Lagoon and County Update, Yard Grass in the News, and more!
- IRNA
- May 3
- 10 min read
May 3, 2025 Weekly Newsletter
Commissioner Earman Delivers Comprehensive County Update
The Water & Lagoon Committee welcomed County Commissioner Joe Earman to our April meeting, where he provided a wide-ranging update on county initiatives affecting our waterways and environment.
Commissioner Earman, who serves as chairman of the Indian River Lagoon Council this year, detailed several promising lagoon protection efforts. The county has successfully removed 13 derelict vessels last year plus two more in March, with plans to address the remaining five reported vessels soon. A mobile pump-out vessel program is being developed to service anchored boats throughout the county, which should help reduce discharge pollution. Additionally, an oyster reef project is planned for Lawrence Island with 640 reef balls to be installed, and two large seagrass restoration projects will begin in mid-May.
On the stormwater management front, Earman discussed the challenges revealed by Hurricane Milton's unprecedented rainfall (over 10 inches in less than two hours in some areas). He shared his proposal to divert stormwater westward to the St. Johns watershed rather than eastward into the lagoon, though this initiative has encountered regulatory hurdles. The commissioner explained how the county is addressing periphery drainage issues and cleaning canals to improve water flow.
The septic-to-sewer conversion efforts are advancing with projects in Wabasso Island, Hobart Landing, and Floravon Shores. An interlocal agreement with Sebastian was recently approved to convert riverfront properties from septic to sewer, with work expected to begin within 60 days.
Following the commissioner's presentation, the committee discussed our ongoing grass clipping education initiative. We've produced yard signs and flyers that will be distributed throughout the community, encouraging proper handling of lawn clippings to prevent nutrients from entering the lagoon. One member is even developing biodegradable grass collection bags for landscapers.
Our next meeting is scheduled for May 22nd. We welcome all interested residents to attend and learn more about our efforts to protect the Indian River Lagoon and how they can help!
Our booth at Sebastian's Riverview Park for the Earth Day and Arbor Day Celebration was a tremendous success! Thank you to everyone who stopped by to chat and learn about ways to protect our Lagoon. We extend special appreciation to our dedicated volunteers: Buzz, Jean (with some family helpers!), Mike, Bob, Terry, and Gretchen. Extra special thanks to Estelle, who not only captured some of the wonderful photos below but also created an engaging activities that delighted the children who visited! The celebration proved to be a wonderful community gathering, and we're already looking forward to next year's event!
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When It Comes to Lawn Care Local Waters Matter More
In last Sunday's Treasure Coast Newspapers (reprinting a Columbus Dispatch article), advice was given on spring lawn care, including fertilization and weed prevention strategies. While some tips were helpful, much of the guidance is out of sync with the needs and challenges of Indian River County, particularly when it comes to protecting our waterways.
The article stated, "turfgrasses require adequate amounts of three soil nutrients: nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K)," encouraging fertilization early and often. While that approach might make sense in Columbus, Ohio, here in Indian River County it is a recipe for environmental harm. Our fragile Indian River Lagoon system is already overloaded with nitrogen and phosphorus, much of it from fertilizer runoff, septic leaks, and yard debris.
The article correctly warns, "be sure that fertilizer is not accidentally spread on paved driveways, sidewalks or streets where it can be washed into storm sewers and end up in surface waters such as streams and lakes, where it contributes to harmful algal blooms." Yet it does not go nearly far enough. In our area, even responsible fertilization practices can still lead to runoff problems due to our frequent rains, sandy soils, and proximity to waterways. Over-fertilizing — or fertilizing at the wrong time — significantly worsens lagoon health.
That's why Indian River County has strict fertilizer ordinances and why groups like IRNA have been working so hard to raise awareness about the dangers of grass clippings, yard waste, and chemical runoff entering our stormwater systems.
Locally, we emphasize:
Use slow-release fertilizers and only when necessary.
Obey seasonal fertilizer bans (June 1–September 30).
Never blow grass clippings into streets, swales, or storm drains — they contribute nutrients just like fertilizer.
Leave grass clippings on the lawn as natural mulch or properly dispose of them.
Our community lives next to one of the most biodiverse estuaries in North America. Lawn care here isn't just about a green yard, we need to make sure we have clean water for manatees, dolphins, fish, and future generations.
The grass may be greener in Ohio, but here in Indian River County, we know it's about much more than simple appearances.
Be part of the solution, not the problem. Protect the Lagoon.
IRNA's campaign is gaining momentum! You may have noticed our signs around town, and this week our Grass Clippings Advisory was featured in Lemmon Lines by Russ Lemmon. If you're interested, you can check it out here. We appreciate Russ for highlighting this important issue!
Vero Beach taps Clearpath as developer for long-awaited Three Corners project (TCPalm) - Vero Beach City Council unanimously selected Clearpath Services to lead the $249 million Three Corners waterfront redevelopment project—featuring hotels, a marina, park, restaurants, and community attractions—kicking off a phased planning and negotiation process.
