District, partners celebrate the removal of mountains of muck

A tranquil scene on the newly dredged Eau Gallie River east of the U.S. 1 bridge in Melbourne.

~Project benefits Indian River Lagoon tributary~

PALM BAY, Fla., May 7, 2019 — The St. Johns River Water Management District, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, state and local elected officials and Indian River Lagoon protection advocates will celebrate the completion of muck dredging from the Eau Gallie River in Melbourne. The Indian River Lagoon will directly benefit from the project as the Eau Gallie is a tributary of the lagoon.

More than 600,000 cubic yards of muck were pumped from the main stem of the Eau Gallie River as well as the southern branch of the river known as Elbow Creek. Muck is a mix of fine-grained sediments, sand, clay and organic matter (decaying leaves, grass and other plant material) contained in untreated stormwater runoff that drains to canals and storm drains connected to the Eau Gallie River.

Muck, resembling black mayonnaise, decreases water clarity and quality because it clouds the water column when stirred by wind and boat traffic. Muck sediments provide a regular flux of nutrients into the water column, providing fuel for algal blooms and negatively impacting the estuarine ecosystem.

WHAT: Eau Gallie River Muck Dredging Project celebration

WHEN:  10 a.m., May 13, 2019

WHERE: Ballard Park, 924 Thomas Barbour Drive, Melbourne (event signs will be posted)