Indian River Lagoon

WHAT IS THE INDIAN RIVER LAGOON?

The Indian River Lagoon, or IRL as it’s commonly known, is 156-mile long estuary along Florida’s Atlantic coast. It stretches from Ponce Inlet down to Jupiter Inlet and is protected from the ocean by a series of barrier islands. The entire system is comprised of three smaller lagoons: Mosquito Lagoon, Banana River, and Indian River. Connecting the Lagoon to the ocean are five open inlets – Ponce de Leon, Sebastian, Fort Pierce, St. Lucie, and Jupiter – and one locked canal system at Port Canaveral. The Lagoon’s overall watershed covers 2,284 square miles and the lagoon’s waters span 353 square miles. Five counties border the lagoon; however, portions of seven counties are within the watershed.

WHAT IS AN ESTUARY?

An estuary is a partially enclosed body of water where fresh and salt water meet. They are influenced by tides, but freshwater tributaries dilute the salt water. Estuaries are one of the most productive ecosystems on earth because of the mixing of nutrients from land and sea. The Indian River Lagoon is known to be one of the most productive and biodiverse estuaries in North America as it hosts over 4,000 species of plants and animals. Many of these species are endangered or threatened, and some are found here and nowhere else on Earth.

WHY IS AN ESTUARY IMPORTANT?

Estuaries are important nursery grounds for many organisms that later move to oceanic habitats as adults. These rich ecosystems are economically valuable, providing habitat at some life stage for 75% of our nation’s commercial fish catch, and as much as 90% of recreational fish catch. Additionally, estuaries act as natural filtration systems for water as it flows out to the ocean. The fishing opportunities, unique flora and fauna, and natural beauty of estuarine areas draw millions of tourists each year. Unfortunately, many estuaries are threatened by human impacts such as pollution and habitat destruction. We must ensure that we protect this unique ecosystem, and even restore it when necessary.

LEARN MORE

Here are some fantastic resources where you can learn even more about the Indian River Lagoon and estuaries in general:

Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program
St. Johns River Water Management District
Indian River Lagoon Species Inventory
Restore America’s Estuaries
National Estuary Program
NOAA Fisheries