Inspiring Teens, Upcoming Fertilizer Ban, and more!
- IRNA
- May 17
- 10 min read
Updated: May 20
May 17, 2025 Weekly Newsletter
A Local Scholar Protecting Our Lagoon: IRNA Congratulates Web Webster
At the IRNA, we believe that responsible land use, clean water, and community education are the pillars of a thriving Indian River County. That's why we're particularly excited to highlight the achievements of one of Vero Beach's own students who exemplifies these values through dedicated scientific research.
Vero Beach High School senior Web Webster has been awarded the prestigious 2025 Florida Sea Grant Skoch Scholarship for his innovative research on septic contamination in our waterways. His project, which quantifies caffeine as a marker for septic tank leakage in Queens Cove, represents exactly the kind of local initiative and scientific rigor we need to protect the Indian River Lagoon.
In a time when our lagoon faces unprecedented pressures from development and population growth, it's heartening to see young people like Web stepping up to address these challenges head-on. His dedication to protecting his coastal backyard is essential for the future of our community.
What makes Web's research particularly valuable is how it directly addresses one of our community's most pressing environmental concerns: septic system contamination.
By partnering with the Ocean Research and Conservation Association (ORCA), Web implemented an innovative method to trace septic leachate in Queens Cove, St. Lucie County. His approach is elegantly simple yet sound, caffeine, which passes through the human digestive system and has a long half-life in water, serves as a reliable indicator of human waste entering our waterways.
This research dovetails perfectly with IRNA's ongoing advocacy for septic-to-sewer conversion in vulnerable areas. Web's findings, which revealed higher caffeine concentrations in older subdivisions with limited water circulation, provide additional evidence for prioritizing these neighborhoods in infrastructure improvement plans.
Perhaps most interestingly, Web's research uncovered an unexpected caffeine "hotspot" in what appeared to be an open area, suggesting possible boat sewage discharge, a reminder that our water quality challenges require multiple solutions and continued vigilance.
By mapping caffeine concentrations across Queens Cove using GIS technology, Web has created a visual tool that helps identify priority areas for intervention. This kind of data visualization is invaluable for communicating complex environmental issues to policymakers and the public alike.
Web isn't stopping with this initial research. He's currently developing a cost-effective application that would bring real-time wastewater monitoring capabilities to our community. Using handheld spectrometers to detect wavelengths of light, his goal is to make septic tracing both portable and affordable.
"I am dedicated to pushing the boundary of sustainability by using GIS mapping to show septic hotspots and help governments prioritize areas that are at-risk," Web explains. "I will continue to share my research, as well as information on septic legislation, because there are grants in surrounding counties like Brevard that initiate septic-to-sewer conversion for at-risk homes."
IRNA extends our heartfelt congratulations to Web Webster on receiving the 2025 Skoch Scholarship, which honors the memory of Charles "Chuck" Skoch, an avid fisherman and Florida resident who understood the value of our coastal resources.
We're pleased to learn that Web has been accepted to the University of Florida's Honors Program as a Lombardi Scholar, where he plans to major in marine science. His ambition to pursue a PhD and continue his research promises even greater contributions to environmental protection in the years to come.
To all the young people in our community with curiosity about the natural world and a desire to make a difference: your commitment matters. Whether through science, advocacy, education, or art, your unique contributions can help ensure the long-term health of the Indian River Lagoon and our coastal communities.
IRNA remains committed to supporting science-based decision-making and community education about our watershed. We invite you to learn more about the challenges facing our lagoon and how you can be part of the solution.
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PROTECT OUR LAGOON:
FERTILIZER BAN STARTS JUNE 1
Dear Indian River County Neighbors,
The stunning waters that define our community are at risk. Starting June 1st, our annual fertilizer restrictions take effect. This is a critical defense for the Indian River Lagoon.
WHY THIS MATTERS TO YOU
Harmful algal blooms are already appearing across Florida, turning crystal waters into toxic soup that:
Kills fish and wildlife
Creates health hazards for swimmers and boaters
Decreases property values
Threatens our local economy
These blooms feed on the very nutrients washing from our lawns.
⚠️ WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: JUNE 1 - SEPTEMBER 30
During our rainy season, these simple rules protect our waterways:
✅ NO fertilizer application of any kind
✅ NO phosphorous fertilizers year-round
✅ 50% slow-release nitrogen required in all fertilizers (when used outside the blackout period)
✅ Keep all fertilizers 10 feet away from waterways, wetlands, and seawalls
WORKING WITH LAWN CARE PROVIDERS?
