Indian River Lagoon gets millions, despite DeSantis budget vetoesThe Indian River Lagoon fared well in the state budget this week, despite Gov. ...
Published on by Water Network Research, Official research team of The Water Network
The Indian River Lagoon fared well in the state budget this week, despite Gov. Ron DeSantis' veto pen.
DeSantis signed a $116.5 billion state budget Wednesday after vetoing almost a billion in programs and projects, including more than $19 million in environmental funding that Brevard County and cities within the county had asked for this year.
But the budget also includes $75 million for grants and aids to local governments to implement water quality improvement projects along the 156-mile long Indian River Lagoon. It also includes $350,000 for five Indian River Lagoon Land/Ocean Biogeochemical Observatory water quality instruments for the St. Lucie Estuary and surrounding Indian River Lagoon areas, as well as $250,000 for the National Estuary Program activities to meet total maximum daily water pollution limits.
Lagoon and other specific environmental projects in Brevard garnered more than $12 million in state funding.
Funded projects within the county's Save Our Lagoon plan include $4.3 million to dredge organic muck from Sykes Creek; $1 million to convert 71 sites on Merritt Island from septic tanks to sewer; and $450,000 for septic tank upgrades to advanced treatment.
A spectator goes back to bask in the sun in Titusville along the Indian River Lagoon after a recent rocket launch. Gov. Ron DeSantis signed … Show more
TIM SHORTT/FLORIDA TODAY
More: Group points to budget 'turkeys' Brevard projects make Florida TaxWatch's annual list of 'Budget Turkeys'
Local lagoon and environmental projects funded
The more than $12 million in Brevard Indian River Lagoon projects that got funded include:
Sykes Creek Phase 2 Environmental Dredging & Interstitial Water Treatment Project — $4,324,002
University of Central Florida - Restore Lagoon Inflow Final Phase — $4,900,000
Merritt Island Zone F Septic-to-Sewer project (71 sites) — $1,000,000
Indian River Lagoon Septic Upgrades to Advanced Treatment Units — $450,000
Palm Bay Indian River Lagoon Baffle Boxes Projects — $750,000
Palm Bay IRL Water Quality Improvement Project - Baseflow and Pond Improvements — $550,000
West Melbourne Flood Risk Reduction - Technology Drive — $150,000
West Melbourne Flood Risk Reduction Connect Canal 70 to Canal 63 — $400,000
Attached link
https://eu.floridatoday.com/story/news/local/environment/lagoon/2024/06/13/indian-river-lagoon-gets-millions-despite-desantis-vetoes/74076494007Taxonomy
- River Basin management
- River Restoration
- Funding Partnerships
- Lagoon