Photo Credit - Caity Savoia |
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Have you been enjoying our changing headers? Want to showcase one of your Lagoon photos? Then email the MRC by clicking here! |
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Happy New Year MRC Family! |
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We hope you had a wonderful holiday season and are ready to greet the New Year!
Thank you to all of our holiday elves who have generously supported the MRC during this season of giving! Thanks to your generosity we raised over $32,000 that will help us continue the lasting legacy of the LagoonWatch program, inspire the next generation of Lagoon advocates at our Lagoon Castaway Summer Camp, and continue to monitor the health of our Indian River Lagoon.
Though we are still closed to the public, the MRC is charging into 2021 and continuing our work to help save the Lagoon! We have started this year off right with a Lunch & Learn Webinar, a mangrove workshop, a spoil island survey; and are gearing up for rain barrel workshops, youth education programs, and outreach events!
Looking forward to seeing you in person in 2021!!
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White Pelicans on the IRL during the first Spoil Island Survey of 2021
-Photo Credit Caity Savoia
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2021 IRL Calendars... They're Here!! |
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The 2021 Indian River Lagoon calendars are here and the stunning photographs were well worth the wait! Please give us a call at 321-725-7775 before arriving at the Lagoon House so that we can properly assist you! |
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Amazing North Atlantic Right Whale Update |
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Chiminea, a 13-year-old right whale, was the first known mother of the calving season in the southeast U.S. for the 2021 season. She was spotted on December 4th with a calf and has mesmerized citizens along the Florida coast almost every day since then! Chiminea has been somewhat predictable and has kept the Volunteer Sighting Network busy with reports from Fernandina Beach south to New Smyrna Beach. Volunteer Joel Cohen was recently added to a scientific research permit from NOAA to approach right whales with a drone. As a result, MRC has collected extensive video footage of Chiminea with her calf, as well as other whales.
On Friday, January 15th, the first verified sighting of a right whale in Brevard Co. was reported by Jayne O'Donnell of Melbourne Beach. The whale headed south quickly and hasn't been seen since. Keep your eyes peeled. There are right whales everywhere right now. More than 40 individuals have been identified in the southeast so far, and our calf count is at 11!
Please report whale sightings to MRC's hotline at 888-97-WHALE (888-979-4253).
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MRC's Lagoon Castaway Summer Camp Is Expanding! |
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We are BEYOND excited to announce that the MRC is expanding and enriching our youth summer camp experience in 2021! We will be offering four different week-long camps that will be delivered twice over the 8 weeks of summer break.
These camps are designed to engage youth aged 8-12 in experiential learning with more hands-on, feet wet activities that connect them to the Lagoon like never before! Session topics will focus on animals from micro to massive, investigations into the earth and sky, and the past, present, and future of life on the Lagoon!
Camp Dates are Listed Below:
Session 1: June 7-11
Session 2: June 14 -18
Session 3: June 21 - 25
Session 4: June 28 -July 2
Session 5: July 5 - 9
Session 6: July 12 - 16
Session 7: July 19 - 23
Session 8: July 26 - 30
Stay tuned for more information coming February 2021!
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Volunteer Scientist Sought by County Commission
DEADLINE RAPIDLY APPROACHING
Friday, January 22nd, by 5pm
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The Brevard County Environmentally Endangered Lands (EEL) Program is seeking volunteers to serve on the Selection and Management Advisory Committee. The committee serves as an expert scientific advisory committee to the County Commission and staff on all issues involving the acquisition and management of environmentally endangered lands acquired under the EEL Program.
Applicant qualifications:
Four-year post-secondary academic degree (B.S. or equivalent) or a minimum of 6 years of demonstrated professional expertise in biological or environmental sciences.
Demonstrated knowledge of Brevard County ecosystems and conservation land management techniques.
Brevard County resident.
Two-year appointment.
Willing to attend meetings in-person.
For additional information on committee member responsibilities please contact the EEL Program Office or call (321) 255-4466.
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Let Your Voice Be Heard!
Participate in Brevard County's Survey on Climate Change!
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The East Coast Regional Planning Council and Brevard County have launched “Resilient Brevard,” a project to develop proactive strategies, policies, and a plan of action to increase resilience to the impacts of climate change. “Resilient Brevard” seeks to identify coastal vulnerabilities and provide local policy recommendations to minimize and mitigate the effects of flooding, storm surge, and sea level rise.
Share your input on creating an economically and environmentally resilient community by taking this short survey
The survey will be available through Friday, January 22, 2021. Two virtual public workshops will be held to discuss the survey findings and to update the community on strategy development and policy recommendations.
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Registration Open!
February Lunch & Learn Webinar
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Have you ever wondered how groundwater may be impacting the Indian River Lagoon or if reclaimed irrigation is beneficial? Then join us for our February Lunch and Learn with Dr. Leesa Souto!
The Marine Resources Council and Applied Ecology, Inc. conducted the Groundwater Study to measure the extent that wastewater is impacting the Indian River Lagoon through groundwater. Monitoring wells were installed in 13 residential neighborhoods and 3 natural areas located in five regions of Brevard County, including the mainland and barrier islands. Regions and treatment types were compared with each other and with natural areas to see differences in the extent of nutrient pollution. The results of this study will help guide and evaluate wastewater infrastructure improvement projects and update nutrient pollutant load estimates to the Indian River Lagoon.
The seminar will end with a live Q&A session, but we also recommend that participants email any relevant questions to MRC's Nicole Broquet at [email protected] by February 1st.
This is a free virtual event, but you must register to receive the zoom link and login information. If you are unable to register, we will be live streaming it through the MRC's Facebook page!
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MRC's Giving Tree has Gone Virtual! |
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Thank you to the many people who have honored a loved one or memorialized an event by contributing leaves to MRC's Mangrove Giving Tree located at the Lagoon House in Palm Bay. The Mangrove Giving Tree can now be viewed on the world wide web, where leaves can be shared with people near and far! Look for your leaf on the virtual tree or donate to memorialize a person or event by clicking on the link below! |
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Events
The Lagoon House will remain closed to the public, but we are assessing the COVID-19 situation monthly and we are still here doing the hard work of saving the Lagoon!
Call us at 321-725-7775 to schedule an appointment.
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January 18th: Martin Luther King Jr. Day - Holiday
February 2nd: Lunch and Learn Webinar - Groundwater Study Report
February 13th & 14th: Villon SurFest at Satellite Beach
March 2nd: Lunch and Learn Webinar - Native Plants Landscaping
March 6th: Melbourne Botanical Fest - Rain Barrel Workshops!
April 22nd: Earth Day!
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