MARINE RESOURCES COUNCIL OF EAST FLORIDA INC

The MRC is aiming to publish and maintain the first ever comprehensive health analysis of the entire Indian River Lagoon ecosystem to guide restoration and policy for protecting and improving the water quality and quality of life for the east coast of Florida.

The organization is also aiming to partner with local municipalities to create Low Impact Development standards to ultimately implement statewide, which would result in the infiltration, evapotranspiration or use of stormwater in order to protect water quality and associated aquatic habitat. Urbanization increases the variety and amount of pollutants carried into our nation's waters. In urban and suburban areas, much of the land surface is covered by buildings, pavement and compacted landscapes. These surfaces do not allow rain to soak into the ground which greatly increases the volume and velocity of stormwater runoff. In addition to these habitat-destroying impacts, pollutants from urban runoff include: sediment, oil, grease and toxic chemicals from motor vehicles, pesticides and nutrients from lawns and gardens, viruses, bacteria and nutrients from pet waste and failing septic systems, road salts, heavy metals from roof shingles, motor vehicles and other sources, thermal pollution from impervious surfaces such as streets and rooftops, these pollutants can harm fish and wildlife populations, kill native vegetation, foul drinking water, and make recreational areas unsafe and unpleasant. With Low Impact Development practices we can reduce and reverse the negative impact we have on our environment.

MRC executes science-based research and gathers consensus through invested stakeholder groups to educate the community and steer policy. The organization manages many outreach programs to reach and educate the diverse coastal communities for the adoption of positive changes in behavior for the well-being of Florida's water resources and environment. MRC programming includes a presidential award winning Lagoon Watch citizen science water monitoring program, a citizen science muck mapping program, a citizen outreach speakers bureau, a water saving rain barrel program, a citizen science mangrove farming program, a shoreline restoration program, a groundwater/wastewater monitoring program, a green business sustainability program, adult and youth education programs. MRC also manages the Ted Moorhead Lagoon House Learning Center/IRL National Scenic Byway Welcome Center, the South East North Atlantic Right Whale Monitoring and Conservation Program, a volunteer, internship, and membership program, a conservation awards program, and many annual events to advocate for positive change. For more information please visit SaveTheIRL.org.

MRC has a strong positive wave of support from Florida's east coast communities with direct contact to over 16 thousand followers, and partners with countless organizations including the Spacecoast League of Cities, the National Estuaries Program, the Department of Environmental Protection, St. John's Water Management District, South Florida Water Management District, the United States Environmental Protection Agency, Kennedy Space Center Visitors Complex, Northrup Grumman, Harris Corp.

MRC created and advocated the National Estuaries Program into a Federally governing entity
MRC manages the oldest, largest, and only presidential award-winning citizen science water monitoring program
MRC executed the science and advocacy to pass fertilizer ordinances statewide
MRC created the first Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan for the Indian River Lagoon
MRC created and advocated the Indian River Lagoon Act into law
MRC created the first-ever comprehensive health analysis of the entire Indian River Lagoon known as the IRL Health Update
MRC deploys hundreds of water saving rain barrels each year
MRC cultivates and plants thousands of mangroves each year
MRC reaches and educates countless residents, youth groups, & visitors each year
MRC hosts multiple trash and litter pickups each year
Next, we are going to create and advocate state-wide Low Impact Development Programming into law
Next, we are going to expand the data reporting in the IRL Health Update to include tributaries and expand the distribution of the report
Next, we are going to expand our reach into more k-12 grade classrooms and cultivate curriculum for school boards to adopt
Next, we are launching a brand new youth after school education program that will focus on STEM and Lagoon based education
Next, we are launching 8 weeks of full day summer camp to educate and inspire the next generation of Lagoon advocates.