Marine Resources Council's Monthly Email Newsletter

October 1st, 2026

Dear Patricia,

On an oppressively muggy Saturday in September, Marine Resources Council held its 22nd Indian River Lagoon Action Assembly. But this one was a little different from the others. 

MRC held its first Action Assembly in 1983 to address the ecosystem and water quality decline of the IRL. The format is modeled after the American Assembly, founded in 1950 by Dwight Eisenhower while he was president of Columbia University. Each IRL Assembly brings together citizen delegates from diverse Florida stakeholder groups. Delegates are briefed on current Lagoon science and ongoing progress, then are asked to discuss strategies to restore balance to the Lagoon and coastal communities. Finally, delegates reach consensus on next steps , prioritize action, and identify the organizations responsible for leading and reporting on progress. 

While students have joined past Assembly delegations, we have never devoted an entire Assembly to youth. Until now. At this year’s Youth Action Assembly, middle and high school students served as delegates, college and graduate students served as facilitators. Although the weather didn’t inspire anyone to be outside for long periods of time, the backdrop for the Assembly was flawless: The Environmental Learning Center in Vero Beach. 

In all, 34 students from 13 different junior and senior high schools and seven Florida colleges/universities took part, representing six counties. The only things we asked students to bring were a positive attitude and willingness to participate. And they brought both in spades as they worked through five consensus challenges we set: 

1. What actions can you take in your community? 
2. What does a healthy Lagoon (or healthy environment) look like in YOUR future? 
3. What messages do your peers need to hear and how do we get those messages to them? 
4. How can we get others to care about the Lagoon and environment? 

5. What do you want our city, state, and national leaders to know about the Lagoon and environmental stewardship? 

I’m still working through the pages of notes, discussion points, action items, and recommendations, all of which will be shared publicly. However, I didn't want to get too far into October without acknowledging the power of this event. The students' passion and commitment were inspiring, and those of us organizing the day were uplifted as much as the students, if not more. But I want the participants to speak for themselves:

“The Youth Action Assembly gave students a chance to communicate, connect, and share their ideas. Seeing how inspired and passionate the student delegates became throughout the assembly was truly inspiring.”

- Delegate 

“I left feeling inspired and optimistic for the future of the lagoon knowing that there are passionate, motivated, and dedicated students willing and able to make an impact.”

- Facilitator 

This 22nd IRL Action Assembly couldn't have happened without collaboration among students and partner organizations. We're grateful to our partners who made the Youth Action Assembly possible: The Environmental Learning Center, Pelican Island Audubon Society, Indian River Neighborhood Association, and the IRL National Estuary Program. 

With hope, 

Dr. Laura Wilson

Executive Director

Ever wonder how much water you use before lunch?

You brush your teeth, make a pot of coffee, start a load of laundry and maybe water a few plants. Before you know it, water has already played a role in much of your morning. Water is part of nearly everything we do, which means there are also plenty of opportunities throughout the day to use it wisely. And becoming more water conscious doesn’t have to mean making major changes to your routine.

Start at the sink. Turning off the faucet while brushing your teeth or scrubbing dishes is a simple way to conserve water. While you’re there, check for dripping faucets or other leaks. A small leak may not seem significant, but wasted water can add up over time. 

The same idea applies to everyday chores. Waiting until the dishwasher or washing machine is full before running it helps make the most of every gallon while also saving energy. Then, take your water-saving habits outside. Florida lawns and landscapes should be watered only when needed and not between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m., when heat and evaporation are highest. Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ plants can also help create a landscape suited to local conditions that typically requires less irrigation once established.

Interested in speaking up, but unsure where to start? Marine Resources Council has resources and tips to help new advocates find their voice. Visit our website to view our Advocacy Resources, including a How-To for crafting statements for public meetings and tips & tricks for written public comment. We also have our past comment letters available for viewing on our advocacy page.

We've been looking at our fall calendar and have a couple of members-only opportunities coming up, including a membership survey and the annual membership meeting. These are your opportunities to let us know how MRC is doing and for us to share goals for 2027. Secure your membership to the Marine Resources Council with a minimum donation of $25! Have questions about membership? Contact brooke@mrcirl.org.

This month's featured map is Secchi Depth, which is a measure of water clarity. Clarity affects how much sunlight reaches the lagoon floor, which is vital to the growth of seagrass and other SAVs. Generally in the IRL, any measurement over 1 meter in depth is considered "Good" by the EPA's standards for estuaries. 

In August, most recorded Secchi depth values fell below 1.5 meters, with the highest values being observed near the Fort Pierce and Jupiter inlets. 

With less than a month to go until the LID Conference, registrations are filling up fast. If you are interested in joining us at Cocoa Beach at the end of the month, be sure to register ahead of time using the button below to save your spot!

MRC’s Low Impact Development Conference covers a range of tools from comprehensive land-use planning and policy creation to gray-green infrastructure design and construction. Experts share case studies that demonstrate cost-effective and community-centered means to meet pollution load reductions, recharge groundwater aquifers, and prevent flooding.

Sponsoring or exhibiting at the puts your brand directly in front of municipal leaders, community advocates, stormwater and development companies, and engineers. This networking platform allows you to showcase cost-effective stormwater, infrastructure, and green development solutions. Secure your spot today to maximize your lead generation, build regional partnerships, and position your organization as a trusted leader in climate resilience. 

For Storm Water Awareness Week, Dr. Laura Wilson & Brooke Blosser, shone a regional spotlight on storm water technologies in the Indian River Lagoon and at the Lagoon House. Their talk, attended by over 70 participants from all over the world, was recorded and uploaded to the 2026 Workshops homepage of Storm Water Awareness Week.

Interested in hosting your own talk featuring Dr. Laura Wilson? Email Brooke Blosser, (brooke@mrcirl.org) to learn more. 

This year's International Coastal Cleanup was held on Saturday, September 19th. Coordinated with our partners, Keep Brevard Beautiful, the Marine Resources Council hosted a cleanup of the Indian River Lagoon at the Ted Moorhead Lagoon House. With 14 attendees, we managed to clean up over 400 lbs of trash from the Lagoon! Some of our most commonly identified items included unidentified plastic waste (270), plastic beverage bottles (123) and food wrappers (131). The prize for the most unusual items included several golf balls, dog toys, and a set of cooking tools!

Keep Brevard Beautiful released its final numbers from the cleanups it facilitated this week. Across 30 sites in Brevard County, volunteers collected a total of 4,363 pounds of litter! This was a fantastic and well-coordinated effort by many of our partners. We're looking forward to next years coastal cleanup already!