Seagrass in Brevard County's Indian River Lagoon has expanded by 72% since 2023, covering an area equivalent to 13,000 football fields, according to the St. Johns River Water Management District. The growth is part of a natural recovery following years of environmental decline. Lauren Hall, an environmental scientist with the district, confirmed the increase during a recent assessment.
The lagoon's seagrass beds have not only expanded in size but also grown denser, Hall said. Monitoring data shows the recovery is happening without artificial intervention. 'We are seeing a natural recovery in our seagrass beds,' Hall said. 'We've also seen an increase within those beds in density of seagrass.'
The resurgence follows a period of decline after severe algae blooms in 2011, which degraded water quality and killed large areas of seagrass. Improved water quality, driven by cleanup efforts and reduced nutrient runoff, has allowed the ecosystem to rebound. Hall noted that the lagoon's health is now improving 'on its own.'
Officials are continuing projects to remove muck and reduce harmful nutrients, including upcoming work near the Eau Gallie Causeway. The district plans to monitor the lagoon's progress as part of long-term restoration goals. 'When the right conditions return to the Indian River Lagoon, the seagrass can come back on its own,' Hall said. 'It gives us a whole lot of hope for the future.'