WASHINGTON: Port Canaveral will contribute $100,000 to the Indian River Lagoon Council to help educate the public about the causes of the lagoon’s environmental issues and to seek solutions. Port commissioners on Wednesday unanimously approved the proposal, which was put forth by Commissioner Bruce Deardoff.
Under the plan, the money will be used to “educate the public and local government of the continuing damage and pollution caused to the Indian River Lagoon by the discharge of stormwater runoff, freshwater discharges and other pollutants.” It also seeks to “spur action on a long-term solution to reduce and redirect” that runoff to “its historic drainage area in the St. Johns River basin.”
Deardoff said that, after hearing Indian River Lagoon Council Executive Director Duane De Freese make a presentation to port commissioners last month about the lagoon’s problems, “I felt compelled to recommend that the commission take concrete action to assist the Indian River Lagoon Council in their efforts to restore our irreparable natural resource.”
Countless fish died in the northern lagoon in mid-March after a severe brown algae bloom caused dissolved oxygen in the water to crash, choking out fish and other marine life. More than half the lagoon’s seagrass died after a 2011 “superbloom” of green algae from Titusville to Melbourne. Hundreds of dead manatees, pelicans and dolphins soon followed.
“The biggest problem is stormwater runoff,” Deardoff said in discussing his proposal. “We’ve basically been poisoning this lagoon. We have to stop the damage and make improvements. Things can be done to make changes, and we just need to do it.” In his proposal, Deardoff noted that the Indian River Lagoon Estuary is “a unique ecosystem that supports endangered and threatened species, fisheries and habitats” that “has an economic value to Florida’s ocean and coastal economy estimated at $3.7 billion annually.” He said the lagoon provides local residents “with economic and recreational opportunities, and supports the economic growth, property values and quality of life in our area.”
Deardoff said the Indian River Lagoon Council is an ideal recipient for the contribution because its goals are “to restore and maintain a functioning, healthy ecosystem which supports endangered and threatened species, fisheries, commerce and recreation.” “What I’d like to do,” Deardoff said, “is educate to public to what is actually going on, and why we are polluting this lagoon, and hope that public opinion will move things forward in order to save the lagoon.” Deardoff said that while “identifying the problems is the first step, our intent is for the development of a long-term management plan that allows all of the community to participate in the solution.“
Port Authority Secretary/Treasurer Tom Weinberg — in noting that the deterioration of the lagoon has been “incredible” in recent years — told Deardoff: “I think this is an excellent idea, and I’m glad you put it out there. It’s money well-spent.” Canaveral Port Authority Chairman Jerry Allender said the contribution as the latest of Port Canaveral’s continuing efforts to address environmental issues.
“Port Canaveral has a rich history of environmental stewardship, and today’s vote demonstrates our continued commitment to our community as we work together for the protection of our area’s natural resources,” Allender said in a statement issued after the meeting. Port Canaveral Chief Executive Officer John Murray called the contribution “a great effort on behalf of the Port Authority.”
Port commissioners said the contribution needs to be used by the Indian River Lagoon Council strictly for educational efforts related to the lagoon, not for salaries of administrative costs. Port Commissioner Wayne Justice also suggested that the Indian River Lagoon Council work on gathering more “baseline data” for measuring how steps being taken impact the condition of the lagoon. Deardoff said he hopes the port’s contribution will spur other organizations and business to make a financial commitment to help the lagoon.
