Contributors

Annie Roddenberry (Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission), Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program (funding source)

Keywords

shoreline, Mosquito Lagoon, Indian River, Banana River, Estuaries

Description

The purpose of this project was to evaluate current conditions of estuarine shorelines in the northern section of the Indian River Lagoon system, including Mosquito Lagoon, north Indian River, and Banana River. From January 2016 through June 2018, we evaluated structural and functional characteristics of 374 miles of shoreline, from Ponce Inlet in Volusia County to Sebastian Inlet in Brevard County.

Abstract

The purpose of this project was to evaluate current conditions of estuarine shorelines in the northern section of the Indian River Lagoon system, including Mosquito Lagoon, north Indian River, and Banana River. From January 2016 through June 2018, we evaluated structural and functional characteristics of 374 miles of shoreline, from Ponce Inlet in Volusia County to Sebastian Inlet in Brevard County (11,000+ data points). Hard-armoring accounted for approximately 50% of total shoreline, evenly divided between shoreline with bulkheads (25%) and hardened slopes (25%). Forty-five percent of shoreline without hard-armoring had anthropogenic alterations (i.e. mosquito impoundments, railroads and roadways, residential and commercial development); only 5% of non-armored shoreline was classified as wetland habitat, with minimal slope and a native plant community. We are working with local governments and stakeholders to utilize this dataset in the development of a restoration suitability model to support restoration and conservation in this region.

Date Created

11-30-2018

College

College of Sciences

Type

article

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