Federal Grant Award Summary

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 4 awarded $909.8K to the Indian River Lagoon Council under the National Estuary Program (CFDA 66.456) effective October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2030. Funded through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), this Project Grant supports implementation of the Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP) to address catastrophic seagrass loss caused by harmful algal blooms in Florida's Indian River Lagoon estuary. Primary deliverables include construction of lagoon-wide seagrass nurseries and restoration centers, as well as infrastructure improvements consisting of a gravity sewer system and multiple pump station systems designed to connect to the Martin County Central Sewer System and reduce pollutant loads.

The Indian River Lagoon Council will execute bi-weekly monitoring activities to identify, quantify, and map algae and cyanobacteria species distribution and abundance during algal bloom events. The project incorporates sub-awards to partner organizations including the University of Florida, Florida Atlantic University, Florida Institute of Technology, and the Smithsonian Institution to support scientific investigations into seagrass restoration protocols, hypoxic conditions, sediment chemistry, and ecosystem resilience. Expected outcomes include executed contract agreements with four primary project partners delineating scope, milestones, and budgets for coordinated implementation of water quality improvements and habitat protection initiatives across the 156-mile estuary system.