Brevard County is starting a $19.5 million project to remove organic muck from the Indian River Lagoon just north of the Eau Gallie Causeway. The effort targets a pit where decades of nutrient buildup has degraded water quality and harmed marine life. Virginia Barker, director of Brevard’s Natural Resources Management Department, said the work will begin in mid-April and last until mid-2027. The project is part of a broader effort to restore the lagoon’s ecosystem.
The cleanup is funded by a $12 million half-cent sales tax approved by voters in 2022 and two state grants totaling $7.5 million from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. The muck will be piped to a dewatering site off U.S. 1 near Palm Bay. The site was selected because it has existing infrastructure and is the closest available option, Barker said. The Florida Inland Navigation District will manage the dewatering process at the site.
The muck removal addresses a problem caused by past dredging work to build the Eau Gallie Causeway. When disturbed, the accumulated organic matter clouds the water and lowers oxygen levels, creating conditions that can trigger harmful algal blooms. These blooms have killed fish, seagrass, and other marine life in the lagoon. The project will use a dredge, booster pump, and pipelines to extract the material.
Barker said the dewatering site was chosen after evaluating availability, proximity, and suitability. The process will separate liquid from the muck, allowing the solid material to be stored safely. The lagoon cleanup is one of several initiatives aimed at improving water quality in Brevard County. The work is expected to continue through mid-2027 with no immediate plans for similar projects in the area.