Luncheon on Water Shortages and Supply, IRC Bioblitz and more news!
- IRNA
- 2 days ago
- 7 min read
March 7, 2026 Weekly Newsletter
Where does Florida's water come fromand will there be enough?
It's a question that matters deeply to everyone in Indian River County right now, and we're bringing in one of the state's leading experts to help answer it. On Wednesday, March 25, IRNA hosts its March Lunch & Learn featuring Clay Coarsey, Director of the Division of Water Supply Planning and Assessment with the St. Johns River Water Management District.
The timing couldn't be more urgent. Earlier this month, the St. Johns River Water Management District declared a Phase I Moderate Water Shortage for Duval County and portions of several nearby counties, and the declaration includes authority to expand it if conditions worsen. Indian River County isn't in it yet, but the numbers are sobering: 74% of our county is currently classified as Extreme Drought, our trailing 12-month rainfall is nearly 7 inches below average, groundwater is trending down, and a burn ban has been in effect since February 20th. La Niña conditions persist, and the seasonal forecast points to a drier-than-usual spring and summer.
Clay will walk us through the current state of Florida's water supply and the strategies being developed to protect it for the long term, including what all of this means for private well users, farmers, and the Indian River Lagoon.
The event is at noon at the Vero Beach Country Club (800 30th St), with lunch options including Beef Bourguignon, Chicken Marsala, or a Vegetarian entrée for $30 per person. Bring your questions.
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Join the IRNA in building a stronger voice for our community. Your support empowers us to safeguard our natural resources, demand transparency from elected officials, and champion the changes we need to see—together, we can create lasting impact.
Get ready for the Indian River County BioBlitz, a week-long celebration of local biodiversity taking place April 19–25, 2026, hosted by the Indian River Neighborhood Association as part of the Indian River Biodiversity Initiative.
So, what is a BioBlitz? Simply put, it’s a hands-on community science event where scientists, naturalists, students, families, and nature lovers work together to find and document as many species as possible in a specific area over a short period of time. Known worldwide for helping people connect with nature, a BioBlitz provides a snapshot of the incredible variety of life, including plants, insects, birds, fungi, and more that makes our local habitats so special.
These events matter because they generate real, usable data that scientists and conservation planners rely on to better understand and protect ecosystems. Volunteers become “citizen scientists,” contributing observations that help fill gaps in our knowledge of local flora and fauna while strengthening environmental awareness and stewardship.
Participation is easy and flexible. You can document species independently in your own backyard, neighborhood, or favorite green space or join one of IRNA’s pre-scheduled guided hikes and group outings throughout the week.
No experience is required, just curiosity and a willingness to explore! Participants will use the free iNaturalist app to record observations that become part of a global scientific database at any time throughout the week of April 19-25- so mark your calendars!
Ready to join the adventure? Visit this page to learn more, download the app, and join the project. Your observations truly make a difference! Please reach out to Missy@IndianRiverNA.com for assistance or with questions.
Florida voters must watch land‑use votes. Here’s why (Florida Today) - Lesley Blackner argues that Florida's natural landscape is being systematically dismantled by a developer-controlled government enabled by local officials who prioritize land use changes over the public interest and apathetic voters who fail to hold them accountable at the ballot box.
Sebastian, Vero Beach, Stuart all in on growth issue? Unite! (TCPalm) - Larry Reisman argues that local leaders must overcome government silos and prioritize intergovernmental collaboration to manage rapid development, warning that a lack of coordinated planning will degrade the region's quality of life.
Burn bans still in effect Vero Beach Fort Pierce Stuart Port St. Lucie (TCPalm) - Burn bans remain in effect across Martin, St. Lucie, and Indian River counties as severe winter drought conditions and below-normal rainfall continue to create high wildfire risks and elevated soil dryness.
Vero raises alarm on state’s push for property-tax cuts (Vero News) - Vero Beach officials are launching an information campaign to warn residents that state-level proposals to cut or eliminate property taxes could force a shift toward higher sales taxes and fees while threatening essential local services like beach safety and infrastructure maintenance.
What's that being built on U.S. 1 in Indian River County? (TCPalm) - A new self-storage and auto-storage complex featuring 25 buildings and a clubhouse is under construction on 21 acres along U.S. 1 in Winter Beach following a decade of planning and local rezoning efforts.
VB denies appeal of non-substantial condo damage (Hometown News TC) - The Vero Beach Planning & Zoning Board upheld a determination that a condominium complex sustained non-substantial damage from a Hurricane Milton tornado, a ruling that requires owners to repair the structure rather than rebuilding it to modern elevation standards.
Two bills (HB 299 / SB 354) that would create a new "Blue Ribbon Project" designation for massive planned developments in Florida are advancing toward floor votes in both chambers, but not without a fight.
