applied research and resource management.
IRLNEP Contribution: $ 75,000
Partner Match:
Not Required
Total Project Cost:$ 75,000

45. IRLNEP Vessel for Restoration Support Activities

Sponsor and Partners: IRLNEP
Outputs: 		Project supports purchase of a vessel to perform restoration activities with project partners. This			
includes shuttling volunteers and supplies to work sites, monitoring activities, and other boat			
support as needed. The vessel may also be used to provide educational tours and will be utilized to			provide emergency response as appropriate.
Outcomes:		
This project allows the IRLNEP to continue providing support for restoration projects and builds
			program capacity for educating and engaging with key stakeholders about the IRL and its issues.
IRLNEP Contribution: $ 60,000
Partner Match:
Not Required
Total Project Cost:$ 60,000

46. IRLNEP Brand Activation and Communications Support

Sponsor and Partners: IRLNEP, IDEAS, Firefly Group, Brandt Ronat Co., O’Hara Communications, Diversity of 					 Thought, Inc.
Outputs: 		This project improves IRLNEP’s web and social media communication enhancements; production
			of web videos, podcasts, development of a diversity strategy and task force, and production/layout
			of public-facing documents.
Outcomes:		Enhanced brand recognition throughout the IRL watershed; communication of an IRNEP value			
proposition that expands funding; improved public awareness; and improved public support for			
IRL restoration projects and programs.
IRLNEP Contribution: $ 167,000
Partner Match:
Not Required
Total Project Cost:$ 167,000

47. Community Engagement Coordinators (CECs)

Sponsor and Partners: IRLNEP
Outputs: 		Project funds 3 staff that implement projects and programs to improve engagement, strengthen			partnerships, improve the visibility of the Program and maintain focus on IRL issues. CECs will			
represent the Program at public meetings and events, provide technical assistance and conduct
			 engagement programming.
Outcomes:		
Improved public awareness and sense of stewardship for the IRL; increased understanding of the			Lagoon as a driver of the regional economy; improved public support for restoration that drives			
political will for expanded funding of restoration and protection efforts.
IRLNEP Contribution: $ 165,000
Partner Match:
Not Required
Total Project Cost:$ 165,000

48. CCMP Project Inventory and Prioritization

Sponsor and Partners: IRLNEP, Tetra Tech, Inc.
Outputs: 		With contract support, the IRLNEP will update and prioritize the CCMP projects list developed in			association with the CCMP update. This living document will provide guidance to the Program of			 priority needs.
Outcomes:		
A prioritized projects listing will assist the IRLNEP and its partners in maintaining focus on the			highest priorities for water quality and habitat restorations that will efficiently utilize limited			
resources and identify projects having the largest environmental impacts.
IRLNEP Contribution: $ 18,000
Partner Match:
Not Required
Total Project Cost:$ 18,000

27

Partners At Work

There’s More Going on to Help the Lagoon Than You Think

301

Projects accomplishedby IRLNEP partners
in fiscal year 2023
When we asked our federal, state and local partners what
IRL-focused projects they were working on, outside of any
joint projects with the IRLNEP, we received information on
301 projects that were either completed or in progress during
fiscal year 2023.
This brings the total number of reported projects to 870
over the past three years. Congratulations partners!

Left: Indian River County and St. Johns River Water Management District partnered to construct the Moorhen Marsh Low Energy Aquatic Plant
System, which will filter 10 million gallons of stormwater per day. Photo: SJRWMD. Center: Martin County completed construction of the Culpepper
Ranch berm, replacing two 84-inch culverts and two structures. Photo: SFWMD. Right: Brevard County completed the McNabb Park Living Shoreline
project, which installed 360 feet of mangroves and cordgrass in floating planters on the seawall. Photo: Brevard County.

301 Projects in 2023!
Graphic: IRLNEP

Left: Volusia County and the City of Oak Hill partnered to construct a vacuum sanitary sewer system retrofit in Indian Harbor Estates, which will allow
260 homes to abandon their septic tanks. Photo: Volusia County. Center: Brevard County and St. Johns River Water Management District partnered
to upgrade the Osprey Water Reclamation Facility. Photo: Brevard County. Right: Indian River County worked with local artists on the Storm Drain
Awareness Art Project to raise awareness of Lagoon pollution. Photo: Indian River County.

29

Thousands of Volunteers,
Many Ways to Make a Difference:
Whatever your interest, everyone can do something to help improve the IRL.

Indian River County

FDEP Aquatic

Preserves

Brevard Zoo

The lagoon community owes a tremendous debt of gratitude to the thousands of volunteers who contribute
their time and energy to oyster, shoreline and seagrass restoration, monitoring wildlife, tracking water quality,
and many other volunteer or citizen-science projects.

