Vero Beach, FL, April 2024– With support from an 11th Hour Racing Charitable grant, The Ocean Research & Conservation Association (ORCA) is partnering with the City of Vero Beach to build a new living shoreline project in the Indian River Lagoon (IRL).
In 2019, ORCA staff and citizen scientists constructed nine living shorelines in Indian River County. Two years of monitoring has demonstrated the value of these projects. Oyster recruitment to breakwaters, seagrass density improvement, and flourishing native shoreline plants demonstrate the efficacy of these restoration projects.
This new project incorporates oyster reef ball modules, setting a model for sustainable habitat restoration techniques. This alternative breakwater material provides structural support while minimizing the potential negative environmental impacts associated with traditional plastic mesh bags. This project will also include a collaboration with the Florida Oceanographic Society to plant and monitor seagrass in between two of the breakwater structures.
Join ORCA at Riverside Park for a weekend of hands-on conservation as students from St. Edward’s Upper School and volunteers from the community come together to build our newest living shoreline.
When:
- Friday, April 19: Students from St. Edward’s Upper School assisting in the living shoreline breakwater construction (1pm-2:30pm)
- Saturday, April 20: Volunteer community members assisting in the living shoreline breakwater construction (8am-2pm)
- Tuesday, April 30: Community education event highlighting the importance of living shorelines and showcasing the new breakwater structures (10:30am-12pm)
Where:
- Riverside Park, Vero Beach (between the picnic pavilion and the volleyball court)
Community members will play a crucial role in the Riverside Living Shoreline Project. In addition to helping to construct the living shoreline, we are recruiting volunteers to become trained citizen scientists to help with monitoring the impact of the project on the health of the IRL.
“At ORCA, we firmly believe in the power of community-driven science and collaborative partnerships,” says Missy Weiss, Director of Citizen Science and Education at ORCA. “This project not only contributes to the restoration of the Indian River Lagoon but also sets a precedent for sustainable shoreline management, demonstrating our dedication to environmental stewardship.”
For more information about ORCA, please visit www.TeamORCA.org. For more information about 11th Hour Racing, please visit www.11thhourracing.org.
Contact Lauren Tracy: 772-562-9052
