Living Docks, Sugar Subsidies, and more!
- IRNA
- 4 days ago
- 11 min read
June 14, 2025 Weekly Newsletter
Living Docks: Transforming Waterfront Infrastructure into Marine Habitat
When most people look at a dock, they see a simple structure designed to moor boats and provide waterfront access. But what if that same dock could actively improve water quality while creating thriving habitat for marine life? That's exactly what's happening in Indian River County through an innovative partnership between the county government and Florida Institute of Technology's Indian River Lagoon Research Institute.
The Living Docks project represents a mix of environmental restoration and community engagement. Originally developed by Dr. Kelli Hunsucker and Dr. Robert Weaver at FIT, the concept transforms ordinary dock pilings into living ecosystems by wrapping them with specially designed oyster mats. These mats serve as artificial reefs, providing surfaces where oysters, barnacles, sponges, tunicates, and numerous other marine organisms can establish themselves and flourish.
The journey to bring Living Docks to Indian River County began in 2022 through conversations between county officials and Dr. Hunsucker. What started as interest in wrapping county-owned docks evolved into a partnership that launched applications in fall 2024. The collaboration allows the county to operate its own Living Docks program while contributing valuable research data back to FIT's ongoing studies.
Building the foundation of this program requires community involvement through oyster mat construction workshops. Volunteers gather to assemble these crucial components using repurposed aquaculture-grade plastic mats and oyster shells, both donated by the Coastal Conservation Association over seven years ago. Each mat requires approximately 45-50 spent oyster shells, carefully attached before deployment at the appropriate water level around dock pilings.
The installation process has evolved as researchers test new materials and methods. While the original technique used UV-resistant zip ties, recent success with stainless steel wire in FIT research projects has prompted Indian River County to begin incorporating this more durable attachment method. This continuous refinement demonstrates the adaptive nature of environmental restoration work, where field experience drives innovation.
Monitoring forms a critical component of the program's scientific value. Every six months for two years, teams visit each wrapped dock to assess the biological communities developing on the mats. These monitoring events include comprehensive water quality testing, with samples sent for laboratory analysis. The data collected feeds directly into FIT's research, creating a feedback loop that benefits both local restoration efforts and broader scientific understanding.
The program's growth has been impressive, with the fifth and sixth docks scheduled for wrapping this week. Community support has proven essential to this expansion, with organizations like The Arc contributing both materials and volunteer labor for mat construction. The Environmental Learning Center has also hosted building events, demonstrating how environmental initiatives can bring diverse community groups together around a common cause.
Perhaps most remarkably for property owners, participation comes at no cost. The county provides all materials and staff, though homeowners are welcome to participate in every aspect from construction to monitoring. This approach removes financial barriers while fostering personal investment in environmental stewardship.
The benefits extend far beyond individual properties. While water quality improvement represents a significant advantage, the habitat creation aspect may prove equally valuable. As marine organisms colonize the mats, they establish complex ecological relationships that support fish populations and contribute to overall lagoon health.
Applications remain open for both individual dock owners and community facilities, with no geographic restrictions or numerical limits. This approach reflects the program's ultimate goal: transforming as much waterfront infrastructure as possible into active participants in ecosystem restoration.
The Living Docks initiative exemplifies how innovative partnerships between research institutions and local government can create practical solutions to environmental challenges while engaging communities in meaningful conservation work.
If you would like to learn more or would like to apply for your dock to come alive, visit this website and submit a living docks application. Don’t own a dock, but want to volunteer with the program, look for our monthly oyster mat building workshops.
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Take Action: Contact Our Senators
to Oppose Costly Sugar Subsidies
The House reconciliation bill, dubbed the "One Big Beautiful Bill," contains a provision that would significantly increase federal subsidies to the sugar industry at the expense of American consumers and taxpayers. This costly giveaway deserves scrutiny, especially when families are already struggling with high grocery prices.
The current bill would increase the sugar loan rate from 19.75 cents per pound to at least 24 cents per pound and to as much as 25.38 cents per pound, a substantial jump that effectively guarantees higher minimum prices for sugar producers. This loan program works as a price support mechanism: if market prices fall below the loan rate, sugar processors can simply forfeit their sugar to the government and walk away from their loans.
According to the Government Accountability Office, the current sugar program already costs American consumers between $2.5 and $3.5 billion annually while providing sugar farmers with $1.4 to $2.7 billion in benefits they wouldn't receive in a free market. The proposed increase would make these costs even higher.
The program keeps U.S. sugar prices artificially inflated, sometimes double the world market price. This affects not just the sugar you buy at the grocery store, but every product containing sugar: soft drinks, baked goods, cereals, condiments, and countless other food items.
At a time when Americans are concerned about the cost of living and when this bill is supposedly designed to reduce government spending, increasing subsidies to a profitable industry seems counterproductive. The sugar industry has consistently demonstrated its political influence through substantial campaign contributions, spending $36 million on Florida political contributions alone between 2018 and 2024.
Our Senators, Rick Scott and Ashley Moody, will play important roles in determining whether this provision advances. Senator Scott has expressed some skepticism about the overall bill, while Senator Moody's position remains unclear. Your voice can make a difference.
Sample Letter to Senators
Feel free to personalize this template with your own words and experiences:
Subject: Please Oppose Increased Sugar Subsidies in the Reconciliation Bill
Dear Senator [Scott/Moody],
I am writing as your constituent to urge you to oppose the sugar subsidy provisions in the House reconciliation bill, specifically Section 10001 which would increase sugar loan rates significantly.
