7 Indian River Lagoon Facts That Everyone Should Be Aware Of

The Indian River lagoon has three other rivers, namely the Mosquito lagoon that extends from Ponce de Leon Inlet to the north end of Merritt Island, the Banana river which is a branch of the Indian River, and the Indian River which lies between the northern Brevard County to the southern boundary of Martin County.

The Indian River Lagoon is a part of the five counties on the east coast of Florida, including Palm Beach County and Brevard county. The average depth of the lagoon is 4 ft (1.2 m), the width is 5 mi (0.80 to 8.05 m) and the length is 156 mi (251 km).

The Indian River Lagoon has brackish water that is a mix of salt water and fresh water. The saltwater is obtained from the four ocean inlets (Sebastian inlet, Ft. Pierce inlet, Jupiter inlet, and Palm Beach inlet) and the freshwater comes from the streams, canals, and rivers.

Addison, Crane, and Turkey Creek are some of the freshwater creek tributaries. The lagoon is connected to the Atlantic Ocean by five inlets.

Continue reading to find out more about the Indian River lagoon. You can also check out our other articles on river Thames and rivers in Colorado.

A Brief History of the Lagoon

The Indian River lagoon was not always a lagoon. When the ocean receded during the Wisconsin Glacial Episode, the lagoon region was grassland.

As the glaciers in the area melted and the sea rose, a part of the water that remained trapped in the grassland turned into a lagoon. People started settling near the lagoon due to the rich fish and shellfish species.

In the Spanish maps, the lagoon was called Rio de Ais. It was named after the Indian tribe, Ais, who inhabited the east coast of Florida. Alberto Mexica discovered most of the parts of the lagoon in 1605.

The lagoon was known by different names throughout history. Los Mosquitos, meaning the mosquito lagoon, Pentoya lagoon, and Ulumay lagoon, meaning banana river, were some of the names of the Indian River lagoon.

The lagoon served as a major transportation spot before the railroads were formed. The main reason for the flow of fresh water into the lagoon was the drainage of swamps initiated by the early Europeans to cultivate citrus fruits and pineapples.

Ecology Of The Indian River Lagoon

The Indian River Lagoon has been designated as an excellent water source in Florida as well as a nationally significant estuary.

A wide diversity of animals can be found in this biologically unique estuary. The northern limit of mangrove wetlands that are within the lagoon boundaries serves as a breeding area, feeding region, and nursery ground.

The Indian River Lagoon is a coastal ecosystem where rainwater is filtered and sediments are stabilized. It also aids in the preservation of water quality by preventing coastal erosion.

The lagoon is home to 2100 plant species, 2,200 animal species, 685 fish species, and 370 bird species.

The beach serves as a nesting site for the majority of nesting sea turtles in the western hemisphere. Indian River Lagoon is a critical natural area for a variety of migrating birds as it is located on the Atlantic Flyway.

What is the importance of the river lagoon?

The Indian River Lagoon serves three main purposes. It is home to thousands of plant and animal species, it influences public health and lifestyles and it is the economic driver of Brevard County.

The Indian River Lagoona has around 4000 plant and animal species out of fish around 5o are endangered species. All these species are reliant on the aquatic environment of the Lagoon. In North America, the Indian River lagoon is the most ecologically unique estuary.

If the water quality deteriorates, it has a negative impact on the entire plant and animal species in the food chain. Their habitat will be destroyed. This, in turn, affects the people who are largely dependent on the species.

The estuary is a major source of income for most people. 50% of the fish production in East coast Florida comes from the lagoon fisheries. For people to lead a healthy life, the lagoon is important.

Brevard County encompasses over 50% of the length of the river lagoon. The economy of Brevard County largely depends on the economy of the river lagoon. As per reports of the Indian River Lagoon Economic Valuation Update, the overall yearly economic production of the lagoon in 2014 was around $7.6 billion.

Conserving the River Lagoon

The conservation of the Indian River Lagoon is a pressing problem, as the lagoon is undergoing an ecological catastrophe. Lake Okeechobee and the St. Lucie Basin discharge a large amount of water that has a high concentration of fertilizers into the tide.

As a result, large algae blooms have developed, which are toxic and have a negative impact on water quality.

In the protection of the Indian River Lagoon, everyone has a role to play.

Recognizing and controlling the relationship between your personal actions and your household routines that may impact water quality will assist in enhancing water quality. Our actions have a direct effect on the lagoon.

The Ocean Research & Conservation Association (OCRA), created by Dr. Edith Widder, a world-acclaimed sea researcher, focuses on employing the scientific integrity of a research center to break this cycle of near-shore marine ecosystem deterioration.

People are also helped by the Environmental Learning Center ELC, which educates them and runs different informative programs to assist, avoid, and slow down the degradation of the Indian River Lagoon.

The quality of the water in the Indian River Lagoon is also affected by fertilization. Jim Egan, Executive Director of the Marine Resource Council, organized a seminar to explain the harmful effects of fertilizers and how to avoid them.

A meeting held by Jim Egan, Executive Director of the Marine Resource Council, explained the ill effects of fertilizers and how to use them in a way where it does not affect the Indian River lagoon.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for Indian River Lagoon facts, then why not take a look at rivers in Mississippi or Puerto Princesa underground river facts?