Paw Prints on the Shoreline Photo Credit: Ken Parks |
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Have you been enjoying our changing headers? Showcase one of your Floridian nature photos by submitting them to MRC by email! Please send only landscape orientation (horizontal) photos that are uncropped/unedited!
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As we count our blessings this holiday season, remember how fortunate we are to live in paradise along the Indian River Lagoon coastal estuary. We know we can restore our lagoon to health and our coastal community to balance. Today, we rejoice at what has been accomplished while acknowledging there is much more to do. May you find peace and tranquility this holiday season and always. We appreciate you! |
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Executive Director Leesa Souto, Ph.D., has authored IMAGINE!, an update regarding MRC priorities across the Indian River Lagoon coastal community of east-central Florida. IMAGINE! has been mailed to hundreds of MRC members, those who donate to support our mission. You can view the update on our website at www.SaveTheIRL.org.
MRC completed a 100-day communications initiative, asking leaders what their vision for the Indian River Lagoon was. During those interviews, MRC was asked to catalyze clear, concise and consistent communications regarding all that's being done, what else needs to be done and what everyone can do to help restore balance to our coastal community. That initiative is well underway and we'll share more in the weeks to come. Exciting times!
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Using excess seagrass from its largest aquatic restoration project in Crystal River, Fla., Sea & Shoreline begins delivery of seagrass to feed manatees that are being rehabilitated at the Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park
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Finally some Good News for Manatees! |
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In 2021, over 1,000 Florida manatees have died in an unprecedented marine mammal mortality event. Most of the animals were severely emaciated, starving from a lack of seagrass due to poor water quality. On December 2nd, 2021, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) approved a plan to move forward with supplementing the diet of malnourished manatees. The plan is being implemented on a limited, experimental basis, and only permitted agencies can feed malnourished animals. Citizen feeding of manatees is still prohibited because manatees may associate humans or boats with food, which could lead to manatee harassment, injuries, or death.
Here in the Indian River Lagoon, our partners at Florida Power & Light (FPL) Company are continuing to be great supporters manatee protection, offering assistance with field efforts while contributing funds to manatee rescue and rehabilitation.
If you would like to have an active role in helping manatees, please contact your city, state, and federal representatives and encourage them to advocate for clean water. If you see a manatee in distress, please report it to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s wildlife alert hotline at 1-888-404-FWCC (3922).
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Marine Resources Council
Cordially Invites You and Your Guests to Attend
Saturday, February 12, 2022, 6-8 p.m.
5pm pre-event and VIP receptions
Hilton Melbourne Beach Oceanfront
FEATURING
2021 MRC Conservation Awards
INTRODUCING
The Legends of The Indian River Lagoon
PRE-EVENT RECEPTION
Explore Our Lagoon Auction, Hors D'Oeuvres and Open Bar
POST-EVENT TREATS
"Discover Our Lagoon" Dessert Sampler
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January Lunch & Learn Seminar Hybrid |
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January 11th
12:00-1:00pm
Zoom & Limited In-Person Attendance
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Florida Tech’s Restore Lagoon Inflow Research project is a multi-year state funded initiative to investigate the possible effects of using artificially enhanced seawater exchange to improve lagoon water quality and restore the health of the Indian River Lagoon. Findings from phases I and II research and modeling efforts highlight the potential for enhanced inflow to help stabilize the lagoon by restoring the natural processes that remove the excess nutrients responsible for harmful algal bloom outbreaks. The next step in the project is to ensure that everyone has the information needed to evaluate the feasibility of this approach with construction of a temporary, small-scale pumping system to directly evaluate the impact of enhanced seawater exchange on water quality and nutrient cycling. |
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Image collected under MMPA research permit #17355. Credit: NOAA Fisheries/Christin Khan. |
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They're here!! 1st Right Whales Sighted in Florida!
Join the Right Whale Volunteer Network - Training 1/8/22
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If you are interested in becoming a North Atlantic right whale volunteer, please come to our in-person training on Saturday, January 8th, 2:00pm at the large meeting room of the Cocoa Beach Library. This training is free to attend and you do not need to reserve your space. If you are unable to attend the training, but still want to become a volunteer or would like to report a Right Whale sighting, please contact Julie Albert at the Whale Hotline: 1-888-97-WHALE (1-888-979-4253)
If you would like to join us on the boat tour on Sunday, January 16th at 3:00pm, please call Space Coast River Tours at 321-652-1052! This will be a 2-hour tour leaving from Kelly Park. Ticket prices are: $34 for adults, $30 for seniors, and $25 for kids. We will be talking about Right Whales and will have an informal Q&A!
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Start Your New Year Right by Giving Back! |
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Please join the City of Cocoa Beach and MRC for a reef prism workshop and start your New Year with service. There will be one workshop for prepping materials (1/14 AM) and two for building prisms (1/15 AM & PM). These reef prisms will be deployed at McNabb Park in Cocoa Beach and at the Lagoon House in Palm Bay at later dates. They will provide shoreline protection, critical wildlife habitat, and nutrient remediation. Registration is required and space is limited and will fill up quickly so please click here to register. If you have any questions please contact [email protected]
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Another quick thank you to our anonymous Amazon gift-giver. Kara received another item from her wish list: a 500 ml beaker for the lab. It's appreciated!
Kara has trained several new monitors who will be testing the lagoon's water quality weekly at their locations at Rotary Riverfront Park in Titusville, in Sykes Creek on Merritt Island, on a canal in Satellite Beach, and at the US-1 bridge on the Sebastian River. Another monitor should be starting soon upstream on the Sebastian River.
Thank you to all who have joined LagoonWatch! We ARE still looking for additional monitors, especially from Palm Bay south to Grant. If you have about an hour a week and would like to help us track the health of the Indian River Lagoon, please send an email to Kara Woods, the LagoonWatch Coordinator: [email protected].
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The Lagoon House is open to the public by appointment only
Call us at 321-725-7775 to schedule an appointment
Stay Safe Lagoon Lovers!
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December 24 - Lagoon House Closed
December 31 - Lagoon House Closed
January 1 - Happy New Year!
January 8 - Right Whale Volunteer Training
February 1 - Lunch & Learn: What You Plant Matters
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Marine Resources Council
3275 Dixie Hwy NE, Palm Bay, FL 3905 | (321) 725-7775 | www.SaveTheIRL.org
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