Indian River Lagoon System

Indian River Lagoon System

A system of waterways including Mosquito Lagoon, Banana River, and Indian River.

Length of the lagoon

156 Miles = ~40% of Florida's East Coast.

Width of the lagoon

Widest = 5 miles; Narrowest = ½ mile.

Depth of the lagoon

Average of ~3-5 feet.

Counties touching the lagoon's shore

6 Counties (watershed).

Inlets of the lagoon

5 Inlets.

Improper name of the lagoon

Rivers have a beginning (headwater) and an end (mouth), while lagoons don't.

Water movement in a lagoon

Water in a lagoon is moved by tides and winds.

Estuary

A partially enclosed body of water where salt and fresh waters mix.

Brackish water

Water with a salinity of 0.5ppt vs 35ppt.

Species in the lagoon

Over 4,000 species of plants and animals.

Endangered species in the lagoon

35 of which are endangered species.

Biodiversity in the lagoon

2,100 plants and 2,200 animals, including 700 fish and 300 birds.

Threatened or endangered species

12 plant and 24 animal species are threatened or endangered.

Florida coastal salt marshes

Over 25% of Florida coastal salt marshes.

Seagrass

A submerged flowering plant that grows in shallow water of a gulf, protected bays, lagoons, and coastal areas.

Types of seagrass in IRL

The IRL has 7 types of seagrass, one of which is an endangered species.

Importance of seagrass

Two and a half acres can support 100,000 fish and 100 million invertebrates.

Threats to seagrass beds

Prop scarring, overuse of fertilizers, and runoff.

Mangroves

Trees that live in varied salinities of water.

Types of mangroves in Florida

Red, Black, and White mangroves.

Importance of mangroves

Mangroves provide critical habitat and protect shorelines.

Spoil island

Spoil islands are man-made islands.

Types of Fish

There are two types of fish: Cartilaginous and Bony.

Mouth Size and Shape

Mouth size and shape can tell you what and how a fish eats.

Upward Mouth

A type of mouth shape in fish.

Large Mouth

A type of mouth shape in fish.

Small Mouth

A type of mouth shape in fish.

Downward Mouth

A type of mouth shape in fish.

Tail Shape

Tail shape can tell you how a fish swims.

Forked Tail

Indicates a fast or constant swimmer.

Rounded or Square Tail

Indicates a slow swimmer, capable of short bursts of speed.

Common Targets of Anglers

Common targets include Snook, Red/black drum, Spotted Sea Trout, Pompano, Sheepshead, and Mangrove Snapper.

Cartilaginous Fishes

Includes Sharks (Bonnett Head, Black tip, and Bulls) and Rays (Southern, Atlantic, Manta).

Stingray Shuffle

A dance lesson where you shuffle your feet to avoid the Stingray Hop.

Economic Impact

Includes 15k jobs, 11 million recreators annually, and over $3.5 billion annually.

Fishing

Fishing includes in and off-shore and 50% of FL East Coast fish harvests.

Eco-tourism

A sector contributing to the economic impact.

Property Values

Includes values of dwellings and hospitality.

Research

A sector contributing to the economic impact.

Threats to Water Quality

Reduced water quality is due to watershed runoff, non-point source pollution, development, overharvesting, and invasive species.

Muck

Benthic sediment comprised of organic matter, high in nitrogen and phosphorus.

2011 Super Bloom

A significant event involving brown tides.

Water Redirecting

2.5 times the amount of freshwater than naturally occurs.

Pollutions

Includes chemical, physical, and biological pollutants, including light and sound.

Resource Threats

Includes overharvesting of shellfish and methods previously used to harvest fishes.

Algal Blooms

Several algal species are present naturally and can cause ecological issues.

Brown Tide

Detected since 2005 but not in bloom until 2016.

Cold Events

In 2010, there were 30 days without temperatures reaching 60F.

How Can I Help?

Educate yourself, support research, participate in clean-ups, and use the lagoon.