About the lagoon
Averaging only 4 feet deep and extending 156 miles from Ponce de Leon Inlet in Volusia County south to Jupiter Inlet in Palm Beach County, the Indian River Lagoon is an Estuary of National Significance and North America’s most biologically diverse estuary. More than 4,000 species of plants and animals live in the lagoon region — including more than 700 species of fish, 300 species of birds, and 1,300 species of plants. One-third of the United States’ manatee population calls the lagoon home, as do more than 50 other endangered or threatened species.
Geographically, the lagoon is situated ( see map ) at the transition point between the temperate and subtropical climatic zones, which accounts for much of the richness in species diversity. Here, species from both climatic provinces coexist in this unique and fragile ecosystem.
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Regional impact
The Indian River Lagoon is ecologically valuable and it brings enormous economic benefits to the Space and Treasure coasts. For example:
- The annual economic impact of the lagoon exceeds $731 million.
- Lagoon-related businesses provide more than 19,000 jobs and $250 million in salaries to area residents.
- Property along the lagoon shoreline is valued in excess of $825 million.
- Lagoon fisheries are valued at $140 million annually, with recreational fishing supporting more than 100 resorts, fish camps, bait and tackle shops and other businesses.
- Recreational activities, such as boating, water sports, hunting, shellfish harvesting, fishing and ecotourism, are valued in excess of $465 million each year.
All of these enterprises and the economic benefits they bring rely on the health of the lagoon for their continued success.
What your purchase means —
how funds are used
Florida drivers may purchase an Indian River Lagoon license plate for $15 per vehicle/trailer at any tag office statewide. Every purchase is much more than a vehicle registration surcharge. Your contribution directly funds reconnection of impounded salt marshes, shoreline stabilization projects, mangrove and spoil island restoration, treatment of stormwater runoff, and education efforts throughout the lagoon.
All of the money collected from purchasing the “snook tag” in each lagoon county stays in that county, and is combined with funds from statewide sales for projects in each of the six counties along the lagoon. Other funding sources double the dollars raised from the tag sales. And, no administrative salaries or studies are ever funded by lagoon license plate purchases — 100 percent of the proceeds goes toward restoration and education efforts.
In the last 10 years, more than $4 million has been raised through lagoon license plate sales, with annual revenues totaling about $400,000. Recently completed projects using tag sale proceeds include the following:
Volusia County
Volunteers have planted mangroves and native cordgrass at five locations within the Canaveral National Seashore in the Mosquito Lagoon to protect the shoreline and provide additional wildlife habitat. Other completed projects include the city of Edgewater’s community stormwater master plan, and the reconnection of impounded wetlands in the Tomoka River to re-establish the vital link between the river and the wetlands that had been cut-off decades ago for mosquito control.
Brevard County
Installation of sediment traps (baffle boxes) in Cocoa Beach, Cape Canaveral, Satellite Beach and many other cities has reduced the amount of trash and debris washing into the lagoon from streets, parking lots and residential neighborhoods. Construction of stormwater treatment ponds in Merritt Island, Palm Bay, and Rockledge is under way to reduce pollution from urbanized areas and to improve water quality in the lagoon.
Indian River County
Construction of agricultural best management practices in many citrus groves is reducing the quantity and improving the quality of freshwater discharges to the lagoon from the county’s many drainage canals. Funding was made available to restore and protect Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge, treat invasive exotic plants, and construct stormwater detention ponds in Gifford and Roseland.
St. Lucie County
Water quality improvements have been made to more than 500 acres of mangrove wetland habitat by restoring the historic tidal connection between these wetlands and the lagoon. Public awareness of and access to the lagoon have been improved through the addition of educational signage and construction of a pier at Vitolo Family Park.
Martin County
License plate purchases have funded the removal and replacement of invasive exotic plants with native vegetation to improve nesting habitat on Bird Island, the only site in Martin County where the endangered wood stork is known to nest. Twenty-six other bird species are also known to use Bird Island, including 15 species that use it for nesting.
Palm Beach County
Lagoon tag funding was used to reestablish the intertidal community of the Southwest Fork of the Loxahatchee River. With the cooperation of adjacent homeowners, this project removed accumulated sediments and spoil, removed invasive exotic plants and replaced them with native species, and reestablished tidal wetlands along the South Florida Water Management District’s C-18 canal, an area used by the Florida manatee and numerous species of wading birds.
Purchasing the Indian River Lagoon license plate supports projects that improve water quality and help create or restore natural habitats for the lagoon’s many species.
Drive with pride
By purchasing the Indian River Lagoon license plate, you are helping to protect North America’s most biologically diverse estuary. The $15 you spend is more than doubled by matching funds from federal, state and local sources, making this plate a relatively inexpensive way to advertise your support for a cleaner and healthier lagoon. The lagoon license plate is available at all Florida tag offices. Show your support for the lagoon and “Drive with pride” by purchasing an Indian River Lagoon license plate the next time you renew your vehicle and/or boat trailer tag.
For more information about the Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program and programs supported by the license plate, visit the following Web sites: