Project Grant 02D56923

DESCRIPTION:THE ACTION APPROVES FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF $850,000 TO INDIAN RIVER LAGOON (IRL) FOR NATIONAL ESTUARY PROGRAM (NEP) TO SUPPORT IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NEP COMPREHENSIVE CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT PLAN (CCMP) AND EPA STRATEGIC PLAN GOAL 5: ENSURE CLEAN AND SAFE WATER FOR ALL COMMUNITIES AND OBJECTIVE 5.2: PROTECT AND RESTORE WATERBODIES AND WATERSHEDS TO IMPROVE THE WATER QUALITY, PROTECT THE NATURAL HABITAT AND LIVING RESOURCES, AND SUPPORT SUSTAINABLE HUMAN USES IN THE ESTUARY. IRL COMPREHENSIVE CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT PLAN GOALS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2023 ARE BASED ON 32 VITAL SIGNS IDENTIFIED IN THE ONE LAGOON CCMP - 'LOOKING AHEAD TO 2030'. SECTION 320 OF THE CWA AUTHORIZES THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE EPA TO CONVENE MANAGEMENT CONFERENCES TO DEVELOP COMPREHENSIVE CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT PLANS FOR ESTUARIES OF NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE THAT ARE THREATENED BY POLLUTION, DEVELOPMENT, OR OVERUSE. IRL WILL WORK TO IMPROVE THE WATER QUALITY AND ECOLOGICAL INTEGRITY OF THE 156-MILE LONG ESTUARY ON FLORIDA'S EAST COAST. ACTIVITIES:THE PROJECTS INCLUDED WILL SUPPORT ACTIVITIES THAT ADDRESS THE KEY CHALLENGES FACING THE ESTUARY INCLUDING ASSESSING TRENDS IN WATER QUALITY, HABITATS, NATURAL RESOURCES AND USES; COORDINATING IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CCMP BY THE NEP, ALONG WITH THE STATE, FEDERAL, LOCAL AGENCIES, STAKEHOLDERS, NGOS, CITIZENS, PARTNERS, AND OTHERS; AND MONITORING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF ACTIVITIES CONDUCTED UNDER THE MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE APPROVED CCMP AND ANNUAL WORKPLAN. FUNDING SUPPORTS CONTINUED IRL ALGAE AND CYANOBACTERIA MONITORING CURRENTLY BEING DELIVERED BY UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA (FOR THE NORTHERN LAGOON) AND FLORIDA ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY - HARBOR BRANCH OCEANOGRAPHIC INSTITUTION (FOR THE SOUTHERN LAGOON). THTHIS ACTIVITY IS CONSIDERED AN URGENT, RECURRING ANNUAL MONITORING NEED. PRIMARY OUTPUT: LAGOON-WIDE ALGAE AND CYANOBACTERIAL MONITORING TO INCLUDE SPECIES IDENTIFICATION, DISTRIBUTION AND ABUNDANCE DATA WITH SPECIFIC FOCUS ON HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOMS. SUBRECIPIENT:HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOM MONITORING (2 CONTRACTS W/ UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA AND FLORIDA ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY); SUFFOCATING SAND: MAPPING HYPOXIA AND ITS IMPACTS ON BENTHIC NUTRIENT FLUXES IN THE IRL PHASE 2 (FLORIDA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY) AND IRL BIODIVERSITY AND THE IRL SPECIES INVENTORY (SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION). OUTCOMES:THE ANTICIPATED DELIVERABLES INCLUDE CONDUCT BI-WEEKLY MONITORING OF ALGAE AND CYANOBACTERIA SPECIES IDENTIFICATION, DISTRIBUTION AND ABUNDANCE. INCREASED FUNDING FOR INCREASED SAMPLING DURING A BLOOM. THE EXPECTED OUTCOMES INCLUDE ALIGN IRLNEP OUTPUTS AND OUTCOMES CLOSELY WITH CWA SECTION 320 AUTHORIZATION AND 32 VITAL SIGNS FOR IRL HEALTH IDENTIFIED IN THE CCMP: 'LOOKING AHEAD TO 2030'. ALIGN IRLNEP ACTIVITIES WITH OUR NEW MISSION: ONE LAGOON - ONE COMMUNITY - ONE VOICE. IMPLEMENT ONE LAGOON ACTIONS TO IMPROVE AND PROTECT WATER QUALITY, NATURAL HABITATS, AND LIVING RESOURCES. IMPLEMENT ONE COMMUNITY ACTIONS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO HEALTHY, SUSTAINABLE AND RESILIENT COMMUNITIES. IMPLEMENT ONE VOICE ACTIONS THAT IMPROVE COMMUNICATION, COLLABORATION AND COORDINATION. IMPLEMENT ACTIVITIES THAT SUPPORT THE EPA STRATEGIC PLAN AND NON-POINT SOURCE PROGRAM. THIS PROJECT ADDRESSES CORE OBJECTIVES OF THE CLEAN WATER ACT TO PROTECT WETLANDS AND COASTAL WATERS THROUGH THE NATIONAL ESTUARY PROGRAM. THE FOCUS IS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND HERBICIDE LEVELS CURRENTLY WITHIN THE IRL AND HOW THEY MAY IMPACT ESTUARINE PLANTS. THIS PROJECT ALSO ADDRESSES IF THESE HERBICIDES COULD ALSO BE A SOURCE OF NUTRIENTS FOR HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOMS. THE INTENDED BENEFICIARIES INCLUDE CITIZENS, LOCAL COMMUNITIES, ETC. IN THE STATE/TERRITORY OF FLORIDA AND THIS ESTUARY DIRECTLY BENEFIT FROM THIS PROJECT.