A $10 million dredging project started April 20 near the Eau Gallie Causeway to remove decades of organic-rich sediment from the Indian River Lagoon. The effort aims to clear muck that has accumulated over 60 years of coastal development, which has clouded water and reduced oxygen levels critical for seagrass and marine life. Marine Resources Council Executive Director Laura Wilson said the material will be transported via a 7-mile pipeline to a management area near Robert J. Conlan Boulevard and U.S. 1 in Palm Bay.
The muck, composed of decomposed plant matter and nutrients, has settled along the lagoon’s bottom and contributes to harmful algae blooms. Workers will use a dredge to suck up the sediment and pump it through a pipeline that floats in parts and submerges in others. Boaters are being advised to navigate the route with caution as the project continues through October. The pipeline’s path crosses several recreational waterways, including the Eau Gallie and Sebastian Inlet channels.
The project is funded by the Save Our Lagoon program and Florida Department of Environmental Protection grants. Similar dredging efforts have occurred in the lagoon since 2016, but this is the first major cleanup in the Eau Gallie area. "This material has to be placed on land so it can de-water, lessen the weight of it, (be) tested for what’s in it," Wilson said. The removed sediment will be stored in a containment area for testing before potential reuse.
Officials estimate the work could improve water clarity by 30% and increase dissolved oxygen levels, which are vital for manatees and other species. The lagoon has lost over 70% of its seagrass since the 1980s, according to state records. The project also includes monitoring for contaminants like mercury and PCBs. "We’re trying to reverse the damage from past development," said Brevard County Environmental Management Director Mark Thompson. "This isn’t a one-time fix, but it’s a critical step."
The dredging is part of a broader $50 million restoration plan for the lagoon, which stretches 156 miles along Brevard County’s coast. Similar projects are underway in the northern Indian River Lagoon, but the Eau Gallie site is the first in the southern section. The work is expected to create 150 temporary jobs and involve 20 local contractors.