Leaves of the mangroves and shoreline grasses fall into the water, decay, and form detritus. Many animals feed on this material, grow, and in turn provide food for other animals. For these reasons, the central east coast of Florida has one of the fastest growing populations in the United States. This has had an adverse impact on the environment. Shoreline construction, increased boating, and previous mosquito control practices have been factors in the decline of seagrass and mangroves.
Turbid water decreases sunlight, which is essential for seagrass growth.
Most of this turbidity can be attributed to the introduction of upland runoff into the system from an ever increasing number of canals designed to drain lands west of the Lagoon. As turbidity increases, seagrass and its habitat value decrease. Consequently, this loss of habitat has had an economic impact on our fisheries.