The Indian River Lagoon

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The main detriment to Lagoon health is human presence/pollution. While the IRL (particularly in Vero Beach) is vast and beautiful and continues to support an array of lifeforms, looking below the surface one quickly realizes that you can't see below the surface! Waters that were not too distantly pristine and clear are now varying shades of milkshake green, brown and red. Swampy Muck, nicknamed "black mayonnaise," abounds the Lagoon floor. The Muck exists in varying, unknown level amounts throughout the Lagoon; it consists of dead organic biomatter, stormwater runoff, fertilizer, and boat and septic excrement. It obstructs, suffocates and devoids the otherwise sandy Lagoon bottom of the necessary and sunlight that is required for it to grown life-supporting Seagrasses. Muck also produces low pH/high acidity levels in the Lagoon, which contribute to the growth of algal blooms; which further devoid the Lagoon of oxygen and further progress its death and detriment.

Water is the substance that connects all lifeforms throughout the Planet, and when it comes to the Restoration/Revitalization of the IRL, it is of paramount priority that water is improved. Cleaner water and higher visibility would enable greater ability in accessing where Muck is of the highest accumulation, for instance, or simply ease of navigation for wildlife, humans and boats.

Water quality improvement begins where the Land meets the Water—at the Shoreline(s).

Throughout the IRL are both Natural and Spoil Islands. Natural Islands have existed in the Lagoon, naturally, while Spoil Islands are man-made islands that were created around the 1940's when the Lagoon was being dredged to create navigational channels (ICW) and canals. Dredging companies would deposit the dredged material, or, spoil (mainly consisting of rocks, sand, shells and soil) along the edges of the Lagoon channel, and once these piles got big enough and broke water, they'd become Spoil Islands. Subsequently, the islands grew plant/tree matter and support various Lagoon ecosystems.

Many of the Lagoon's Spoil Islands are open and available for the general public to responsibly experience and explore, while others have been designated as wildlife refuges. Spoil Islands and their capacity for camping/recreation were one of the first things that intrigued me about the Vero Beach area, and in 2020 I spent a month living on one. I've explored many Islands throughout the Lagoon since and something that is noticed throughout them is the domination of invasive, non-native Brazilian Pepper Trees and Australian Pines. Not only do these two tree genuses obstruct much of the Islands, so do their fallen dead branches that pose a significant fire risk. While efforts are currently being made to develop some of the Islands for greater accessibility, recreation and support of lifeforms, quite a few of them remain in an unattended/unmanaged state.

While commonly known as a tasty delicacy, Oysters/Shellfish serve as Nature's primary water filtration engineers (they can clean up to 50 gallons of water a day), as well as shoreline buffers. A variety of Oyster types abound the IRL; however, they are both a literal and metaphorical double-edged razor: In spite of their beneficiary nature, Oysters pose a significant physical hazard/obstruction to swimmers, divers and boaters. Having worked as a hull-diver in the IRL, a diving job which entails the scraping/cleaning of fouling agents (algae, barnacles, oysters) from boat bottoms (the presence of barnacles and oysters being the foulest), I know firsthand how aggressively/strongly these mollusks can adhere to certain surfaces—my hands still bear the scars of having performed my first job without the proper gloves. Other Oyster/barnacle horror stories are numerous and continue to be made.

Vacant, Oysterless shells abound the Lagoon floor; Besides being inactive in their role as filtration engineers/food, they also further entrap and add to the muck that devoids the Lagoon of the needed oxygen required for seagrasses to grow, as well as blocking necessary sunlight.

Recent efforts/achievements have been made by IRL Restoration groups to install "Oyster ball reefs" along various IRL shorelines, and while this is definitely a step in the right direction towards a improved IRL, these Oyster balls also increase the aforementioned hazards/obstructions that Oysters pose.

Over 50 species of Mangroves exist in the world, but there are three that dominate Florida and IRL; they are Red, Black and White Mangroves. Nicknamed "walking trees," Mangroves are identifiable by their long "prop roots" that grown down and outward into Water, giving them the appearance of standing or walking. Red Mangroves are the ones most commonly seen on the shorelines of the Lagoon, followed by Black, then White. These native plants are unique in their ability and resiliency to grow in high salinity (saltwater) environments, however, they are still subject to the problematic ailments affecting the Lagoon, such as limited oxygen and compacted floor; regardless, they still find ways to adapt and grow. Mangroves provide essential structure/stabilization  to shorelines, the mitigation of  pollution , as well as nurseries for Fish, Oysters and other organisms.

Mangroves are protected under Florida state law and should be respected as such. 

Manatees, nicknamed "sea cows," are large, slow-moving aquatic mammals that inhabit the IRL and other coastal marshland areas; they are mostly herbivorous and tend to feed on seagrasses. Manatees are subject to fatality and injury due their slow-moving nature amongst propeller-driven boats, and destruction of their habitats; as well as fluctuations in water temperatures and depletion of seagrasses. When feeding, Manatees are known uproot entire seagrass stalks, depleting and inhibiting the need grass from growing again; however, they act as natural Lagoon gardener as their poop has the propensity to scatter and grow new seagrass in other areas.

The presence of manatees is a beneficial indicator of a healthy Lagoon environment; they deserve respect and protection.

Dolphins (specifically Bottlenose) are commonly seen swimming/surfacing throughout the IRL; they are mammals and consume a variety of fish, and are significantly faster swimmer than their Manatee counterparts. Even so, Dolphins are still subject to the injuries and death, many can be identified by the unique nicks and cuts in their dorsal—the result of contact with boat props. Dolphins are highly-intelligent creatures and are known to even  develop relations/communication with humans. Dolphin sightings/interaction are always a high-point of the Lagoon, and they too are most deserving of respect and protection.

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The IRL has one of the most diverse fish populations of anywhere in the World, was once a thriving commercial fishing industry and continues to be a popular angling destination; however, due the problems effecting the overall health of the Lagoon there's been an increase in "fish kills" and prohibition on certain types of fishing/species. Fish and Lagoon Birds (such as Pelican, Osprey, Herons, Egret) depend on fish as a food source, as does the angling/tourism aspect of Lagoon fishing, which further affirms the necessity to Revitalize the Lagoon, and to respect the habitat and observe/adhere to the laws of the Land where one wants to fish.

While AME is a state-licensed business, We are not currently endorsed or partnered with any local, regional, state or federal government agencies. The inspiration to do this work stems from that of a concerned citizen who works in/on and enjoys the Lagoon, and hopes to see it thrive. Furthermore, the  ideas and solutions presented herein are solely those of its Founder—shared with the intention garnering affect; they are experience-based and formulated in observation/congruence with the ideas, progress and plans outlined by such accredited government entities, and within adherence to the laws the Land. As such, most of these ideas/solutions are devised for Lagoon-active citizens/volunteers, which is the capacity in which much of this work is currently being performed. To reaffirm the sentiment of other Lagoon Restoration groups, Revitalizing the Lagoon requires All hands (and minds) on deck, and on the Water.

*For more information about the Lagoon, Spoil Islands, Management Plans and Involvement Opportunities, I suggest checking out the websites of the following accredited groups:

-IRC Lagoon Development

- IRL National Estuary Program: One Lagoon

-Spoil Island Project