Indian River Lagoon Council receives $500,000 in funding from the District

Sunrise on the Indian River Lagoon.

PALATKA, Fla., Oct. 11, 2022 — Today, for the eighth consecutive year, the St. Johns River Water Management District Governing Board voted to approve $500,000 in funding for the Indian River Lagoon Council (IRL Council).

The IRL Council was formed in 2015 and was established through an interlocal agreement between the St. Johns River Water Management District, South Florida Water Management District, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the five counties that border the IRL system – Brevard, Indian River, Volusia, St. Lucie and Martin. Each member is required to provide an annual financial contribution to support the implementation of the programs Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP). The CCMP was developed with input from a variety of stakeholders including, local, regional and federal partners, residents and other interested stakeholders. The IRL Council uses the CCMP to guide their restoration and management decisions.

Additionally, the IRL Council serves as the public sponsor for the Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program (IRL NEP). The programs goals are:

• To attain and maintain water and sediment of sufficient quality to support a healthy estuarine lagoon ecosystem;
• To attain and maintain a functioning, healthy ecosystem, which supports endangered and threatened species, fisheries, commerce and recreation;
• To achieve heightened public awareness and coordinated interagency management of the Indian River Lagoon ecosystem; and
• To identify and develop long-term funding sources for prioritized projects and programs to preserve, protect, restore and enhance the Indian River Lagoon.

The District supports these goals through both annual funding and cost-share projects with local governments and communities. Since 2015, the District has awarded $38 million for projects in Indian River Lagoon (IRL) communities, leveraging a total of $81 million in public dollars when combined with local matching funds and/or state funds from DEP.

To learn more about the work being done to help restore the Indian River Lagoon visit the District’s website at www.sjrwmd.com/waterways/renew-lagoon.