FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 15, 2017
DEP AWARDS $21.5 MILLION TO
BREVARD COUNTY FOR CONTINUED RESTORATION OF INDIAN RIVER LAGOON
~Legislative appropriation helps fund muck dredging project~
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. –
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection recently awarded
Brevard County an additional $21.5
million legislative appropriation grant for
Phase II of the Brevard County Muck Dredging project.
This latest funding builds on the previous $20
million awarded in the past two years for muck removal in the Indian River Lagoon, for a total investment of $41.5 million to
date.
Muck build-up is a result of nutrient pollution, sediment, grass clippings, leaves and other organic matter entering the Indian River Lagoon over time and accumulating at the bottom. As muck decomposes, it consumes oxygen needed by fish and it releases nutrients that feed algal blooms. Muck sediments also negatively impact navigation and can damage seagrass beds.
"Eliminating current
sources of muck is a crucial step toward improving water quality
and the overall health of the Lagoon," said DEP Interim Secretary Ryan
Matthews. "Brevard County
continues to demonstrate its commitment to protect and restore
the Indian River Lagoon and we look forward to continued
collaboration to protect this important resource."
This newest phase of the project will remove approximately 400,000 additional cubic yards of muck sediments from the south Sykes Creek and Grand Canal sites within the Indian River Lagoon, the Banana River Lagoon and associated tributaries.
"We are grateful to DEP for this additional funding to help restore the Indian River Lagoon," said Virginia Barker, Brevard County Natural Resources Management Department director. "The continuation of muck removal projects is important to the overall health, productivity, aesthetic appeal and economic value of the Lagoon, and saving the Lagoon is a top priority for the people who live, work and play here."
Previous funding includes $20 million for the ongoing Phase I of the Brevard County Muck Dredging project, which when completed will remove approximately 350,000 cubic yards of muck from the north Cocoa Beach, Mims boat ramp and Turkey Creek sites within the Indian River Lagoon, the Banana River Lagoon and associated tributaries. Additionally, $800,000 was awarded to identify sources of muck in the Indian River Lagoon and remove aquatic vegetation from the Lagoon watershed.
Together, both phases of the muck dredging project are estimated to remove a total of approximately 1,400 tons of nitrogen and 300 tons of phosphorous contained within Indian River Lagoon muck sediments.
The Indian River Lagoon Research Institute at Florida Institute of Technology (FIT), has been awarded $1.5 million to assist in monitoring project effectiveness, as well as conduct research on the chemical, physical and biological effects of muck removal within the Indian River Lagoon system.
"FIT
is proud to be a research partner in this project," said
Professor Emeritus Dr. John Windsor at Florida Institute of Technology
Department of Ocean Engineering and Science. “It was very foresighted of the
legislature, DEP and Brevard County to assess the benefits of environmental
muck dredging in coastal waters and support the research necessary to optimize
Indian River Lagoon restoration from muck removal. It is also important
for our students to experience how one state, one school or one person
can change the world and help save a national treasure like the Indian
River Lagoon, and be prepared to continue the ongoing restoration and
maintenance plan."
The department is working aggressively to
improve water quality in the Indian River Lagoon by identifying and
funding additional wastewater and stormwater projects to reduce the amount of
nutrients going into the Lagoon, as well as dredging projects to remove
muck from the bottom of the Lagoon.
Governor Rick Scott's "Fighting for
Florida's Families" budget proposes funding for a 50/50 state matching
grant program with local communities, including those along Indian River
Lagoon, to provide funding to encourage residents to move from septic tanks to
sewer systems in order to curb pollution that is currently entering impacted
water bodies. Additionally, this proposal will support local communities
to help build wastewater systems to meet the increased demand for wastewater
services.
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