Two more projects to receive legislative funds toward IRL water quality improvement

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Map of Twenty-five water quality projects

PALATKA, Fla., Aug. 10, 2021 ― Water quality in the Indian River Lagoon (IRL) is getting another boost from the state with two additional projects selected to receive legislative funding. The St. Johns River Water Management District will partner with the City of Cocoa Beach and the Environmental Learning Center on water quality improvement projects focused on low-impact development and septic-to-sewer conversion.

Map of Twenty-five water quality projects

Twenty-five water quality projects, funded through Indian River Lagoon Water Quality Improvement Grants, are estimated to reduce total nitrogen to the lagoon by 56,334 pounds per year and 3,729 pounds per year of total phosphorus.

“We have recently executed contracts for 23 vital projects benefitting IRL water quality, with 14 projects now under construction,” said St. Johns River Water Management District Executive Director Dr. Ann Shortelle. “Changes in the lagoon happened over decades and turning it around will take time. These projects will help the District and its partners move the needle in the important work to improve the lagoon’s water quality.”

The two additional projects, totaling $223,000, will use the remainder of $25 million from Fiscal Year 2020-2021 Indian River Lagoon Water Quality Improvement Grants, appropriated by Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Legislature.

Projects are:

  • The Cocoa Beach Convair Cove Low-Impact Development (LID) and Living Shoreline, which involves the installation of permeable pavers, underground rainwater collection tanks, use of bio-activated media in swales, mangrove and emergent grass plantings, as well as oyster beds. Benefits include reducing nutrient loads to the IRL by approximately 170 pounds of total nitrogen and 20 pounds of total phosphorus per year.
  • Abandoning and replacing the non-profit Environmental Learning Center’s existing septic tank and connecting to Indian River County’s Central Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility, resulting in a reduction of 24 pounds per year of total nitrogen. The new infrastructure will allow for future campus facilities to be connected to the wastewater treatment system, resulting in additional nutrient load reductions.

Altogether, the 25 projects will result in an estimated reduction of 56,334 pounds per year of total nitrogen and 3,729 pounds per year of total phosphorus to the lagoon.

To learn more about the Indian River Lagoon and work under way to improve its health, visit www.sjrwmd.com/waterways/renew-lagoon. For more information about District cost-share opportunities, visit www.sjrwmd.com/localgovernments/funding.