Eyes on Seagrass in the Indian River Lagoon Blitz
Project Goal: To engage volunteers local to the Indian River Lagoon (IRL) area for the purposes of creating a community reported census of seagrass in the IRL.
Eyes on Seagrass is a participatory science program that monitors the health and status of Florida’s seagrass population. The Eyes on Seagrass Blitz is a two-week effort between November 1-30 to collect data on the presence (or absence) of seagrass in the Indian River Lagoon. These data will allow us to better understand the current range of seagrass in the Indian River Lagoon and help inform future monitoring and restoration work.
The Eyes on Seagrass Blitz will rely on residents to report seagrass using the Seagrass Spotter App. Participants may report as many or as few sitings as they’d like across the entire Indian River Lagoon region, including Mosquito Lagoon and the Banana River. We are interested in both the presence and absence of seagrass across the lagoon.
Do you spend time out on the Indian River Lagoon? Whether you are a fisher spending time out on your boat or a kayaker who enjoyed paddling the lagoon, if you are out on the water, you can contribute! Participation involves a few easy steps.
Project Duration
- November 1-30
Geographic Scope:
- Volusia County
- Brevard County
- Indian River County
- St. Lucie County
- Martin County
Volunteer Activities:
- Document seagrass presence or absence across the entire Indian River Lagoon system
Agency Partners:
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How to Participate
Before Going Out on the Water:
- Download the Seagrass Spotter app in the Apple App store or Google Play store to your phone and create a free account. -OR- If you prefer, you can create an account on the computer version of the program.
- Review the Eyes on Seagrass Species ID Guide.
- Read the full instructions and download or print a copy of the shortened field protocol to have with you when you are out on the water.
- Ensure that you have all the proper safety gear on your vessel and check that the weather conditions are safe to be out on the water. Low wind conditions are ideal for both your safety and visibility through the water’s surface.
- Complete the Eyes on Seagrass Volunteer form if you would like to learn about future opportunities.
Who To Contact
In Volusia County:
Carolyn Kovacs
c.kovacs@ufl.edu
(386) 822-5778
Visit UF/IFAS Volusia County Extension
In Brevard County:
Holly Abeels
habeels@ufl.edu
(321) 633-1720
Visit UF/IFAS Brevard County Extension
In Indian River County:
Andrea Lazzari
a.lazzari11@ufl.edu
(772) 226-4316
Visit UF/IFAS Indian River County Extension
In Martin & St. Lucie Counties:
Vincent Encomio
(772) 419-6966
vencomio@ufl.edu
Visit UF/IFAS Martin County Extension & St. Lucie County Extension
Entire Indian River Lagoon Region:
Lisa Krimsky
(301) 351-5747
lkrimsky@ufl.edu
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Seagrasses are being lost all over the world. Healthy and thriving seagrasses are vital to our Florida ecology and economy. Learn about Florida Sea Grant’s citizen science programs and opportunities for you to volunteer across the state.
Eyes on Seagrass Statewide Program
Want to help contribute to scientific research on coastal topics you care about? Check out the Eyes on Seagrass landing page to find the closest program to you.
