Thousands of concerned citizens gathered this past Saturday to show their support for the Indian River Lagoon. Since January of this year, hundreds of manatees, dolphins and brown pelicans have died. Experts don’t know the exact cause of the die off but suspect it is a combination of numerous factors including but not limited to; fertilizer runoff, septic tanks, algae blooms, climate change and more.
People gathered at eight different locations all along the Indian River Lagoon, which runs 156 miles and through 6 counties on the east coast of Florida. The event was part of the National Estuaries day celebration. Hands Across the Lagoon was organized to call attention to the toxic waters and declining state of our lagoon and to ask local leaders to make the health of the lagoon a top priority.
From the Girl Scouts to the Science club at Palm Bay Elementary School, Space Coast Progressive Alliance Members to Florida Tech’s Department of Marine and Environmental Systems, concerned citizens from every walk of life joined hands to show their support for our beloved estuary.
According to Diane Barile, one of the founding members of the Marine Resource Council, everyone needs to be involved. The solution begins right in your own backyard and everyone needs to do their part to save our lagoon ecosystem.
Dr. Leesa Souto, Head of the Marine Resources Council was elated with the turnout and hopes that local leaders will take action and be responsive to the needs of the Lagoon Estuary.
Kelli Zargiel of Florida Tech’s Department of Marine and Environmental Systems help to spearhead University support of the effort and represented a contingency of students, professors and departments at the University.
On October 17th from 6 to 9 pm there will be a meeting at the Marine Resource Council’s Ted Moorehead Lagoon House 3275 Dixie Hwy NE, Palm Bay, FL 32901. Brevard County Commissioners and other elected officials will hold a workshop to discuss plans to address how to address the issues facing our lagoon and how they plan to proceed. The meeting is open to the public.
Links to other information about our lagoon:
http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20130928/NEWS01/130928005/1006/rss01/
http://www.nbcnews.com/video/nightly-news/53141955/#53141955
http://www.npr.org/2013/09/26/223037646/with-murky-water-and-manatee-deaths-lagoon-languishes
