Florida district celebrates nutrient management projects for Indian River Lagoon

The St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD) celebrated three projects to further restore the Indian River Lagoon.

The celebration event, taking place July 10, recognized three projects that will help manage stormwater and nutrient loads: the Crane Creek / M-1 Canal flow restoration project; Moorhen Marsh; and the Poce Inlet Septic-to-Sewer project.

The Crane Creek / M-1 Canal flow restoration project will restore the flow of stormwater from the Indian River Lagoon, passing a stormwater treatment area before reaching the St. Johns River.

Moorhen Marsh is an aquatic plant-based treatment system that treats stormwater runoff from a 6,300-acre area. The system is capable of pumping and treating 10 million gallons per day. SJRWMD estimates that the project will reduce the amount of total nitrogen by 4,854 pounds per year (lbs/year) and total phosphorus by 785 lbs/year.

The Ponce Inlet Ponce De Leon Circle Septic-to-Sewer project in Volusia County installed wastewater infrastructure to enhance local water quality. It included the construction of gravity sewer, force main, utility maintenance holes, a lift station and abandonment of up to 24 septic tanks with connection to sanitary sewer in the town of Ponce Inlet. SJRWMD estimates that the project will reduce nutrient loads by 161 lbs/yr of total nitrogen.

The Indian River Lagoon has suffered harmful algal blooms from human-influenced nutrients through stormwater runoff, drainage canals and other sources.