Special Preview of the First Indian River Lagoon Report Card
by Brevard Indian River Lagoon Coalition
DATE AND TIME
Thu, February 22, 2018
6:30 PM – 8:30 PM EST
LOCATION
Gleason Performing Arts Center
Florida Institute of Technology
2940 Science Circle
Melbourne, FL 32901
Is the lagoon’s health improving? That is the question that will be addressed by MRC’s annual assessment report. The Marine Resources Council has worked diligently for more than two years to develop the first Indian River Lagoon Report Card. This document, inspired by the report card produced by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and similar works for other water bodies, is built upon a scientific methodology that assesses lagoon health using repeatable techniques that could show the progress of restoration efforts. With the Report Card close to completion and release, Dr. Leesa Souto, Executive Director of the Marine Resources Council will discuss the process of developing this important document and describe why this document will be an vital part of Lagoon communications.
Dr. Souto’s presentation provides a preview of the Indian River Lagoon Report Card, mapping decades of water quality and habitat data to show the condition of lagoon health. Although the report is nearing completion, it is still undergoing a rigorous peer review process before it can be finalized and released, so consider this a first draft that may change.
The program will begin at 7:00 PM sharp with welcoming remarks from Dr. Robert Weaver of the Florida Tech IRL Research Institute and MJ Waters of the Brevard Indian River Lagoon Coalition. Next, brief updates on the Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program and the Brevard County Save Our Indian River Lagoon Project Plan will be provided.
Audience questions about the presentations will be invited after the updates and also after Dr. Souto's presentation.