Vero Beach Three Corners project timeline new restaurants new hotels (TCPalm) - Following the unanimous selection of Clearpath Services, Vero Beach will now enter a structured negotiation process for the $249 million Three Corners redevelopment, beginning with a 90-day pre-negotiation period and focusing initial construction on the waterfront.
IRC Supervisor of Elections recognized with National Clearinghouse Award (Indian River Guardian) - The Indian River County Supervisor of Elections received a national Clearinghouse Award for its Mobile Voter Program, which partnered with the Senior Resource Association to increase civic engagement among homebound and mobility-limited residents during the 2024 election.
Sebastian Inlet District undergoes $11 million beach nourishment (TCPalm) - The Sebastian Inlet District is conducting an $11 million beach nourishment project by pumping 50,000 cubic yards of sand from the Indian River Lagoon to a 2.5-mile stretch of shoreline south of the inlet, fulfilling a legal requirement to replenish sand that drifts into the inlet.
Volunteers needed May 1-31: Join the IR Lagoon Eyes on Seagrass Blitz (Indian River Guardian) - Florida Sea Grant is seeking volunteers throughout May for the Eyes on Seagrass Blitz to help monitor seagrass health in the Indian River Lagoon by submitting photos and location data, contributing to vital citizen-science efforts to support ecosystem restoration.
Earth Day rescue: Manatee found with fishing lure lodged in mouth (WFLA) - On Earth Day, a manatee named Calliope was rescued near Melbourne Beach with a fishing lure lodged in her mouth, prompting a successful multi-agency effort to remove the lure, assess her health, and release her with new tracking gear.
Take a tour of Indian River County's historic spots (TCPalm) - From McKee Botanical Garden to a coastal excavation site, Indian River County showcases a rich tapestry of historical landmarks reflecting Florida’s natural and cultural heritage. (Video)
Florida Legislation Threatens Local Neighborhood Revitalization Programs
Please read about this issue and take action!It sounds complicated but is very important!
Florida's legislature is considering bills that would eliminate Community Redevelopment Agencies—special local programs that help revitalize struggling neighborhoods across the state. House Bill 991 and Senate Bill 110 are now moving through the legislative process, with SB 110 (originally focused just on rural development) being amended to include provisions that would phase out these local revitalization programs entirely.
If passed in its current form, this legislation would:
Prohibit cities and counties from creating new neighborhood revitalization programs after July 1, 2025
Block existing programs from starting new projects after October 1, 2025
Force all these local programs to shut down permanently by September 2045
Since 1969, these local programs have helped transform neglected areas by reinvesting local tax dollars back into the same neighborhoods. They've funded affordable housing, attracted businesses to underserved areas, and improved infrastructure in communities that private developers often overlook.
This is about local communities losing control over how they invest their own tax dollars to improve their neighborhoods. The legislation would replace local decision-making with one-size-fits-all mandates from Tallahassee.
Good News - There's Still Hope! On April 30, the Florida Senate formally refused to accept the House’s amendment that would phase out Community Redevelopment Agencies. This means there's still a chance to save these vital community tools - but we must act quickly while legislators are finalizing the bill. Your voice can make a difference right now!
Call to Action
If you believe local communities should decide how to improve their own neighborhoods:
Contact our state representatives today - urge them to reject amendments that would eliminate these valuable local revitalization programs
Call or write the Governor's office to voice your concerns about this threat to local control
Connect with neighbors to spread awareness about what's at stake
Florida's communities deserve the right to address their own unique challenges. Act now before decades of local neighborhood improvement efforts are undone by state mandates.
Tell Sen. Grall, Rep. Brackett, and Governor DeSantis to oppose to the CRA-elimination provisions in SB 110 (which now includes the content of HB 991). While the Senate has rejected the House's amendment, the bill is still active and could be reconsidered before the legislative session ends.
Contact Information:
Sen. Erin Grall
Phone: 850-487-5025
Email: Grall.Erin.Web@flsenate.gov
Address: 3209 Virginia Avenue, Suite A149, Fort Pierce, FL 34981
Rep. Robbie Brackett
Phone: 772-778-5005
Address: Suite B2-203, 1801 27th Street, Vero Beach, FL 32960
Governor Ron DeSantis
Phone: 850-717-9337
Address: The Capitol, 400 S. Monroe St., Tallahassee, FL 32399-0001
Climate and environment updates: Climate change now primary driver of biodiversity loss in US (ABC News) - Since the first Earth Day in 1970, human-driven climate change has significantly accelerated global warming, leading to rising temperatures, melting ice, sea-level rise, and biodiversity loss across the United States and the world.
Here's how much Dirty Money Big Sugar gave in Q1 2025 (VoteWater.org) - In the first quarter of 2025, Big Sugar contributed over $675,000 to Florida political candidates and PACs, with U.S. Sugar accounting for 97% of the total, continuing its long-standing influence on state politics even in a non-election year.
What's a lobbyist doing on the SFWMD Governing Board? (VoteWater.org) - Concerns are mounting over South Florida Water Management District Vice Chair Scott Wagner’s dual role as a board member and registered lobbyist for Meta with Ballard Partners, raising questions about conflicts of interest and the growing influence of special interests on Florida's water policy decisions.
