Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Sebastian Inlet This p ublication was produced by the St. Johns River Water Management District and the Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program. Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program St. Johns River Water Management District Palm Bay Service Center 525 Community College Parkway S.E. Palm Bay, FL 32909 (321) 984-4950 • (800) 226-3747 http://irl.sjrwmd.com © 2007 St. Johns River Water Management District Contents 3. Meeting place Lagoon is rich in its people, wildlife, history and waterways. 5. Fast facts A quick glance at some of the numbers that make the lagoon unique. 6. Resources Biological diversity is a key to the health of the lagoon. 14. Lagoon basics One, two, three of lagoon science. 24. Solving problems Look at the changing face of the lagoon. 30. Newest threats New era brings new threats to water quality. 32. Lagoon history Many factors shaped the lagoon region. 36. What individuals can do Each person can make a difference. See how. An Introduction to a Natural Treasure 1 2 Indian River Lagoon MEETING PLACE Lagoon represents a meeting place for people, wildlife and waters he Indian River Lagoon is Tremarkable — it is a complex and dynamic estuarine system. Throughout the length of the lagoon, the various segments that comprise the whole system are influenced by the locations of inlets connecting the lagoon to the Atlantic Ocean and by freshwater entering the system through an extensive network of streams, rivers, canals, ditches and overland runoff. The lagoon is home to a rich array of plants and animals that depend on its water quality for their existence. Humans also are dependent on the lagoon for the flourish, many cannot readily adapt to change. Their population many recreational and commercial opportunities it provides. numbers begin to decline and, over time, populations may At the same time, silt, sediments, nutrients, chemicals, oils and become extinct as habitat loss and ecosystem degradation take metals find their way into the lagoon as the result of human their toll. activities in the watershed. Additionally, the lagoon’s bottom has been selectively dredged, filled or otherwise altered. Thus far Directly or indirectly, we are all responsible for maintaining the the lagoon system has been able to adapt to these challenges health of the Indian River Lagoon system. As residents, as and still remain a relatively healthy environment. government leaders, as visitors and as responsible individuals we can each do our part to effect positive changes within Throughout its recorded history, there have been occasions the lagoon. when unusual amounts of pollutants have entered the system and resulted in fish kills, algal blooms and changes in water The information contained in this publication provides only clarity. The lagoon system has the natural capability to absorb a brief highlights of the major issues facing the lagoon and the certain amount of these pollutants; however, when overloaded, state of its resources. Many technical documents are available the lagoon suffers. The primary questions become: How does that discuss the lagoon in greater detail, and for those who are the system respond to accumulated impacts through time? interested, you may request more information. What assimilative capacity does it have before dramatic and permanent changes occur? How will these changes affect the With your understanding of the issues and a sharing of long-term environmental health and future of the Indian knowledge to address the problems, a positive shift in the fragile River Lagoon? balance of the lagoon ecosystem may result. For future generations in east Florida, we must act in unison to achieve We are already witnessing the ways in which the lagoon is results for the lagoon to remain a unique and precious resource. adapting to adversity. Fishery populations are reduced, salt Your involvement is needed now to help protect and restore this marshes and mangrove wetlands are lost, and shellfish natural treasure. harvesting areas grow smaller and are closed. While the plants and animals that call the lagoon home strive to exist and An Introduction to a Natural Treasure 3 PONCE DE LEON INLET 44 LEGEND New Smy rna Beach County lines N Major canals M o s Major roads q u it o 0 10 L a g Appr oximate scale in miles o o The Indian n I n d i a River Lagoon n R i NFWMD Titusville v e B SRWMD r a L 95 n a a SJ RWMD g is 156 miles n o a o n R i 520 v Cocoa 528 e PO RT CAN AVERAL SWFWMD r long and 528 Cocoa Beach SFWMD makes up RRockledgeockledge Satellite Beach 40 percent 192 A Melbou rne T L A of Florida’s N T Palm 1 I eastern coast. Bay C SE BASTIAN INLET O C E A VVeroero N BBeacheach 60 A1A 68 FO RT PIERCE INLET FFoo rtrt 70 PPieie rccee 441 PPoo rtrt