DEP PROVIDES FUNDING TO HELP IMPROVE WATER QUALITY IN INDIAN RIVER LAGOON

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 14, 2016

CONTACT: DEP Press Office, 850.245.2112, DEPNews@dep.state.fl.us

DEP PROVIDES FUNDING TO HELP IMPROVE
WATER QUALITY IN INDIAN RIVER LAGOON

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has awarded funding for four projects, including two grants in the past week, to help improve water quality in the Indian River Lagoon. Project funding, which is provided by the state's Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) and 319 Water-Quality Restoration Grants as well as legislative-appropriation grants, will help communities reduce stormwater nutrient loads, continue stormwater treatment improvements, and reduce or eliminate nonpoint source pollution.

The recent algal bloom (brown-tide event) in the northern Indian River Lagoon and Banana River reinforces the importance for continued water-quality restoration work in the lagoon. These recently awarded grants and loans will reduce nitrogen and phosphorous levels, which can decrease the intensity and duration of algal bloom events.

“We are committed to working with local communities to expedite and implement projects that improve water-quality conditions and contribute to ongoing restoration of the Indian River Lagoon,” said DEP Secretary Jon Steverson. “These projects will help us safeguard this natural treasure for Florida’s environment, families and visitors.”

Examples of recent projects benefiting the northern Indian River Lagoon and Banana River are:

Brevard County: Awarded $554,328 in TMDL grants for stormwater control structure upgrades. Retrofits to 26 existing baffle boxes, located in carefully chosen TMDL boundary areas throughout the county, will increase filtration by adding trash screens above normal water levels. By keeping trash and debris from entering stormwater drainage pipes, this project will further reduce nutrients going into the lagoon. 

Brevard County was also awarded $398,015 in TMDL and 319 grants to enhance the effectiveness of 10 existing wet detention ponds by adding floating vegetative islands, which will help reduce excessive nutrients entering the lagoon.

Cape Canaveral: Awarded $598,262 in a 319 grant, and a $589,000 legislative appropriation to install over 4,000 stormwater chambers beneath Canaveral City Park to treat stormwater. Adjacent downstream curb inlets to the park will also be retrofitted to redirect stormwater, improving water-quality and reducing stormwater pollutant loads entering the Banana River Lagoon.

Palm Bay: Awarded a $250,000 legislative appropriation to install stormwater treatment systems and implement best management practices to an existing 172-acre drainage basin located within the cities of Melbourne and Palm Bay. This project will reduce pollutant loading and the amount of silt entering the Indian River Lagoon.

To further improve the lagoon’s water quality, the department is identifying additional wastewater and stormwater projects that reduce the amount of nutrients entering the lagoon and dredge projects that remove muck from the bottom of the lagoon, which also feeds algae blooms.

For the upcoming fiscal year, nearly $26 million from the Florida First budget will be invested in 10 water-quality improvement projects in the Indian River Lagoon, which includes $21.5 million in a muck dredging project.

DEP also recently awarded $1.8 million in legislative appropriations in Lee, Martin and St. Lucie counties that will benefit the southern Indian River Lagoon and the St. Lucie River and Estuary through critical data collection and nutrient loading elimination projects.