Thanks for all that you do!
ry Center

Marine Discove

Brevard County

Brevard Zoo

ltingrkinson Consu

Brevard Zoo/Pa

UCF

31

A New Look for a Great Cause:
Since its inception in 1995, Florida drivers have raised morethan $8 million to help restore water and habitat quality,
provide enhanced public access, increased education andimproved engagement efforts focused on IRL restoration.
However, the proliferation of specialty license plates over
the years slowed annual sales revenues of the IRL plate. In
2003, for example, IRL specialty license plate sales averaged
approximately $18,000 per month. In 2022, average sales were
$14,000 per month. Falling sales, combined with the advent of
new printing techniques that allow for the use of full-color
graphics on license plates, led IRLNEP staff to consider
refreshing the art used for the license plate. With assistancefrom IDEAS Orlando, new plate art was unveiled in 2022.
Sales of the new plate began in 2023.

Hello New Plate...

Goodbye Old Plate...

One Community: IRLNEP Management Conference
Thank You to Our Management Conference Volunteers

IRL Council Board of Directors:

Beth Powell, Indian River County
Keith Ramos, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Gary Ritter, City of Okeechobee
Kevin Shropshire, City of Rockledge
James Stansbury, Florida Dept. Economic Opportunity
Dr. James Sullivan, FAU/Harbor Branch Oceanographic Inst.
Laurilee Thompson, Citizen
Diana Turner, Florida Dept. Environmental Protection
Charles Vogt III, Florida Department of HealthDr. Greg Wilson, Riverside Conservancy

IRL Council Board of Directors Alternates:

Science, Technology, Engineering and Modeling(STEM) Advisory Committee:

Chris Dzadovsky (Chair), St. Lucie County Commission
Jeff Brower (Vice-Chair), Volusia County Council
Joe Earman (Secretary), Indian River County Commission
Stacey Hetherington, Martin County Commission
Rob Feltner, Brevard County Commission
Aaron Watkins, Florida Dept. Environmental Protection
Doug Bournique, St. Johns Water Management District
Jacqui Thurlow-Lippisch, South Florida Water Mgmt. District
Wade Lehmann, U.S. EPA, Region 4 (Advisory)

About the Lagoon License Plate:

Florida drivers may purchase an Indian River Lagoon
specialty license plate for $15 per vehicle or trailer at any
tag office statewide. All proceeds from tag sales in eachlagoon county stay local. Funds raised in counties borderingthe Lagoon remain in those counties and benefit local
projects and programs. Funds raised in non-lagoon counties
are divided equally among the six lagoon counties. No
administrative salaries, scientific studies or overhead are
funded by IRL license plate purchases. All proceeds support
restoration and engagement projects.
The IRLNEP administers tag funds received from Florida
Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles for
Volusia, Brevard and Indian River Counties. South
Florida Water Management District administers funds
for St. Lucie, Martin and Palm Beach Counties.

Recent Projects Funded Using License Plate Sales:
Volusia County:
University of Central Florida
enhanced habitats andbiodiversity in Mosquito
Lagoon without using
plastic materials.

St. Lucie County:
St. Lucie County removed theseptic system at the Becker
Preserve nature center andconnected the center to thecentralized sewer system.

Brevard County:
Florida Institute ofTechnology used recycledmaterials to remove nutrientsfrom IRL stormwater.

Martin County:
Martin County installed asediment trap and rain garden
on Tressler Drive to improvestormwater quality.

Indian River County:
Indian River County Parks,
Recreation and Conservation
Department restored
wetlands and installed nativeplants at Jones Pier
Conservation Area.

Palm Beach County:
Palm Beach County removed
invasive exotic plants inRiverbend Park in Jupiter toimprove habitat quality andrecreational opportunities.

Sarah Heard, Martin County Commission
Rita Pritchett, Brevard County Commission
Jamie Fowler, St. Lucie County Commission
Susan Adams, Indian River County Commission
Danny Robins, Volusia County Council
Jason Andreotta, Florida Dept. Environmental Protection
Cole Oliver, St. Johns River Water Management District
Elizabeth Pigman, South Florida Water Management District
Jennifer DiMaio, U.S. EPA, Region 4 (Advisory)

IRL Council Management Board:

