This action provides funding in the amount of $908,800 to the indian river lagoon council under the infrastructure investment and jobs act (IIJA) (PL 117-58)

Environmental Protection Agency Region 4 awarded $909,800 to the Indian River Lagoon Council on October 1, 2025, under the National Estuary Program (Assistance Listing 66.456) to support implementation of the Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan for the Indian River Lagoon estuary.

The recipient will conduct bi-weekly monitoring of algae and cyanobacteria species identification, distribution, and abundance during harmful algal blooms within the project area. The funding provides infrastructure investments to build lagoon-wide seagrass recovery capacity, including construction of a gravity sewer system and multiple pump station systems that will connect to the Martin County Central Sewer System. These improvements are designed to reduce pollutant loads and support restoration of seagrass nurseries and restoration centers across the estuary in response to catastrophic seagrass loss caused by harmful algal blooms.

The award period runs from October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2030, with place of performance in Florida. The anticipated deliverables include contract agreements with four primary project partners that further delineate scope, tasks, milestones, and budget for each project component.

The recipient will support implementation of the comprehensive conservation and management plan (CCMP) and strategic plan to improve water quality, protect the natural habitat and living resources, and support sustainable human uses. The projects proposed for funding via the bipartisan infrastructure law (BIL) will leverage existing efforts. Specifically, the recipient will provide annually recurring seed funding for infrastructure improvements to build and expand a lagoon-wide network of seagrass nurseries and restoration centers to respond to the catastrophic loss of seagrasses as a result of harmful algal blooms. Activities:the activities include indian river lagoon council will conduct BI-weekly monitoring of algae and cyanobacteria species identification, distribution and abundance within the project area that will be conducted through sampling during algal blooms. Funds will provide infrastructure investments that build capacity for lagoon-wide seagrass recovery. The project will construct a gravity sewer system and multiple pump station systems that will connect to the martin county central sewer system.subrecipient:indian river lagoon council will conduct BI-weekly monitoring of algae and cyanobacteria species identification, distribution and abundance within the project area that will be conducted through sampling during algal blooms. Funds will provide infrastructure investments that build capacity for lagoon-wide seagrass recovery. The project will construct a gravity sewer system and multiple pump station systems that will connect to the martin county central sewer system.outcomes:the anticipated deliverables include contract agreements with the four primary project partners to further delineate the scope, tasks, milestones and budget for each project. The expected outcomes include better understanding herbicide levels currently within the indian river lagoon and how they may impact estuarine plants and be able to address if these herbicides could also be a source of nutrients for future harmful algal blooms. The intended beneficiaries include the citizens of the state of florida.