Welcome to the Indian River Lagoon

A Natural Treasure of Florida’s Coast

Welcome to the Indian River Lagoon, one of North America’s most diverse estuaries! This unique waterway stretches 156 miles from Ponce Inlet to Jupiter Inlet, spanning six Florida counties.

Quick Facts:

One of Earth’s Most Bio diverse Ecosystems

Welcome to the Indian River Lagoon, a remarkable natural wonder that stands as one of the most biologically diverse ecosystems on our planet! This extraordinary waterway stretches 156 miles from Ponce Inlet to Jupiter Inlet, spanning six Florida counties and hosting an incredible variety of life.

A Global Biodiversity Hot spot:

Home to more than 4,300 species of plants and animals
Supports 50 threatened or endangered species
Contains 7 distinct types of habitat
Hosts 35% of all bird species found in North America
Provides critical habitat for 1/3 of Florida’s manatee population

Quick Facts:

Length: 156 miles
Watershed: 2,280 square miles
Counties: Volusia, Brevard, Indian River, St. Lucie, Martin, and northern Palm Beach
Features the largest barrier island chain in the United States
Encompasses 145 square miles of critical habitats

A Complex Ecosystem
Where Fresh Meets Salt

The Indian River Lagoon is more than just water – it’s a rich tapestry of interconnected habitats that support thousands of species.

Key Habitats:

Image by John Turnbull
- Seagrass Beds: Underwater meadows providing nurseries for young fish
Image by GRID-Arendal
- Mangrove Forests: Natural shoreline protectors supporting diverse wildlife
Image by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Headquarters
- Salt Marshes: Coastal wetlands filtering water and sheltering wildlife
Image by Bas Kers (NL)
- Oyster Reefs: Living filters that clean our waters
Image by Michael Seeley

Did You Know? The lagoon contains 145 square miles of critical habitats, including mangrove forests, seagrass beds, and maritime wetlands.
Life in the Lagoon
Where Fresh Meets Salt: A Living Laboratory

The Indian River Lagoon is a complex tapestry of interconnected habitats that support one of the most diverse collections of plants and animals in North America.

Key Habitats:

Image by James St. John

Seagrass Beds: Underwater meadows providing essential nurseries for young fish and feeding grounds for manatees. One acre of seagrass can support up to 40,000 fish!

Image by Andrewtappert

Mangrove Forests: Nature’s shoreline protectors, these remarkable trees…
- Filter pollution from water
- Prevent erosion
- Provide nursery areas for fish
- Support countless species of birds
- Protect our coast from storms
Image by Wikimedia Commons

Salt Marshes: These productive wetlands…
- Filter pollutants from water
- Provide feeding grounds for wading birds
- Protect against flooding
- Support essential fish habitats
Image by itoldya test1

Oyster Reefs: Living water filters that…
- Create complex habitats for marine life
- Protect shorelines from erosion
- Improve water clarity
- Support local fisheries
Marine Life Spotlight:
Image by Berfilli

Manatees:These gentle giants can live up to 60 years and graze on seagrass for up to 8 hours daily

Image by Aloha Ocean

Dolphins: Highly intelligent mammals that live in family groups called pods, using sophisticated echolocation to hunt

Image by Pixabay

Sea Turtles: Including loggerhead and green turtles that can weigh up to 700 pounds

Image by Animalia Bio

Tarpon: Known as the “living dinosaur” fish, these ancient creatures can grow over 8 feet long

Image by Animalia Bio

Skipjack Tuna: They are known to jump out of the water hence the name ‘Skipjack’

Image by François Libert

Spotted Eagle Rays: These beautiful creatures love to crunch into crustaceans, snails, and mussels with their hard teeth

Image by Rawpixel

Johnson’s Sea Grass: The Indian River lagoon is home to the endangered Johnson’s seagrass, found nowhere else on Earth
Protecting Our Lagoon
Image by JonathanPuello

Conservation in Action

The Indian River Lagoon faces challenges from…

Image by eutrophication&hypoxia

Fertilizer runoff

Image by ClickerHappy

Malfunctioning septic systems

Image by MicroFile

Toxic algae blooms

Image by itoldya

Urban development

How You Can Help:

Image by Kurti411
- Use lagoon-friendly landscaping practices
- Support oyster reef restoration
- Learn about and follow boating safety guidelines
- Join local conservation efforts
Get Involved!
Vessels of the Lagoon
Flying Scot

Image by brichard
- Length: 19 ft
- Perfect for: All-around sailing
- Features: Stable, unsinkable design with high safety rating
Laser

Image by Tom Purves
- Length: 13 ft 4″
- Perfect for: Single-handed sailing
- Features: Olympic class vessel, most popular racing sailboat worldwide
International 420

Image by Adam.Jenkins
- Length: 13 ft 9″
- Perfect for: Training and racing
- Features: Two-person crew, excellent learning vessel
Hobie Cat 16

Image by Loozrboy
- Length: 16 ft 7″
- Perfect for: Fast sailing and recreation
- Features: Easy to sail, can reach speeds up to 24.79 knots
Nature’s Water Filters – The Amazing Oyster
Image by rawpixel

Cleaning Our Waters, One Gallon at a Time

Image by NOAA

Oysters are nature’s solution to water quality! These remarkable creatures:
- Filter up to 50 gallons of water per day (per oyster!)
- Remove excess nutrients and sediments
- Provide habitat for other marine life
- Help maintain water clarity for seagrass growth
Image by the Nature Conservatory

One acre of oyster reef can filter as much water as 36 Olympic-sized swimming pools each day!