Brevard County officials have launched a pilot project near Cocoa Beach to test a new approach for reducing pollution in the Indian River Lagoon. The 140-acre site, located near the Cocoa Beach Golf Course, will use 400,000 tons of clean sand to cap nutrient-rich muck on the lagoon floor. This method replaces traditional dredging and aims to cut pollution while supporting marine life. The project could expand across the lagoon if results are successful.
The capping technique creates a barrier between the muck and water, reducing the release of nitrogen and phosphorus into the lagoon. These nutrients, when left unchecked, fuel algae blooms that harm seagrass and oyster populations. By covering the muck with sand, officials hope to restore a habitat suitable for marine species while preventing further contamination. The project addresses one of the lagoon’s most persistent pollution sources without disturbing the sediment through dredging.
County leaders said the method is becoming more cost-effective than dredging, which has seen rising expenses in recent years. The pilot project is expected to take about 18 months to complete. If it works, the technique could be used in other parts of Brevard County and the Indian River Lagoon. The lagoon’s health, officials emphasized, depends on treating the accumulated muck that has built up over decades.
The effort is part of a broader restoration plan for the lagoon, which has faced declining water quality for years. While the pilot project focuses on sand capping, county officials said other strategies will also be considered. Results from the Cocoa Beach site will determine whether the method can be scaled up, offering a potential alternative to costly and disruptive dredging operations.