Water bodies, watersheds and storm water

Indian River Lagoon cost-share program

The Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program administers an annual cost-share program for projects throughout the lagoon watershed that help to implement the Indian River Lagoon Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP).

The lagoon program also supports habitat enhancement and water quality/storm water retrofit cost-share projects through the Indian River Lagoon (Snook) Specialty License Plate Program in Volusia, Brevard and Indian River counties.

Types of projects that are typically funded include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Stormwater/water quality improvement projects that assist in implementing pollutant load reduction goals and/or total maximum daily loads.
• Shoreline, spoil island and habitat restoration and enhancement projects.
• Grantsmanship and capacity building.
• Water quality monitoring.
• Research and monitoring of known and emerging bioitoxins, aquatic animal, plant and/or benthic species health issues and development of strategies to address those issues.
• Implementation of public information programs and projects including those that focus on behavioral change as a means of reducing personal pollution

Available funding is subject to congressional appropriation for the Clean Water Act National Estuary Program and projected revenue from the sale of Indian River Lagoon license plates. Funding is typically available each October.

Capital projects are required to have a minimum match of 50 percent of the total project cost (1:1); educational, research and monitoring projects must include a minimum match of 25 percent of the total project cost.

An annual solicitation for projects is requested each November to December and submitted proposals are reviewed and ranked by members of the lagoon program’s Technical and Citizens committees. The committees’ rankings are submitted to a subcommittee of the Lagoon Advisory Board that reviews the rankings and provides a recommended slate of projects for funding through the program’s annual work plan. The Lagoon Advisory Board approves the annual work plan and submits it with the recommended list of projects to the St. Johns River Water Management District’s Governing Board for approval. When the St. Johns District approves the plan, the Advisory Board then submits a funding request to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to implement the work plan.

Application forms (when available during the solicitation process) and additional information about the Indian River Lagoon cost-share program can be accessed at itsyourlagoon.com.