MARINE RESOURCES COUNCIL | JANUARY 2026 NEWSLETTER LAGOON LETTERS

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MARINE RESOURCES COUNCIL | JANUARY 2026 NEWSLETTER LAGOON LETTERS

By Marine Resources Council

1/1/2026

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Lagoon Letters

Marine Resources Council's Monthly Email Newsletter

January 1st, 2026

LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Dear Patricia,

Every meaningful improvement we’ve seen—from the Indian River Lagoon Act to fertilizer bans —has come about because people cared enough to raise their voices. That includes scientists sharing data, residents attending public meetings, volunteers talking with neighbors, and supporters contacting their local representatives. When individuals take action, it sends a powerful message: these issues matter and they matter now. We witnessed this last year with the outcry against the proposal to develop nine state parks, and we witnessed this again last month with the outpouring of calls, emails, and social media messages regarding Blue Origin’s permit renewal.

Advocacy is simply the act of speaking up—for the places we love, the values we share, and the future we want to see. It doesn’t belong to lobbyists or elected officials; it belongs to all of us. As an organization committed to protecting the Indian River Lagoon and our coastal communities, advocacy is not optional in MRC’s work; it is essential. Our role is to help turn concern into impact. We do this by translating science into clear information, tracking policies that affect our mission, and ensuring decision-makers understand the real-world consequences of their choices. We also work to empower our community by providing tools, training, and opportunities.

This is at the heart of Low Impact Living—emphasizing that everyone has a role in environmental stewardship and ensuring that anyone who wants to engage can do so with confidence. Because advocacy works best when it is shared. Our collective voice is stronger than any single statement or study. Whether you make a phone call, sign up for an alert, show up to a meeting, or simply have a conversation with a friend, you are part of this effort. Together, we can shape policies that protect our natural resources, strengthen our communities, and ensure a healthier future for generations to come.

If you’re looking to get more involved, keep scrolling for upcoming opportunities to speak up on Lagoon matters in the new Advocacy and Action section of this newsletter. You are also welcome to visit the Advocacy Resources page of our website, where you can find How-To for crafting statements for public meetings. We also welcome you to reach out with any questions you may have or to learn how to get involved. One of my favorite parts of my job is talking to community groups, so please reach out to request a Low Impact Living or Lagoon Health presentation.

Thank you for being an advocate with us!

Sincerely,

Dr. Laura Wilson

Executive Director

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LOOKING AHEAD FOR 2026

What's to come in the new year for Marine Resources Council?

In alignment with our restoration services, we hope to expand the nursery to include other Florida native plants, such as cordgrasses, Muhly grass, seagrapes, and Buttonwood trees. This will allow us to provide full-scale shoreline restoration services and source plants from our own nursery.
Marine Resources Council Sebastian Nursery sits adjacent to the St. Sebastian Greenway Preserve. In the new year, we hope to continue removing invasive species, planting a native pollinator garden, and providing educational experiences along the trail.
Working in partnership with Brevard Zoo and the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission, MRC will be restoring Melbourne's Bird Island. For more details about what to expect, scroll down to our Science Corner below!
LagoonWatch, the Citizen Science water quality monitoring project, will undergo major upgrades! In 2026, we'll provide all LagoonWatch monitors with new technologies to simplify data collection. Additionally, our Science Team will be producing monthly water quality reports. You can view the first monthly report in the Science Corner section of this newsletter.
2026 is an Action Assembly year for Marine Resources Council! Every other year, we'll coordinate and host an Action Assembly with local partners to brainstorm community-oriented solutions to long-standing environmental problems. This year, we're working towards a youth assembly, hosted in collaboration with Environmental Learning Center, so we hear what the youngest and brightest minds of the region have to say about the health of the Indian River Lagoon.
Providing opportunities for volunteers to get involved with Marine Resources Council will continue to expand in 2026. Additionally, we hope to add regular invasive species removal and native gardening events, expand our network into the southern Lagoon counties, and host more donor and volunteer appreciation events.

ADVOCACY AND ACTION

2026 Legislative Session

1000 Friends of Florida Bill Tracker

Florida's state Legislative Session begins on January 13. Want to know what is happening in Tallahassee during the session? We're using 1000 Friends of Florida's Legislative Tracker page to follow bills related to water, resilience, land conservation, and more.