SSt.t. LLucieucie 714 ST. LUCIE INLET SStuatua rrtt 1 710 LAKE 441 JUPITER INLET OKEECHOBEE 95 4 Indian River Lagoon FAST FACTS Quick lagoon info Watershed Highway of the East Coast • The watershed is 2,284 square miles with a surface water The Indian River Lagoon is located along the Atlantic Flyway, a area of 353 square miles. key biological highway for many migrating species of birds. • Six counties border the lagoon, however, portions of seven counties are within the watershed. Wildlife • Five inlets connect the lagoon with the ocean. There is a sixth • The lagoon basin contains more species than any other connection at Port Canaveral, however, navigation locks that estuary in North America. separate the port basin from the lagoon limit the exchange of – Number of fish species — 685 waters. – Number of bird species — 370 Not a river – Number of plant species — 2,100 – Number of animal species — 2,200 The lagoon is an estuary where salt water from the Atlantic Ocean mixes with freshwater from the land and tributaries. The • Ocean beaches in the lagoon region provide one of the resulting brackish (slightly salty) water is moved more by the densest sea turtle nesting areas found in the western wind than by the tide and does not flow from headwaters to a hemisphere. mouth like a river. The width of the lagoon varies from one-half • The lagoon is the only location in the world to find the mile to 5 miles, with an average depth of 4 feet. Atlantic salt marsh snake. Supporting the economy Plant life The lagoon is responsible for one-seventh of the region’s • The northern limit of mangroves is within the lagoon boundaries. economy. The lagoon supports a world-renowned citrus • Maritime hammocks, which include a number of tropical and industry, with an estimated annual value of $2.1 billion. The subtropical trees and other plants, are found in the region, but lagoon also generates more than $300 million in boat and not further north. marine sales annually. • The lagoon contains 27 percent of Florida’s eastern coastal Fisheries salt marshes. The lagoon is the cradle of the ocean, serving as a spawning and Getting outside nursery ground for ocean and lagoon fish. An estimated $30 State parks, federal wildlife refuges, a national seashore and million is derived from lagoon fishery revenues annually. The other public lands offer a range of opportunities for recreational lagoon provides an estimated 50 percent of the east Florida fish enjoyment and environmental learning and appreciation. catch annually. RESOURCES Lagoon’s resources are diverse, plentiful Biodiversity The lagoon is located in the zone where tropical and temperate Maintaining biological diversity (the existence of many different climates meet. Between the southern and northern ends of the types of plants, animals and habitats) is a key part of lagoon the temperature differs as much as it does between the maintaining the health of the earth’s ecological systems and northern end of the lagoon and North Carolina, 500 miles to its future resources. The same can be said for the Indian the north. Thus, the flora and fauna include tropical and River Lagoon. subtropical species that cannot survive cold weather, as well as temperate species that can thrive in cooler climates. As a result, In addition to 2,100 species of plants, the lagoon basin is home more species and a wider range of species are found in the to more than 2,200 animal species — the most of any North Indian River Lagoon than any other North American estuary. American estuary. Included in the list of plants are seven species of sea grasses, a greater number of seagrass species than most Fifty-three species of animals classified as threatened or estuaries in the northern hemisphere. One of these, Johnson’s endangered live within the lagoon’s diverse watershed. Merritt sea grass, is found primarily in the Indian River Lagoon. Island National Wildlife Refuge, in the north-central section of the lagoon, contains more species of threatened and endangered Why does the lagoon support such a diversity of plants, animals animals than any other national wildlife refuge in the United and habitats? The answer is largely in the unique combination States. of its north-south orientation along the U.S. East Coast and the lagoon’s long, narrow configuration. 6 Indian River Lagoon Habitats and communities Habitats, the environments in which plants and animals live, result from physical conditions, as well as from the effects of the plants and animals themselves. Communities are the assemblages of plants and animals that live together, sharing the same habitats. Complex interactions occur among habitats and the surrounding environment, so that actions that affect one habitat or community, ultimately, can affect conditions in another, even distant, habitat.