The Senate version (SB 354) narrowly survived the Senate Rules Committee on Tuesday with a 12–10 vote. Five Republicans broke with their party to oppose the bill, joining a unified Democratic caucus in opposition. (Our own Senator Erin Grall voted YEA on this committee.) Notably, former Senate President and Rules Committee Chair Kathleen Passidomo voted against it, reading aloud a prepared statement calling the bill "too flawed" and declaring she had "grave concerns about the processes outlined in the bill," which she described as full of "generalities and the barest of concepts with no enforceable conditions." The signal from one of the chamber's most influential members suggests the bill faces a steep climb or further amendments before final passage.
The bills would allow developments of 15,000 contiguous acres or more to bypass local zoning authority and comprehensive plan requirements. SB 354 was amended on March 3rd to raise the minimum size threshold — a change framed as narrowing the bill's scope to only the largest landowners. Critics like Sen. Don Gaetz aren't buying it, arguing the change simply makes the bill a "special favor" for an even smaller circle of elite developers.
Under the legislation, a qualifying project would trigger a mandatory "Blue Ribbon Project Overlay" that effectively supersedes local land use rules. Local governments would be limited to reviewing only whether a project meets the new statute's criteria — not whether it fits their community's long-term planning vision. Miss a 90-day review window, and the project is automatically approved.
Critics have raised particular alarm over a provision that would vest development rights for 50 years at 2026-era environmental standards. If a developer completes 50% of the project within that window, the rights automatically extend another 25 years, potentially locking in today's benchmarks for projects still under construction well into the next century.
Supporters argue the bills incentivize large landowners to set aside 60% of their acreage as "reserve area" and build genuinely walkable, mixed-use communities. But opponents have had a field day with the fine print. Passidomo herself pointed out during the committee hearing that "active recreation" allowed within the 60% reserve could include nuclear power plants and wastewater treatment facilities — asking pointedly, "You want a nuclear power plant or wastewater treatment plant in a conservation area? This bill would allow that."
As of this writing, HB 299 is on the Second Reading Calendar in the House, ready for a full floor vote. SB 354 received its third reading on the Senate floor on March 5th, but after a grueling floor debate, the Senate temporarily postponed the bill. That move typically signals the sponsor lacks the votes to pass it and is pulling back to avoid a defeat on the record. Unless a major compromise emerges in the final days of the session, SB 354 appears to be on life support.
Keep the pressure up! Reach out to your reps and tell them something like this:
I'm asking you to vote NO on HB 299 / SB 354, the "Blue Ribbon Project" bills. These bills would allow developments of 15,000 acres or more to bypass local zoning and comprehensive planning entirely — stripping communities of their say in how they grow. Worse, they would lock in today's environmental standards for up to 75 years: developers get 50 years of vested rights at 2026 standards, and if they hit 50% completion, those rights automatically extend another 25 years. Projects still under construction in the 2090s could face no stronger protections than what exists right now. Please vote NO.
State Elected Officials Contact Information:
Sen. Erin GrallPhone: (850) 487-5029
Email: Grall.Erin.Web@flsenate.gov
Address: 3209 Virginia Avenue, Suite A149, Fort Pierce, FL 34981
Rep. Robbie Brackett
Phone: (850) 717-5034
Address: Suite B2-203, 1801 27th Street, Vero Beach, FL 32960
Indian River County finalizes purchases of three key properties to safeguard lagoon (Sebastian Daily) - Indian River County has acquired three environmentally sensitive parcels totaling nearly 50 acres for approximately $5.44 million using voter-approved bond funds to restore the Indian River Lagoon and provide new passive recreation areas.
Tourism stays strong as rest of country discovers Vero’s charms (Vero News) - Vero Beach is defying a national downturn in international tourism by attracting affluent, younger travelers from major domestic markets through its reputation as a high-end coastal destination often compared to the Hamptons.
Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge 123rd Anniversary Celebration (Vero News) - The Pelican Island Conservation Society will commemorate the 123rd anniversary of the nation's first federal bird sanctuary from March 20-22, 2026, with a series of public events and boat tours featuring a Theodore Roosevelt reenactor.
Pollinators in Florida: Nature’s essential workers take center stage at The Emerson Center (Indian River Guardian) - The Emerson Center will host a Florida Master Naturalist on March 24, 2026, for a lecture on the critical role of pollinators alongside a themed art exhibition running from March 6 to April 8.
Florida county's newest fire station to help current and future growth (TCPalm) - Indian River County has opened a $6.9 million, state-of-the-art fire station west of Interstate 95 to improve emergency response times and support future infrastructure needs in the growing western region.
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