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1. What is the City doing to help the Indian River Lagoon?

Excess nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) entering the Indian River Lagoon have attributed to a reduction in the amount of seagrass in the Lagoon. In an effort to reduce nutrients entering the Indian River Lagoon, the City of Titusville has completed and continues to develop stormwater improvements.

Along with some already completed projects, which can be viewed on the Indian River Lagoon Stormwater Projects page, over the past year the City has initiated and/or completed numerous stormwater treatment and outreach projects:

• Draa Field Stormwater Park: construction began December 1, 2015.The treatment system consists of a 4 acre enhanced wet detention pond with littoral plantings, a permeable reactive barrier, and a constructed wetland. The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2016.
• Senior Center Pond Floating Vegetated Islands: Managed Aquatic Systems or BeeMATS were installed at the Senior Center wet detention pond in December 2015. These mats help filter out nutrients from the water prior to the water discharging from the pond.
• Littoral Zone Planting: this year the City received a grant award from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection for Littoral Zone Vegetation Planting.This project will establish littoral zone vegetation within three existing stormwater wet detention ponds to help filter out nutrients before entering the pond. The project is expected to be complete by October 2016.
• Baffle Boxes: this year the City received a grant award from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection for Titusville’s Area II Stormwater Treatment Trains. The project consists of the installation of six stormwater inlet baskets fitted with a nutrient removal material (PAM) and two nutrient separating baffle boxes also fitted with PAM.
• Public Education and Outreach: the City of Titusville continues its public outreach activities providing residents and businesses with information about pollution prevention, fertilizer application regulations, the benefits of Florida-friendly landscaping, and water conservation.
• Living Shoreline: the City partnered with the University of Central Florida to develop a Living Shorelines Management Plan and construct a living shorelines demonstration site near Main Street in Titusville. This project is anticipated to be completed by the end of 2016.
• On May 12, 2015 the City passed an ordinance enacting pet waste disposal requirements. The City continues to administer the Bag It! Trash It! Pet Waste Management Program with educational materials and maintenance of the existing dog waste stations.
• In July 2015 the City enter into an interlocal agreement with the University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Services Brevard County Extension Service (UF/IFAS) to implement a Florida Yards and Neighborhoods/My Brevard Yard program in the City of Titusville.
• Street Sweeping: between April 2015 and March 2016, approximately 1,982,320 pounds of debris were removed from street sweeping operations. This equates to the removal of 1,116 pounds of total nitrogen and 716 pounds of total phosphorus.
• The City continues to apply for grant funding and develop projects that will help reduce the amount of nutrients that enter the Indian River Lagoon.

2. How can you help the Indian River Lagoon?

• Dispose of yard waste properly. Don’t sweep it into or let it blow off into the street, storm drains, waterbodies, or ditches. Even if you don’t live on the Lagoon, during a rain event, yard waste and trash can flow into a ditch, storm drain or pond, which will then make its way to the lagoon.
• If you see a storm drain clogged with debris, consider cleaning it up because that storm drain connects to either the Lagoon or the St. Johns River.
• Wash your car at a commercial car wash or wash it over grass to give the runoff a chance to filter naturally.
• Fertilize properly. Use pesticides and fertilizers sparingly. When you do use them, follow the directions and never fertilize before it rains (because it will all run off). Always follow the guidelines as outlined in the City’s fertilizer ordinance and consider alternatives to nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers like iron or compost.
• Retain natural Florida Friendly habitat buffers along water ways, don’t take sod all the way to the edge, and consider using native plants.
• Vegetate bare areas of your lawn.
• Use rain barrels and rain gardens to capture the runoff from your roof or position your gutters to keep water off impervious surfaces, letting the water filter naturally instead of running down the street into a storm drain.
• Have your septic tank pumped and inspected regularly and consider options for connecting to the sewer system.
• Pick up dog waste and dispose of it in the trash.
• Contact federal and state representatives urging support for remedial and preventative legislation to clean up the Indian River Lagoon
• Volunteering Opportunities:
  • Volunteer to become an oyster gardener through Brevard Zoo’s oyster gardening program.
  • The Marine Resources Council also offers volunteer opportunities to help monitor lagoon water quality, plant native shoreline plants and remove invasive plants and trees.