INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — Save the Indian River Lagoon Now, Inc., a non-profit formed by County Commissioner Tim Zorc, Vero Beach Utilities Commission member Scott Stradley and marine contractor Jeffrey Meade to seek comprehensive solutions to the lagoon’s ecological woes, held its first workshop Thursday.
The 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. event took place in the former courtroom at the Old Indian River County Courthouse on 14th Ave. It was well attended, with a panel of 20 scientists and other experts representing ecology non-profits, educational and research institutions, and state and federal agencies, along with 25 or 30 audience members.
According to the meeting agenda, STIRLEN aims to bridge the gap between the public and private sectors by bringing together a wide range of stakeholders to achieve complete restoration and long-term health from the entire lagoon ecosystem.
STIRLEN’s consulting engineer Todd Smith moderated the series of panel discussion that took place throughout the day, with a break for a catered lunch provided for panelists and audience members.
Topics included Stormwater Runoff; Sanitary Sewer, Septic Tanks and Public Utilities; Lagoon sedimentation and Legacy Loads; and Lagoon Flora and Fauna.
Keynote speaker Kirby Green, a former Deputy Secretary of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and long-time executive Director of St. Johns River Water Management, said this is a fortuitous moment to push hard for estuary restoration.
“The legislature is very interested in water right now,” Green said.
STIRLEN plans to host a series of workshops and smaller workshops in coming months with the goal of creating an action plan with measurable outcomes that it will present to the county commission, city councils and other bodies capable of making policies and providing funds to help restore the waterway that is the economic and aesthetic centerpiece of Vero Beach and Indian River County.