Indian River Lagoon Ecological Health Update

As an outcome of the Science Assembly, Applied Ecology, Inc. partnered with MRC to initiate the extensive data collection, organization, management, and then analyses in preparation to completing the first ecological health assessment of the Indian River Lagoon. The work to synthesize data from multiple agencies and academic providers to analyze the complex ecological condition of the Indian River Lagoon was initiated in October 2016. Our efforts have been made possible with funding from the Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program (IRLNEP) (Program Grant # IRL2016-021 [Encumbrance # GL01-1829 & GL010-1886]) and several local family foundations and the decades-long devotion of multiple agencies, research institutions, municipalities and non-profit organizations to acquire as much data as possible from the vast 335 sq. miles of Lagoon waters and 2205 sq. miles of watershed. The IRL Health Assessment tasks include collecting and synthesizing water quality; habitat, fisheries, and wildlife data; conducting spatial and time-series analyses to understand trends and complex interactions; and facilitating the input of the STEM committee to reach consensus on benchmark setting and restoration goals. As part of the IRL Health Assessment, the AEI team developed a web-based application to translate scientific data using linear graphs, charts, maps and other info-graphics.

For a more detailed description, visit our case study page!