This action approves an award in the amount of $749,811 to support the florida atlantic university's project to address managing seagrass ecosystems in south florida

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 4, through the South Florida Geographic Initiatives Program (CFDA 66.484), awarded $749,811 to Florida Atlantic University to support a three-year project (August 1, 2025 – July 31, 2028) addressing seagrass ecosystem management in South Florida. The project delivers scientific research and technical support services focused on identifying and modeling mechanisms and climate impacts that trigger seagrass loss in the Indian River Lagoon and Florida Bay. Key products include spatial maps of seagrass stressors, sediment biogeochemistry data, climate scenario modeling, and integration of findings into the SEACOM-SIM model to quantify seagrass responses to environmental stressors including climate change.

In addition to research outputs, the award supports training and technical assistance services for coastal resource managers to enhance protection and restoration of seagrass ecosystems, as well as contributions to the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP). Deliverables encompass performance and final reports, seagrass cover output analyses, and quantitative data on drivers of seagrass decline that inform ecosystem management and restoration target-setting. The project benefits Florida residents and state coastal resource management agencies. No subawards are included in this assistance agreement.

Also identifying and modeling mechanisms and climate impacts triggering seagrass loss and effects on water quality and seagrass restoration to further develop a mechanistic model that quantifies seagrass responses to stressors, including climate change, that trigger seagrass mortality and affects nutrient cycling.activities:the activities include providing training to assist coastal resource managers in their effort to protect and restore seagrasses and management of seagrasses, assisting in setting targets for recover, and developing a comprehensive everglades restoration plan (cerp). Subrecipient:no subawards are included in this assistance agreement.outcomes:the anticipated deliverables include to performance and final reports, generate seagrass cover output and develop climate scenarios. Data generated from spatial maps of stressors and microbial biogeochemical functional pathways will provide quantitative relationships of drivers of seagrass decline in the indian rivers lagoon and florida BAY that can be integrated into the seacom-SIM model. The expected outcomes include spatial maps of seagrass stressors, sediment biogeochemistry with 2-3 as indices of internal nutrient recycling. Direct beneficiaries include state of florida citizens and residents.