As a Florida resident, I am deeply concerned about provisions that would increase the cost of groceries for families like mine. The proposed bill would significantly increase sugar loan rates and will make sugar and sugar-containing products more expensive for consumers who are already struggling with high food costs.
According to the Government Accountability Office, the current sugar program already costs American consumers $2.5 to $3.5 billion annually. Increasing these subsidies will only add to that burden. This runs counter to the stated goal of reducing government spending and helping working families.
The sugar industry has received substantial government support for decades while maintaining artificially high prices that hurt consumers. At a time when families are making difficult choices about their grocery budgets, we should not be guaranteeing higher profits for a well-connected industry.
I respectfully ask that you:
Vote against any reconciliation bill that includes increased sugar subsidies
Support amendments to remove or reduce these provisions
Consider the impact on Florida families who will pay higher prices for everyday groceries
Florida consumers deserve senators who will stand up to special interests and prioritize the economic well-being of working families over industry lobbying efforts.
Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to your response on this important issue.
Sincerely,[Your Name and Address]
Contact Information
Senator Rick Scott
Phone: (202) 224-5274
Online contact form: www.rickscott.senate.gov/contact
Senator Ashley Moody
Phone: (202) 224-3041
Online contact form: www.moody.senate.gov/contact
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County planting seagrass beds in push to replenish lagoon vegetation (Vero News) - We covered this topic a few weeks ago. Glad to see it getting good coverage! The County is restoring seagrass in the Indian River Lagoon by planting thousands of sprouts in Big Slough and Preachers Hole, using protective cages and staff maintenance, as part of a $1.07 million federally funded effort to reverse decades of vegetation loss from pollution-driven algal blooms.
Expanded services no threat to county charm (opinion) (Vero News) - This opinion piece does not represent the IRNA's views but raises some interesting points. Ray McNulty suggests that Indian River County’s limited expansion of its Urban Services Boundary along Oslo Road is a strategic move to support the upcoming I-95 interchange while avoiding urban sprawl and maintaining the county’s rural character and growth limits.
Volunteers to Rally for Coastal Cleanup at Sebastian Inlet State Park (Sebastian Daily) - Coastal Connections will lead a June 24 cleanup at Sebastian Inlet State Park to remove harmful debris and protect wildlife, continuing the nonprofit’s mission to promote coastal conservation and sea turtle recovery through community involvement.
Making Waves During Swim to the Wreck (Vero Beach Magazine) - The annual Swim to the Wreck on July 4th draws hundreds to Vero Beach’s coast for a celebratory, environmentally conscious pilgrimage to the SS Breconshire, blending community tradition, marine conservation awareness, and homage to late local activist Michael Blatus.
Administration Faces Legal ChallengeOver Manatee Protection Cuts
The Trump administration is facing legal action from the Center for Biological Diversity over staff cuts that advocates say threaten the protection of Florida's beloved manatees. The lawsuit centers on the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge, located 80 miles north of Tampa, which serves as critical winter habitat for approximately 20 percent of Florida's manatee population. The administration dismissed two of eight employees responsible for managing five Gulf Coast refuges in February, and while these workers were later reinstated under court order, environmental groups argue that ongoing workforce reduction plans pose a continuing threat to the marine mammals.
The Crystal River refuge is particularly popular for its permitted boat tours that allow visitors to swim with manatees, but these activities have created significant stress for the animals. Unscrupulous swimmers have been documented grabbing, walking on, and even riding the manatees, sometimes separating mothers from their calves. The refuge's former manager had previously called for closing the springs to protect the animals until adequate staffing could ensure their safety, highlighting how understaffing directly impacts the manatees' wellbeing.
The legal filing demands that the Trump administration either hire additional staff for the refuge or restrict visitor activities until proper staffing levels are achieved. The case is particularly urgent given that manatees may become increasingly dependent on natural warm-water springs like those at Crystal River. The Florida manatee population has already faced significant challenges, with nearly 2,000 deaths recorded in 2021 and 2022 due to water quality issues, boat strikes, and other human-related threats.
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A Call to Action for Florida's Future
Florida faces a once-in-a-generation opportunity to restore the Everglades, but the window for action is rapidly closing. The Indian River Neighborhood Association proudly supports Friends of the Everglades in their urgent "Rescue the River of Grass" campaign because we have everything needed to succeed: dedicated funding from Amendment 1 providing $1.3 to $1.6 billion annually for land acquisition, and clear scientific research identifying exactly which lands south of Lake Okeechobee must be protected to restore natural water flow.
While we have the tools for restoration, destructive forces are working against us. The sugar industry controls nearly 500,000 acres of critical restoration land and continues pushing harmful developments like the proposed Southland Rock Mine—a massive 8,000-acre excavation project that would devastate the region's water quality and ecosystem. Instead of restoration, we're seeing active destruction of the very lands we need to save.
The stakes couldn't be higher for Florida's future. Successful Everglades restoration means clean water flowing to Florida Bay, an end to toxic discharges plaguing the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee Rivers, and protection of the tourism and recreation economy that depends on healthy waterways. Without action now, we risk losing this opportunity forever while watching our waters continue to deteriorate.
Thousands have already signed the Rescue the River of Grass petition, but we need more voices to show Florida lawmakers that citizens demand immediate action on land acquisition for water storage and treatment. Every signature represents a vote for clean water and Florida's environmental future.
Join the movement today by signing the petition and sharing it with others. The Everglades has sustained Florida for millennia—now it's our turn to sustain it. The time for action is now, and your voice can make the difference.
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