Legislative Tracker

Blue Origin Permit Renewal

Florida DEP Public Meeting Announcement

The Florida DEP announced that it will host a public meeting in response to the Blue Origin permit renewal on January 30, 2026, from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM at 3695 Lake Drive, Cocoa, Florida. They have also extended the written public comment period to February 6. Click the link below to learn more about the public meeting announcement. You can also visit the IRL Round Table's Blog for more information on how to submit a written comment.

Florida DEP Public Meeting

Speak Up Brevard

January 1 - January 31

Speak Up Brevard is an annual online platform for citizen input to improve County operations. Brevard County residents are encouraged to submit comments and suggestions related to conserving energy, reducing costs, preventing waste, and other operations.

Speak Up Brevard

SOIRL Workshops

January 5 - Titusville & January 12 - Palm Bay

The Brevard County Board of County Commissioners is hosting two public workshops in January on the Save Our Indian River Lagoon to gather public input. Both workshops are hosted from 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM at the Titusville City Council Chambers on January 5 and the Palm Bay City Council Chambers on January 12. Brevard County residents are encouraged to attend to learn more about proposed plans and provide input for the Save Our Indian River Lagoon 1/2 cent sales tax program.

County Commission Calendar

Interested in speaking up, but unsure where to start? Marine Resources Council has resources and tips to help new advocates find their voice. Visit our website to view our Advocacy Resources, including a How-To for crafting statements for public meetings. We also have our past comment letters available for viewing on our advocacy page.

SCIENCE CORNER

LagoonWatch Monthly Reports

The Science Team at MRC is excited to announce that Monthly LagoonWatch reports are now here! Based on citizen science data collected through the LagoonWatch program, these reports map water quality data throughout the Indian River Lagoon. One map will be featured in our newsletter but you'll be able to access all the maps through the link below. Our first LagoonWatch map features surface water temperature data from November 2025.

November 2025 Surface Temperature

This month's featured map shows that water temperatures in the IRL tend to be cooler in the northern areas and gradually warm toward the south. Most sites fall within moderate temperature ranges, while the warmest water is clustered in the southern part of the lagoon. As you travel southward, you get closer to the Equator, where the sun's energy is strongest. This means that we would expect warmer temperatures in the farthest south reaches of the Lagoon!

Click here to view the rest of the maps!

Bird Island Restoration Updates

Melbourne's Bird Island restoration is on track to start construction in February! A barge and heavy machinery will be used to complete the restoration process. The restoration project includes breakwater protection, sand replenishment, and mangrove planting.

Although Bird Island was formed as a spoil island, it became a vital bird nesting site over the course of the past 60 years. In addition to providing nesting habitat for 16 species of birds, three of which are state-listed, Bird Island provides shoreline protection for downtown Melbourne. In the past decade, the island has eroded considerably and lost much of its high ground, prompting a push for restoration by conservation groups.

Through this restoration process, we hope to see Bird Island expand to its previous size and continue to be a habitat for nesting coastal birds.

Low Impact Living Tip of the Month

Marine Resources Council's Executive Director, Dr. Laura Wilson, was recently featured on Spectrum 13 in a piece about Baffle Boxes. These boxes help capture debris from stormwater before it goes into the Lagoon. To help compound the efforts of the Baffle Boxes, our Low Impact Living Tip of the Month is to always pack up your yard waste for collection!

Packaging yard waste correctly can reduce the amount of debris and nutrients getting into the Lagoon. By doing this, you can streamline pickup by County residential yard waste pickup crews! To learn more about residential yard waste pickup and best practices for packaging your yard waste, visit the Brevard County Yard Waste & Mulching Website.

New Volunteer Orientation Dates

If you've been thinking about joining the Marine Resources Council's league of volunteers, there's no better time than the present! In January, we'll be offering two dates for new volunteers to learn more about the organization and the typical volunteer activities we offer. Those interested in joining us at tabling opportunities are required to attend an orientation first! Direct questions about new volunteer orientation to Brooke@mrcirl.org.