Marina Barrineau, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Comm.
Terri Breeden, Brevard County
Ellyn ‘Mel’ Bromberg, WaterSHED International
Thomas Campenni, Treasure Coast League of Cities
Tom Carey, (Chair) Volusia County
Paul Carlisle, City of Sebastian
Dr. Anthony Catanese, Florida Institute of Technology
Frank Catino, (Chair, Citizens’ Advisory Committee)
Mark Crosley, Florida Inland Navigation District
Donald Dankert, NASA/Kennedy Space Center
Jennifer DiMaio, U.S. EPA, Region 4
Yesenia Escribano, FL Dept. Agriculture & Consumer Services
Joseph Falzone, Financial Subcommittee
Ed Fielding, Citizen
Jake Fojtik, Florida Farm Bureau Foundation
David Fuss, Indian River Land Trust
Doug Gibson, City of Oak Hill
Stu Glass, Space Coast League of Cities
James Gray, Sebastian Inlet Tax District
Carter Henne, Sea & Shoreline, Inc.
Dr. Chuck Jacoby (Chair, STEM Advisory Committee)
George Jones, Ocean Research and Conservation Association
Elizabeth Kelly, Martin County
Gretchen Kelly, St. Johns River Water Management District
Bill Kerr, BKI, Inc. Consulting Ecologists
Dale Ketcham, Space Florida
Kathryn LaMartina, South FL Water Mgmt. District
Vince Lamb, Citizen
John Leslie, Citizen
Mike McCabe, Melbourne-Tillman Water Control District
Jennifer McGee, St. Lucie County
Kelli McGee, Natua Strategies
Michael Middlebrook, St. Lucie Co.
Matthew Mitts, City of Vero BeachJames Moir, Indian Riverkeeper
Robert Musser (Vice-Chair), Canaveral Port Authority
Judy Orcutt, Clean Water Coalition of Indian River County
Brion Pauley, St. Lucie County

Aaron Adams, Bonefish and Tarpon Trust
Marina Barrineau, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Comm.
Anne Birch, The Nature Conservancy
Dr. Kyle Bartow, Indian River State College
Erin Cartmill, St. Lucie County
Dr. Hyun Jung Cho, Bethune-Cookman University
Dr. David Cox, Indian River Soil & Water Conservation District
Bob Day, IRLNEP (Retired)
Tiare “TJ” Fridrich, Save the Manatee ClubFrank Golan, Citizen
Dr. Dennis Hanisak, FAU/Harbor Branch
Dr. Chuck Jacoby (Chair), St. Johns River Water Mgmt. District
Dr. Kevin B. Johnson, Florida Institute of Technology
Kris Kaufman, NOAA
Dr. Lisa Krimsky, University of Florida/IFAS
Dr. Nickolas Macchiarella, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Dale McGinnis, Eastern Florida State College
Dr. Wendy Noke-Durden, Hubbs SeaWorld Research Institute
Dr. Richard Paperno, FL Fish & Wildlife Conservation Comm.
Dr. Melanie Parker, South Florida Water Management District
Dr. Valerie Paul, Smithsonian Marine Station at Ft. Pierce
Dr. Mitchell Roffer, Fishing Oceanography, Inc.
Dr. Leesa Souto, Applied Ecology, Inc.
Megan Stolen, Blue Water Research InstituteWendy Swindell, Indian River Co.
Chad Truxall (Vice-Chair), Marine Discovery Center
Dr. Linda Walters, University of Central Florida
Dr. Edie Widder, Ocean Research and Conservation Assoc.
Kelly Young, Volusia Co.

Citizens’ Advisory Committee:​
Christine Bamberger, Brevard Co.
Thomas Barratt, Volusia Co.
D. Greg Braun, Martin Co.
Frank Brownell, Volusia Co.
Frank Catino (Chair), Brevard Co.
Dr. Graham Cox, Indian River Co.
Jerome Gayman, St. Lucie Co.
Cynthia V. Hall, Indian River Co.
Adam Locke, St. Lucie Co.
Cheryl McPhillips, Brevard Co.
Doug Patterson, Brevard Co.
Linda Roberts, Indian River Co.
Suzanne Schreiber, Volusia Co.
Tess Sailor-Tynes, Volusia Co.
Keith Winsten, Brevard Co.

33

FY 2024 Projected Expenditures$3,384,800

Total Expenditures$2,449,800
Projects

3 Nutrient Reduction ($450,000)
8 Restoration ($960,800)
7 Scientific Research ($516,125)
8 Public Engagement/Education ($522,875)
Project Reserves ($37,709)$254,905

Program Operations(includes Administrative Services, Administrative
Costs, Facilities Expenses)$642,386

Salaries and Benefits$758,395

Fund Balance - End of Year

Photo: L. Jones

35

“My wish is to stay always like this,living quietly in a corner of nature.”						
Claude Monet

Photo: J. Satterly

Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program
Hosted by the IRL Council

1235 Main Street • Sebastian, FL 32958 • onelagoon.org • (321)536-6039

Follow us on social media:

This Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program 2023 Annual Report was developed under Assistant Agreements No. CE-00D90119 and 4T-02D39922
awarded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. It has not been formally reviewed by EPA. The views expressed are solely those of the IRL Council
and EPA does not endorse any products or commercial services mentioned.