Eau Gallie Harbor Summer Thunderstorms - Bo Platt
Have you been enjoying our changing headers? Want to showcase one of your Floridian nature photos? Then email the MRC by clicking here! Please only send landscape orientation (horizontal) photos that are uncropped/unedited! |
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It's Time to Celebrate Our Local Treasure -
The Indian River Lagoon
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It is time to celebrate our Indian River Lagoon during National Estuaries Week! Did you know our Indian River Lagoon is an Estuary of National Significance? You probably already knew that, but what you might not have known is that the MRC played a critical role in this designation in 1990!
We have spent the last 30 years protecting and restoring the Indian River Lagoon and could not have done it without support from our community! This week, we challenge you to celebrate National Estuaries Week by doing one activity each day to help save the Lagoon. Whether its participating in a litter pick up or limiting your sprinkler usage, these small actions lead to healthier Lagoon!
And just because National Estuaries Week will end, this doesn't mean that your efforts to help save the Lagoon should stop either.
Take a leaf out of Ted Moorhead's book. Ted Moorhead has been an integral part of the MRC Team since the organizations inception in 1983. Last week, Mr. Moorhead visited the Lagoon House to meet with staff and tell the story of how the Lagoon House was accomplished. He and his family's lifelong contribution have left a lasting legacy along the Lagoon. Thank you!
What will your lagoon legacy be?
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Enterococci bacteria sampling from Turkey Creek at the Ais Trail on September 3rd |
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Bacterial Sampling of Lagoon Tributaries |
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MRC’s LagoonWatch program has expanded to include enterococci bacteria sampling of tributaries feeding into the Indian River Lagoon. As of now, one of our LagoonWatch volunteers collects samples twice a month at four different locations along Turkey Creek: at the US1 bridge, Ais Trails Park, Port Malabar Road, and upstream of the canoe dock in Turkey Creek Sanctuary. The Environmental Learning Center in Wabasso is providing us with samples from their shore on the alternating weeks. Our fearless LagoonWatch Coordinator, Kara, will start sampling at Horse Creek this week and hopes to sample at Crane Creek Promenade and two locations upstream of US1 on the Eau Gallie River.
MRC is partnering with the Space Coast Chapter of Surfrider’s Blue Water Task Force to report the results of this sampling. Click the button below to see the complete results of all the bacterial sampling by Surfrider and to observe the results of MRC's data collection by zooming in on the map to the sites mentioned above.
One of the most shocking results we have found so far was from a water sample collected from the Ais Trail Park on Turkey Creek on September 3rd (pictured above). The State of Florida’s Department of Health has established water quality standards for enterococci in recreational waters. The levels are reported in units of MPN/100ml, which means the “most probable number” of enterococci found in a 100ml sample. Low levels are considered to be less than 35 MPN, medium ranges from 36-70 MPN, and high levels are greater than 70 MPN.
This sample had an MPN of 609...
Now, it is important to remember that this is just a result and we cannot speculate what caused this incredibly high level. This is why we need more frequent testing at diverse locations. However, each bacteria test is expensive and we need more support to cover more costs. Please consider donating by clicking the button below and dedicating your donation to LagoonWatch.
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Our Virtual Field Trips are Back! |
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Thursday, September 23rd
9:00-9:45am
Webinar ONLY
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Do you know all of the sea turtle species that visit our beaches? How old can a sea turtle get? Why is Brevard County an important place for sea turtles? To find out, join the Marine Resources Council (MRC) and the City of Melbourne ECO Division on September 23, 2021 at 9:00 a.m. for our first virtual field trip of the fall season! Our special guests, Susan Skinner and Dan Schaller with the Sea Turtle Preservation Society (STPS), will be out in the field to teach us about these amazing creatures and STPS's critical work.
This free 45-minute virtual field trip is geared toward youth, but open to all ages. Please register for the event below, the Zoom link and login information will be in your confirmation email. We will also be live streaming the presentation through the MRC's Facebook page and will be recording the presentation for future viewing!
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Your generosity is always gratefully appreciated! |
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Our wonderful members have checked MRC's Amazon Wish List and sent us a few more items. Kara would like to thank the donor who ordered the lab supplies — the tweezers and lab-grade spatulas will be put to immediate use prepping LagoonWatch chemicals. The refractometer will be used during the collection of bacteria samples by a volunteer. Angie also sends her thanks to whomever donated the multipack of straws for the Education supply closet.
Thank YOU!
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LID Conference
Free for Elected Officials!!
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If you are currently sitting on a governing board for a city or county, we want you at MRC's Low Impact Development/Green Infrastructure (LID/GI) Conference taking place in Rockledge on October 21-22. One council or commission representative from each city and county in the lagoon watershed can attend the conference for free!
MRC is bringing world-class leaders in sustainable stormwater management to the Lagoon watershed to change our future from gray to green.
Stormwater is one of the leading sources of pollution to the Indian River Lagoon. To save our estuaries, we must change the way we are handling stormwater by moving away from concrete and impervious structures and toward green, vegetated infrastructure that permits rain to percolate into the ground - recharging our aquifer and improving coastal resiliency.
It is imperative that elected officials are conversant and knowledgeable about innovate LID/GI techniques so they make informed decisions about land use planning, policies, and pollution reduction strategies.
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Featuring Virginia H. Barker, Director
Brevard County Natural Resources Management Department
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Tuesday, October 5th
12pm-1pm
Webinar ONLY
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Join us for our October Lunch & Learn! This presentation introduces Recommendations of the Stormwater Technical Advisory Committee on Updating the State's Stormwater Rules presented by Virginia Barker, Director of Natural Resources Management at Brevard County. In 2020, the Florida Legislature passed Senate Bill 712, also known as the Clean Waterways Act. This "watershed" legislation introduced by Senator Mayfield, passed with unanimous, bipartisan support to minimize known sources of nutrient pollution and strengthen regulatory requirements. Stormwater pollution represents one of the largest potential contributors of nutrients to waterways throughout the state. The Clean Waterways Act directed the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and Florida's water management districts (WMDs) to update stormwater design and operation regulations under Part IV, Chapter 373, Florida Statutes (F.S.), using the latest scientific information. The goal of the Stormwater Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) is to develop and provide consensus-driven stormwater rulemaking recommendations for DEP and WMDs through public discussion and constructive deliberation.
To learn more about this critical committee and the work they have completed so far, register below by clicking the registration button. This is a free event, but you must register to receive the Zoom link and password. We will also be live streaming the presentation through the MRC's Facebook page and will be recording the presentation for future viewing!
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The Lagoon House will continue to remain closed to the public as COVID cases have increased.
We are still here doing the hard work of saving the Lagoon and we can be available by telephone if you need us.
Stay safe Lagoon Lovers!
Call us at 321-725-7775 to schedule an appointment.
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November 9 - Lunch & Learn - Frog Watch
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