What Groups Are Trying To Clean Up The Indian River Lagoon

When they successfully fought a project at the Oslo Route boat ramp on the Indian River Lagoon, environmentalists in Indian River County learned there's strength in numbers.

So the Indian River Neighborhood Clan, the Coastal Conservation Clan, the Indian River State Trust and the Pelican Island Audubon Society formed the Clean Water Coalition of Indian River Canton.

"Protecting the Oslo boat ramp was a collaborative effort past a number of organizations that helped save a fish sanctuary in the lagoon," said Capt. Paul Fafeita, coalition president and head of the CCA Florida's Treasure Coast chapter.

"It besides helped the states realize," Fafeita said, "that to achieve what needs to be done to protect the lagoon and the canton's environs as a whole will take many voices speaking as one."

The new group also was inspired by the Brevard Indian River Lagoon Coalition, which helped get a half-cent sales tax for lagoon-friendly projects approved by Brevard Canton voters in 2016, and the Rivers Coalition in Martin and St. Lucie counties, which is dedicated to stopping Lake Okeechobee discharges to the St. Lucie River.

More than:What are Lake Okeechobee discharges?

Capt. Paul Fafeita, a Vero Beach fishing guide and president of the Treasure Coast chapter of the Coastal Conservation Association, explains conditions at Bethel Creek to Vero Beach City Council members during a Feb. 20, 2018, meeting.

The new coalition's goals:

Restore the Indian River Lagoon
Restrict fertilizer application
Better methods of wastewater collection, treatment and reuse
Prohibit boats from discharging sewage
Rubber disposal of sewage sludge known as Form B biosolids
Clean and sufficient supply of drinking water for current and future generations.

From the 4 organizing groups, the coalition has grown to about 30 partners, including the Friends of the Sebastian River, Marine Banking concern & Trust, the Environmental Learning Center, the Indian River Canton Historical Order and noted marine biologist Grant Gilmore of Estuarine Littoral and Bounding main Science.

More: TCPalm's complete coverage of Indian River Lagoon problems

There are no dues, but donations to assist cover costs, such as keeping up a website, are welcome, Fafeita said.

"Everyone who's concerned about the lagoon and the environs and want to exercise something to help is welcome to join," Fafeita said.

If you lot go

Who: Clean Water Coalition of Indian River Canton
What: Open house/coming together
When: seven p.m. Thursday
Where: The River House, 305 Acacia Road, Vero Embankment
Program:Edie Widder, founder and lead scientist at the Ocean Enquiry & Conservation Association in Fort Pierce, will talk about the impact algae blooms have on Florida'due south economy and Floridians' health
Data: ourwaters.org or call Charlie Pope at 772-567-9000