Indian River Lagoon Update
Clay Henderson THE INST ITUTE FOR Stetson University WATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESILIENCE STF.~ l /Nl\ _ STTY Indian River Lagoon Estuary of National Significance 156 miles along Florida east coast Martin County to Volusia County Most biologically diverse estuary in North America LEGEND County lines What We Know… NaJorc:allills
Roads District botmda,y 3 Waterbodies 9 . . 1p A,» .rwim lllb $U!leIn rr'ile$ Mosquito River Banana River Cape Canaveral Indian River
Narrow/Shallow Poorly Flushed (5 inlets)
5 Counties 2 WMD’s
Tropical and Temperate
Lake Okeechobee ndian River Lagoon
Chlorophyll-a Integrated Assessment
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C,t:ey)ly _4.) ~:re-tfr.Jtoneor .-~:t,.,:,r. ~use~ {;Jr.Jll'l'c1\/ot~CM"A':k f'l:i:l~ to, cm ot ll/0."l 6ell\:',Y.l!'duse~ ei..( r:o 71.IIXn,ou,,e.:j a,~:w-, _4b p,o,,tooec,w.,i·••,,..,_.,,_u.v.ecl'fl::IQorO'Oro~po.'V'..:rtc~ffll!'~itsm 11 C,~J .4< ==r~~~:.:=~l.!/c~~~!r ~ 1l'tfflotoneor11x,n,:se.~~us e~ ~non.AX >lltlbt c..ie,,.,,:,.-.1 _,.,d:v:Jo<> -llfm111c Octa:i 10/25/2016 4 Marine Resources Council 2018 Health Assessment Much of Martin County Segment of IRL Poor I 0 2 4 8 Mile$ 2011-2013 Perfect Storm Algae super bloom Brown Algae in 2013 Returned 2015-16 Returned again 2018 20 6.04. i..nd111I0 ~o. 41 (t,tonle) FeU'I. 5, R~ co10rconpJstt~ Photo: Florida Today STETSCJN LandSat 2016 UNIVERSITY Chronic Impacts Indian River Lagoon Seagrass Coverage “Perfect Storm” (wit hin SJRWMO to Fort Pierce Inlet) 80,000 19,03 1986 1989 1992 1!>9-4 1996 191)9 2003 200S 2006 2007 2009 l.011 2012 Oe.1ork. cowtl • 1.er1alpho tographso f lagoonsugrass are taMf'Ieve,y two ~ars andnew sugrass ma P!> ,1,e produced from ltlls photog 111phy.5<1en1 1m mo nitor $Ug,;)SS mn s~ .Jnd (Olle« wa let qw!l!y S,:impk,$ moni,.ty. • SClentlSts r«()(de-cl a 60 per 2013 250 manatee deaths 200 dolphin deaths 250 pelican deaths Loss of 47,000 acres of seagrass Photo: Tim Kozusko. Haulover Canal, Indian River Lagoon. August 2012 2016 Fish Kill Brevard County Photo:Brevard Times 2018 new algae bloom 2018 Red Tide Welcome to the new normal {.::.-""',!Bif N, 0 25 5 1C Miles September 18, 2018 Landsat Photo STETSON UNIVERSITY Photo: Jacqui Thurlow-Lippish St. Lucie Inlet Discharge from Lake Okeechobee 1987 Surface Water Improvement Management SWIM 1990 Estuary of National Significance 1990 Indian River Lagoon Act Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program Much collaboration in early days Scientific symposia Collaborative Research Comprehensive Plan Early wins Indian River Lagoon System and Basin Act of 1990 - This Act, which is contained in Chapter 90-262, Laws of Florida, was created to help protect the Indian River Lagoon System from discharges from package wastewater treatment plants and the improper use of septic tanks. The Act established three objectives for domestic wastewater facilities in this area: •Elimination of surface water discharges, •Investigation of feasibility of reuse, and •Centralization of wastewater collection and treatment facilities. Indian River Lagoon Council 2015 IRL NEP Reorganization • SJRWMD served as sponsor/host entity for 24 years. • 2011-2013 Events Drove Focus on IRL Water Quality. • IRL County Collaborative (2013). • IRL Council creates new Florida Special District through Interlocal Agreement (February 2015). • Today – IRL Council working to transition the IRL NEP Program Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program Proposed IRL-NEP Management Conference Structure IRL Council Board of Directors IRL Council/NEP Staff interact as administrative support at all levels The IRL Council and Its appointed of Management Conference boards and committees operates in Compliance with Sunshine Law Management Board (27) STEM Citizens Advisory Advisory Committee Committee (24) Finance (24) Advisory Committee Science (8) Community At Outside of the Large General Sunshine Law IRL Investor Fact Finding & Community At Knowledge Gathering Task Force Large Only (#) Comprehensive Restoration Plan for Indian River Lagoon To be transmitted to EPA by December 14th http://www.irlcouncil.com/ccmp-comments.html Comments due November 30th. Fundamental Problems Lake Okeechobee Discharge 250,000 Septic Tanks Watershed twice historic size Changed Hydrology Wastewater Discharge Fertilizer Over-Use Multiple Stressors – Multiple Symptoms • Habitat destruction, • Water quality decline fragmentation & alteration • Algal blooms • Altered watershed • Seagrass loss functions • Biological diversity • Sediment Loads decline • Nutrient & Toxicant Loads • Fisheries decline • Litter & debris • Emerging diseases • Invasive exotic species • Over Exploitation • Global climate change • Sea-level rise Comprehensive Conservation Management Plan Policy • Wastewater • Septic Tanks Science Education Funding Why monitor our waters'! Click hc~-c to find out. Science Matters t'•b .,•. Tii•; 1,1q.l •; k •.1:d t i J.w ...; i;n i ~:i:i th:,11= •;J ll}:t l '.111d •;b · . :~,Yi:1-~ 11 n,,-,. Flrr :';t r ,:c.-.:,:,_ 1,1✓!.''l l.! n. Sf.I. 1. ·,1. :1 i :1C.1: h i .. Education Personal Responsibility Water Conservation ,·.,co,"''"""'"'""'"' Energy Conservation Green ,yolusia Better use of Fertilizers Landscaping Septic Tanks STETSON UNIVERSITY FUNDING Brevard County Save Our Lagoon Stable Funding through Amendment 1: HB 339 Rep. Gayle Harrell Full funding for National Estuary Program FLORIDA'S Water & Land Legacy $300 millionBrevard project County Leadership plan ApprovedPassed by voters 2016 Advanced Septic Tank Ordinance Adopted 2018 Fertilizer Ordinances " • e • ~. 01ll'P-lDJ,\W \!¥£~ L1tfri • Indian River Lagoon What’s At economic value Risk? estimated at $7.6 B (IRL-NEP). • In 2010, FL coastal counties contributed over $580 B in gross regional product to FL (79% of Florida’s Economy) (FOA, 2013). Plan for Restoration of the Indian River Lagoon • Need for more water storage from Lake Okeechobee • Need for ongoing program to eliminate septic tanks • Wastewater Plant Upgrades…Advanced Wastewater Treatmen • More Water Reuse/Less Fertilizer • Stormwater Retrofits • Muck Removal • More Science • Dedicated Restoration Funding I grewup and presently live on the southernmost part of theLagoon. I have fished and birded mostof the Lagoon. I was Assistant Secretary of Interior when the Merritt Island National WildlifeRefuge was e)(panded, and the Cape Canaveral Natlonal Seashore was authorized, I havean abiding love of this longest lagoon in the continental United States. I would Ii ke to live longenough to seea concerted plan of actionagreed upon and a methodof fundingat a minimumfreely discussed bythe next governor and legislature. Nathaniel Reed 1933-2018