INDIAN RIVER LAGOON

Two state leaders are energizing efforts to clean the waters of the Indian River Lagoon in an attempt to save dying marine life.

While 2022 did not prove to be as deadly for Florida’s manatees as 2021, researchers said the animals are still in trouble, especially in the Indian River Lagoon.

State wildlife officials Wednesday approved a seasonal no-entry zone in an area of Brevard County waters where manatees gather, while preparing for a second winter of feeding the sea cows to try to prevent deaths.

Hoping to protect manatees as they congregate this winter, state wildlife officials issued an emergency rule that will temporarily prevent boating in an area of the Indian River Lagoon near a Florida Power & Light power plant.

Hurricane Ian led to sewage overflow seeping through manholes, flooding streets, and a 7.2 million-gallon spill into the Indian River Lagoon.

In the wake of the worst year for manatee deaths on record, Florida wildlife officials last week found yet another potential killer of the threatened species in the Indian River Lagoon — red tide.

After a record number of manatee deaths mostly linked to malnutrition, state and federal wildlife officials hope to double rescue and rehabilitation capacity before the sea cows again congregate in warm waters during the winter.

U.S. wildlife officials have agreed to revise the critical habitat designation for Florida manatees, which have been dying in record numbers because water pollution is killing a main food source.

A co-owner of the Boston Celtics is donating $2 million toward protecting the Florida manatees and their habitat following two seasons of record-breaking manatee mortalities in the state.

Volusia County’s summertime fertilizer ban will begin June 1 and run through September 30, according to Community Information Specialist Pat Kuehn.

Some 537 manatees have died in 2022 so far, the majority of which were found in the Indian River Lagoon.

A weekend of clean water events kicked off on Earth Day with a group planting 100,000 clams in the Banana River.

The Citizen Science program lets everyday people take part in university and FWC research.

The unprecedented, experimental program to feed starving manatees in Florida is ending but the greater issue is the polluted water that causes the marine mammals to run out of their natural seagrass forage.

The experimental feeding designed to help starving manatees in the Indian River Lagoon came to an end Friday.

Florida, Fish and Wildlife Conversation Commission workers along with other organizations said they are hoping the warm weather will help with manatee mortality in the state.

SpaceX is looking for approval on a new plan to support its historic missions.

Find a list of places to volunteer on Random Acts of Kindness Day, or any other day in the future, in Central Florida.

Under increasing firefrom environmentalists for recent sewage spills impacting the beleaguered Indian River Lagoon, the city of Titusville is eyeing funds from the American Rescue Plan Act to cover the costs of a pending list of infrastructure plans.

Three conservation groups have filed formal notice of their intent to sue the Environmental Protection Agency if it doesn't take steps to protect manatees from water pollution in Florida.

More than 1,050 manatees have died in Florida so far this year, a little less than double the number killed in 2020.

Manatees are starving and dying in record numbers in Florida, particular in the Indian River Lagoon where there is a massive loss of seagrass.

After a record year of manatee deaths in Florida, U.S. wildlife agencies approved experimental feeding on Monday.

Over 1000 manatees have died this year in Florida.

The Brevard Zoo is expanding its oyster shell program to begin accepting shells from Central Florida restaurants that go toward its efforts helping the Indian River Lagoon, according to zoo officials.

The record number of manatee deaths has started impacting businesses that rely on manatee sightings.

Nearly 960 manatees have died this year in Florida, according to the latest data from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Gov. Ron DeSantis announced $116 million in grant funds the state is dedicating to water quality improvement projects with more than $53 million going toward improving the Indian River Lagoon in Brevard County.

It's been a record shattering year for manatee deaths in Florida.

A record-shattering number of sea cows have died this year.

Wildlife officers say hundreds of manatees have died across Florida already this year and most of those deaths happened in the Indian River Lagoon.

A record-breaking number of manatees are dying in the Indian River Lagoon in Central Florida.

A Melbourne police officer is being credited with saving a driver after their car went into the Indian River.

An unusual amount of dead minnows and anchovies were spotted in Crane Creek, according to Dr. Leesa Souto of the Marine Resources Council.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission data showed as of last week, 819 manatees have died throughout the state.

Florida is home to roughly 6,800 manatees, but more than 750 have died this year alone.

The more than seven million gallons of sewage Titusville spilled into the environment just before Christmas last year could wind up costing the city more than a half-million dollars.

Conservationists and Volusia County homeowners are teaming up to help save manatees and other marine life in the Indian River Lagoon.

The situation is threatening a number of species, including manatees, who depend on seagrass for food. An expert who has spent 40 years studying manatees in Central Florida said dead manatees are being found with nearly nothing in their stomachs. Essentially, it’s an emergency.”Rose and others blame the seagrass loss for a spike in manatee deaths this winter. In all of 2020, there were 637 manatee deaths across Florida. AdThe Indian River Lagoon system stretches 165 miles from Volusia County south to Port St. Lucie.

PALM BAY, Fla. – Seagrass is disappearing from the Indian River Lagoon causing hungry manatees to have to migrate to find their food. It’s one of the concerning conclusions from Tuesday’s virtual presentation of the third annual lagoon report card. That score was before the river suffering new fish kills like Thanksgiving at State Road 520 in Merritt Island. After the 2016 fish kills, Brevard County voters approved paying hundreds of millions of dollars over 10 years for cleanup efforts. “I think that we have not reached a point of no return,” Dr. Souto said.

Barbara Williams noticed an odor emanating from the ailing Indian River Lagoon on Saturday in Cocoa. And when she walked toward her dock at her Indian River Drive home, she spotted washed-up casualties from an ongoing algal bloom. The St. Johns River Water Management District and partner organizations continue receiving reports of fish kills in the Indian River Lagoon from the past few days, News 6 partner Florida Today reported. Low dissolved-oxygen concentrations have also been recorded in lagoon water in Titusville, SJRWMD officials reported Saturday. To report an Indian River Lagoon fish kill, call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission hotline at 800-636-0511 or visit the agency’s online fish kill report page.

PALM BAY, Fla. – A scientist will present the Marine Resources Council’s third annual report card scoring the health of the Indian River Lagoon and it’s once again expected to show continuing challenges. Since 2018, the Marine Resources Council has presented an annual lagoon report card. The report card scores each region of the lagoon on algae, seagrass, phosphorus, nitrogen and turbidity. The third annual report card will be presented on Dec. 8. Those interested in donating to the research can also contact the Marine Resources Council.

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. – Algae blooms are turning parts of the Indian River Lagoon green again in Brevard County. Brevard County Public Information Officer Don Walker said for the last couple weeks the weather conditions have helped and the county has not received reports of any major fish kills. On Sept. 11, county officials warned of a possible fish kill like the ones seen in 2016 and 2018 due to the wet weather in recent weeks. Brevard County voters approved a half-cent sales tax in 2011 to generate more than $400 million for restoration of the lagoon. Ron DeSantis signed bills designed to address environmental issues ranging from sea level rise to blue-green algae blooms.

We’re back in the race,” as the SpaceX rocket lifted through clouds above Kennedy Space Center. Saturday's launch was the first of NASA astronauts from Florida since 2011, when the space shuttle program ended, and the first by a private company. Many spectators had been there just days earlier on Wednesday for the first launch attempt, which was scrubbed due to the weather. At Space View Park in Titusville, few spectators wore masks and there wasn't much social distancing. “Now look at all the people who are here seeing astronauts leave from U.S. soil.”___Follow Mike Schneider on Twitter: @MikeSchneiderAP