February Water News
- CWC
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
We're honored to celebrate Heather Stapleton as our January Lagoon Champion! As the Central IRL Community Engagement Coordinator from IRLNEP (OneLagoon), Heather brings an incredible passion for our waters.
Heather doesn't just talk the talk—she's walked the walk, tackling challenges like living plastic-free (spoiler: it's incredibly hard!) to show what's possible. She recently headlined an e-series at the Emerson Center, “The Indian River Lagoon Story.” But whether she's on stage at community theater or advocating for our lagoon, Heather's voice rings clear and strong for water protection. She's exactly the kind of champion our Indian River Lagoon needs!
Thank you, Heather, and congrats on the award!
Our environment significantly affects the quality of life we enjoy in Indian River County. Our environment includes all the lands and waters that surround us and provide the abundant recreational opportunities we enjoy. Most of us enjoy a coastal lifestyle - close to beaches and the Indian River Lagoon where we can experience world class, year-round recreation - from boating, fishing, surfing, birding, to just simple appreciation of wildlife. However, the County’s natural land and water resources are in historical decline.
How do developed lands, agricultural lands, and other land uses affect the County’s land and water resources? How do land uses affect the County’s water resources including the Indian River Lagoon and Blue Cyprus Lake?
The Clean Water Coalition of Indian River County (CWC) – in collaboration with the Pelican Island Audubon Society (PIAS) and the Indian River Neighborhood Association (IRNA) is planning a public education forum – scheduled for Saturday April 25, 2026 at the Emerson Center in Vero Beach. The Forum will include impartial subject matter experts as speakers to increase public awareness of:
County-wide land and water resource issues – particularly surrounding the degraded health of the Indian River Lagoon and Blue Cypress Lake;
the public need for federal, State and local government actions and investment to improve sewer infrastructure, wastewater treatment facility upgrades, stormwater management, habitat restoration, and preservation of environmental lands.
Forum speakers will describe (a) the issues - related to environmental and water quality degradation, and (b) the corresponding solutions - physical, legislative, and other actions needed by individuals and our federal, state and local governments. Forum participants will have the opportunity engage experts and better understand what’s needed to restore our environment and preserve our quality of life.
Soil Testing Needed at Biosolid Deposition Sites
State leaders have made significant efforts to improve water quality, but much more is needed— including the problem of biosolids. Biosolids is a euphemism for sewage sludge, the residuals from treated wastewater. Florida produces more than 385,000 tons of biosolids a year.
When excessive nutrients from biosolids caused toxic algal blooms in Lake Okeechobee, the practice of spreading biosolids on farmland was banned in the surrounding area. However, the pollution problem of South Florida’s waste was not solved – it was simply transferred north as utilities began trucking the biosolids to other rural areas.
Indian River County established a ban on the land application of biosolids in 2018. IRC biosolids are deposited at the landfill.
Besides being nutrient rich, biosolids may also contain contaminants like pharmaceuticals and others of emerging concern, including PFAS. These “forever chemicals,” some toxic and bio-accumulative, aren’t removed by conventional wastewater and biosolids treatment.
Monitoring biosolids deposition sites is critical for understanding the magnitude of the problem.
In May 2025, a federal judge ordered that Florida temporarily halt permitting for repair and installation of conventional septic systems in the Northern Indian River Lagoon in Brevard County. The order is intended to protect endangered manatees from toxic algae fueled by sewage. The ruling stemmed from a lawsuit indicating that after high manatee mortality rates, failing to control septic pollution violated the Endangered Species Act. Excess nitrogen in the Lagoon can feed algal growth that smothers seagrass, the manatee’s primary food source.
Currently, septic system failures require the installation of an Advanced Nitrogen Reducing System. The upgrade costs in excess of $20,000. Brevard County responded by offering $6,000 to assist homeowners to upgrade their current system.
The State is appealing this decision on April 10th.
2026 Harbor Branch Ocean Science Lecture Series
FEB. 18
Our Story: The Queen Conch Lab
Megan Davis, Ph.D.
FEB. 25
From Classroom to Coastline: Preparing the Next Wave of Ocean Leaders
Gabby McHenry, Ph.D.
MARCH 4
Plague Hunters: The Race to Find the Cause of the World's First Pandemic \
Greg O'Corry-Crowe, Ph.D.
MARCH 11
Ocean Optics: Shedding Light on the Ocean Around Us
Wayne Slade, Ph.D.
MARCH 18
Cell Imaging to Revel the Hidden World of Plankton
Stephanie Schreiber and Olivia Ruchti - Graduate Student Lecture!
MARCH 25
Breaking Ground with Underwater Sound
Matt Ajemian, Ph.D.
All Day - February 19, 2026 - Symposium
The 2026 IRLS will explore how new tools and approaches are reshaping research, monitoring, and management in coastal systems.
Topics will include:
Applications of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and molecular techniques such as environmental DNA
Advances in sensor systems, remote sensing, and autonomous platforms
Innovative uses of established scientific methods to enhance data analysis, visualization, and decision-making
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