Florida officials have announced nearly $20 million for stormwater projects along the Indian River Lagoon (IRL).
The projects will help collect runoff and treat it to reduce the amount of pollutants and nutrients that enter the IRL. The projects are in addition to $255 million that the state is already investing to protect the IRL, including targeting wastewater, septic to sewer, and other needed restoration projects.
A list of projects selected for funding can be found here.
“Decades of human impacts have resulted in impaired water quality in the Indian River Lagoon, specifically from nutrients,” said Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Shawn Hamilton. “As a result of the leadership of Governor DeSantis and unprecedented investments in water quality, the Department, in conjunction with project partners, is focusing on tackling the root cause of nutrient pollution.”
The IRL is the most biologically diverse estuary in North America and an important resource for species such as the Florida scrub-jay, manatees, and sea turtles. Currently, the water quality of the IRL is impaired for total nitrogen and total phosphorus. The nutrients flow into the lagoon from overland runoff, drainage canals, groundwater seepage, and rainfall. Excess nutrients can contribute to increased frequency, duration, and intensity of algal blooms and negatively impact the growth of seagrass in the lagoon. Seagrass is the most important resource within the IRL, providing habitat and food for manatees and other species.