Florida set to become the second state to ban fluoride from public water system (WSVN) - Florida is set to become the second state to ban fluoride in public drinking water, with supporters citing potential health risks and opponents—including dentists and health officials—warning of negative impacts on dental health and urging that such decisions remain local.
West Palm Beach steps in as condo complex faces $1.4M water bill, bankruptcy proceedings (FL) (communityassociations.net) - Green Terrace Condominiums in West Palm Beach, facing a $1.4 million unpaid water bill and bankruptcy proceedings, has temporarily avoided a water shutoff as the city delays action for at least 30 days due to the bankruptcy filing.
“An Invitation to Connect More Deeply with Our Environment, Ourselves, and Our Collective Power”: Sasha Wortzel on Her Hot Docs-Premiering River of Grass (Filmmaker Magazine) - Blending poetic imagery, archival footage, and personal narration, River of Grass by Sasha Wortzel explores the ecological and cultural legacy of the Everglades through Indigenous voices, historical context, and a call for deeper environmental connection and collective action.
A homebuilding giant is lobbying for the power to collect endless profits from homeowners (jasongarcia.substack.com) - Lennar Corp. is lobbying Florida lawmakers to legalize developer-controlled amenity fees—overturned by a 2023 court ruling as illegal HOA assessments with profit markups—sparking debate over consumer protection as similar legislation resurfaces in multiple bills during the final week of the state’s legislative session.
Proposed Change to Endangered Species Act
Could Significantly Impact Wildlife Protection
A proposed regulatory change to the Endangered Species Act (ESA) would eliminate the phrase "significant habitat modification or degradation" from the definition of "harm." This modification would substantially alter how endangered species are protected in the United States.
The current definition, in place since 1981, explicitly states that activities that modify habitats in ways that "significantly impair essential behavioral patterns" constitute harm to endangered species. This definition was upheld by the Supreme Court in 1995 in Babbitt v. Sweet Home and has been the foundation of endangered species protection for over 40 years.
If implemented, this change would:
Eliminate protection for habitats outside designated "critical habitat" areas
Permit activities that indirectly harm species through habitat destruction
Narrow the scope of what constitutes "take" under the ESA
Limit requirements to minimize and mitigate impacts in permitting processes
Create uncertainty for existing conservation agreements and plans
Scientific evidence shows that habitat loss is the primary driver of extinction for over 80% of listed species. Many conservation success stories—including the recovery of bald eagles, gray wolves, and sea turtles—relied on habitat protections that would be undermined by this change.
The proposed change could disrupt:
Safe Harbor Agreements that give landowners regulatory protections in exchange for managing their property to benefit endangered species
Conservation Banks that generate credits sold to developers to offset impacts
Habitat Conservation Plans covering millions of acres across the country
The change could also create potential conflicts between federal and state-level protections, leading to regulatory confusion and uncertainty for landowners and developers.
Conservation biology demonstrates that species cannot survive without adequate habitat. Recovery plans for virtually all listed endangered species identify habitat protection as essential for their survival and recovery. The most successful species recoveries have relied heavily on habitat protection provisions.
The public has until May 19, 2025, to submit comments on this proposed change. Click the button below to be taken to a site that lays out how you can make a comment. It will take a little work to make a meaningful impact here but our endangered animal friends need the help! (Don't be overwhelmed, a lot of what is on the page is ideas to make writing your comment easier!)
'It has been worth it': The local women saving Yucatán's mangroves (Mongabay) - A group of women in Chelem, Mexico, known as Las Chelemeras, have spent 15 years restoring devastated mangrove forests by manually rebuilding hydrological flows, planting mangroves, and fostering biodiversity, turning once barren landscapes into thriving ecosystems.
How Pope Francis became a climate change influencer (The Conversation) - Pope Francis became a major climate change influencer by framing environmental stewardship as a moral and spiritual imperative, inspiring global Catholic activism, challenging dominant economic systems, and emphasizing Indigenous knowledge and grassroots action.
How a Changing Climate Is Reshaping the Spread of Infectious Diseases (Inside Climate News) - Climate change is reshaping the spread of infectious diseases by altering the habitats and behaviors of vectors like mosquitoes, increasing risks of respiratory and waterborne illnesses, exacerbating antimicrobial resistance, and disproportionately impacting vulnerable communities, while highlighting the urgent need for localized, community-driven public health solutions.
Wishcycling: how 'eco-friendly' labels confuse shoppers and make recycling less effective (The Conversation) - Misleading "eco-friendly" labels contribute to widespread "wishcycling," where consumers mistakenly recycle non-recyclable items, highlighting the need for clearer packaging standards and greater corporate responsibility to support a true circular economy.
Floods and Droughts are Two Sides of the Same Crisis (Inter Press Service) - Floods and droughts, increasingly devastating across the globe, are interconnected symptoms of ecosystem degradation, and protecting and restoring wetlands is essential for building sustainable water resilience and climate security.
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