The day started early for participants at Melbourne’s Lagoon Day. They arrived at dawn, pulling wagons and pushing hand carts laden with tents, tables, fishing rods, rain barrels, coloring books, educational documentation, stickers and souvenirs to distribute to attendees and educate them about this estuary, recognized as the most diverse in North America.
The Indian River lagoon stretches 156 miles along Florida’s East Coast from Ponce de Leon Inlet on the north to St. Lucie Inlet on the south. The estuary, significant for its biodiversity, has 2,200 animal species, 685 fish and 370 bird species and 2,100 plant species (“Ecology). This lagoon, described by environmental historian Nathaniel Osborn as “neither wholly fresh nor wholly salt, it is neither land nor open water.” (Osborn 158) supports the economy with fishing and leisure activities—wind surfing and rowing, kayaking and birding. It’s a place where public school students get involved in science projects, and where Florida Tech graduate students conduct research and where many of us go for nature walks or paddles.
Organizers and participants of Lagoon Day agree about the importance of having such a place of natural beauty in our community and of our responsibility to ensure its health. Each person can make a difference.
Rather than focus on one species or issue, organizations have begun to emphasize an ecosystem approach to the lagoon management—a strategy that takes into account the impact of our activities on natural resources—development, fertilizers, runoff and nonpoint source pollution that may start with tributaries then lead to a decline in water quality as well as disappearance of native flora and fauna in the lagoon area.
These days we talk about the need for a dark skies program to benefit nesting turtles and migrating birds as well as star gazers. With each storm, we recognize the true cost of over development and look toward mangrove restoration as a means of protecting coastlines. At one time, Florida’s coastlines were protected from erosion by a border of mangroves so thick they were described by early travelers as floating islands. Audubon and avian conservation organizations provide information on native birds as well as the importance of native plants. As one volunteer explained to me, native plants attract native insects that attract native birds.
The importance of a native habitat has been explained by entomologist Doug Tallamy. In his book Nature’s Best Hope, he addresses the carrying capacity of a habitat—“the number of a species that can be supported indefinitely without degrading the local resources.” (Tallamy 84-85).
One of the upcoming issues facing the IRL is the vote to renew a half-penny sales tax in 2026 to continue to fund projects that have benefited the lagoon since 2017. These projects have led to reduction of historic and on-going sources of pollution and restoration of ecosystems and public education.
Postscript - Takeaways
Although Lagoon Day attendance was not as high as seen in previous years, it offered an opportunity to network with organizations, all dedicated to the protection of the IRL for present and future generations. These types of events are important given recent funding cuts to numerous projects that focus on the protection of water quality and native habitat and sustainable development. After all, Florida’s main attraction is its natural beauty.
Nearby, peaceful No Kings Protests brought thousands to the area (an estimated 3,000 at Cocoa and numerous other Florida cities).
Works Cited
“Ecology of the Indian River Lagoon.” Florida State Parks. https://www.floridastateparks.org/learn/ecology-indian-river-lagoon. Accessed 18 October 2025.
Indian River Lagoon—Introduction to a National Treasure. Indian River National Estuary Program. St. Johns River Water Management District. 2007.
“Ecology of the Indian River Lagoon.” Florida State Parks. https://www.floridastateparks.org/learn/ecology-indian-river-lagoon. Accessed 18 October 2025.
“100 Projects Completed.” Brevard County’s Save our Lagoon. 2025.
Tallamy, Doug. Nature’s Best Hope—A New Approach to Conservation that Starts in Your Backyard, 2020.
“What is the Save Our Indian River Lagoon Program?” Brevard County’s Save Our Lagoon, 2025.
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