DEP Funds 12 Projects to Help Restore Indian River Lagoon

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has awarded more than $24 million in funding for 12 recent projects to continue efforts to improve water quality in the Indian River Lagoon.

These projects will help communities to reduce or eliminate nonpoint source pollution and eliminate muck sediments.

“We are committed to partnering with local communities to expedite and implement projects that improve water quality and contribute to the ongoing restoration of the Indian River Lagoon, which is vital to Florida’s environment, economy and quality of life,” said DEP Interim Secretary Ryan Matthews. 

Some of the recent projects benefiting the Indian River Lagoon include:

• Brevard County: Awarded a total of $556,100 in grant funding and a legislative appropriation for a nutrient-reduction project at Pines Industrial Pond;
• Cape Canaveral: Awarded a $98,400 grant for shoreline restoration at Banana River Park and Manatee Sanctuary Park;
• Edgewater: Awarded a $159,300 grant;
• Indialantic: Awarded a $65,500 grant;
• Melbourne: Awarded a $517,050;
• Ocean Breeze: Awarded a total of $465,000;
• Palm Bay: Awarded a $400,000 legislative appropriation;
• Rockledge: Awarded an additional $162,500 grant;
• St. Johns River Water Management District: Awarded an increase of $10 million for a total of $20 million from legislative appropriation grants for a muck dredging project in the Eau Gallie River, a tributary of the Indian River Lagoon;
• Titusville: Awarded a $352,752 grant.

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, DEP said.

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