Have the conversation now! Ensure they understand:
The fertilizer blackout period
Not to blow grass clippings into streets or storm drains
That you prioritize lagoon health over a perfectly green lawn
THE BEAUTY OF GOING NATIVE
Consider Florida-friendly landscaping that thrives without fertilizer:
Saves you money
Requires less maintenance
Provides habitat for local wildlife
Naturally filters rainwater
RESOURCES & REPORTING
Watch the County's helpful video: https://vimeo.com/90164000
Questions? Contact Alexis Peralta, Storm Water Educator: aperalta@indianriver.gov
See a violation? Report it to Alexa to help protect our waters
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Florida Budget Crisis: State Faces Potential Shutdown
Florida faces a possible government shutdown as Republican legislative leaders have abandoned their tentative budget agreement amid growing tensions with Governor Ron DeSantis. The breakdown leaves lawmakers struggling to fulfill their constitutional obligation to pass a state budget before the July 1 deadline.
House Speaker Daniel Perez announced that the budget framework negotiated with Senate President Ben Albritton has "blown up" after Albritton withdrew support for their previous agreement. This collapse comes shortly after Governor DeSantis threatened to veto the House's sales tax cut plan, calling it "dead on arrival."
The dispute centers primarily on competing tax relief visions. Perez champions a permanent reduction in state sales tax from 6% to 5.25%, while DeSantis pushes for property tax relief. Albritton initially appeared to support the House plan but has now backed away, saying senators prefer "targeted tax relief that benefits growing families and seniors."
Florida's legislative session is already in overtime. The House plans to extend the session through the end of June, while the Senate will only extend "if necessary." Political science professor Sean Foreman noted, "I don't recall a Florida Legislature being this divided this late in the session, and again, it's all run by the same party."
The impasse has exposed tensions between Florida's Republican leaders. Perez remarked, "I am willing to be the adult in the room and sit with the governor... But unfortunately, the governor only talks in roundtables and Twitter." DeSantis criticized the House's committee-based approach to property tax reform, saying, "You don't convene a 37-person committee when you're trying to get something done."
If lawmakers fail to pass a budget by June 30, state-funded services would be disrupted. The Republican Party of Florida has offered to host a budget summit between the three leaders in an attempt to resolve the standoff before time runs out, but Governor DeSantis and others have rejected this approach.The standoff has only intensified in recent days, with House Speaker Perez formally extending the session through June 30 while publicly questioning Senate President Albritton's trustworthiness. In a counter-move to the House's sales tax proposal, Governor DeSantis has floated a $1,000 property tax rebate for homeowners, which Perez quickly dismissed as an 'irresponsible idea' that fails to address the structural issues with property taxes. Despite weeks of negotiations, Perez acknowledged the parties are 'no closer now than three weeks ago' to reaching a budget agreement.
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The IRNA Board continues its active engagement in local environmental initiatives as we head into summer. We're excited to expand our outreach through a new children's educational section on our website, which will complement our ongoing grass clippings awareness campaign and seasonal fertilizer ban promotion. We hope this will be up and running by the start of the new school year. Our yard signs have been making an impact, reminding residents about these important protections for our waterways.
Looking ahead, we're developing field trip opportunities to environmental sites across the county, giving members a chance to experience firsthand the natural resources we're working to protect. These excursions will showcase stormwater parks, conservation lands, and restoration projects that often go unnoticed but play crucial roles in our ecosystem. Keep your eyes on this space for more information on the events as they are announced!
Our Land Use Committee is also planning on bringing in expert speakers and fostering meaningful dialogue. Our aim is to bridge knowledge gaps about sustainable development practices and how development can impact the human and natural environment.
Meanwhile, our Water and Lagoon Committee is exploring ways to measure the effectiveness of restoration projects, ensuring our environmental efforts deliver real results.
As seasonal residents depart, we're already planning our welcome-back event for October, which promises to bring together members for engaging discussions about environmental priorities. Our next publication is scheduled for November, and we welcome your input and article suggestions.
Though we may meet virtually over the summer months, our commitment to Indian River County's natural treasures remains unwavering year-round.
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