Indian River Lagoon

Total Maximum Daily Loads

Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDL) for the Indian River Lagoon (IRL), which were established by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) in 2009, are water quality targets based on state water quality standards for specific pollutants (such as nitrogen and phosphorus). The TMDL focuses on water quality conditions necessary for sea grass re-growth at historical water depth limits.

Basin Management Action Plan

The North IRL Basin Management Action Plan (BMAP), which assigns the amount of nitrogen and phosphorus reductions required by each stakeholder, was adopted by FDEP in February 2013 and is incorporated into the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits of each stakeholder for purposes of enforcement. To see the projects listed in the North IRL BMAP click here. 

Policies & Projects

City of Titusville staff continues to participate in the development of Lagoon related policies and research, implementation of projects to reduce nutrients to the Lagoon and seek partnerships and grant funding for projects to meet the restoration goals for the Lagoon.

Visit our Indian River Lagoon Stormwater Projects page to see a summary of projects that the City has completed or are underway.

Cause of the Current Lagoon Water Quality Crisis

There is no one simple answer as to why the 2011 superbloom occurred. The St. Johns Water Management District, Indian River Lagoon Council, federal and state agencies, local governments and educational institutions are individually and collectively working to find answers to the cause of the superbloom and to identify what can be done in the future to limit or avoid a similar event. The various partners are investigating the possible causes of the blooms and developing strategies to reduce their magnitude, duration and frequency.