PHOTO of the muck removal work in Brevard County, FL

The Save Our Indian River Lagoon (SOIRL) Program is removing deep accumulations of muck from the bottom of the lagoon.

The muck in the IRL increases turbidity, inhibits seagrass growth, reduces dissolved oxygen, releases nutrients, and destroys healthy communities.

Muck dredging has a more immediate benefit on the lagoon water quality compared to upland infrastructure projects that reduce pollution at the source. Water quality improves as soon as the muck is removed.

Upland infrastructure projects that reduce sources of pollution must happen too, but if muck is left in the lagoon, it will continue to cause problems even if all upland pollution is stopped.

The SOIRL Plan has 20 muck removal projects, each with its own unique set of characteristics and challenges. Four of these projects have been completed including:

• The Turkey Creek project area was roughly 22 acres. Approximately 236,000 cubic yards of muck was removed.
• The Mims Boat Ramp area was about 9.15 acres and roughly 30,935 cubic yards of muck was removed.
• The Cocoa Beach muck removal project was broken up into multiple phases. In total, the area was roughly 60 acres and about 111,000 cubic yards of muck was removed.
• The Sykes Creek muck removal project was broken into two phases. The first phase of dredging was complete in August 2023 and roughly 76,000 cubic yards of muck was removed within 60 acres. Phase 2 has roughly 560,000 cubic yards of muck that will be removed.