100th Pollution Reduction Project Completed by Brevard County's SOIRL Program

MELBOURNE, FL. – Brevard County’s Save Our Indian River Lagoon (SOIRL) Program is excited to announce the completion of its 100th pollution reduction project and will be hosting a public event to celebrate this milestone.

Clams Across the Lagoon Event
Feb. 1, 2025, from 10AM-2:30PM
Sand Point Park, Titusville

Please join us on the A. Max Brewer Bridge to broadcast clams across the lagoon below! Participate in accelerating restoration progress in the northern Indian River Lagoon and then visit information booths and food trucks at Sand Point Park.  Learn how decreased algae blooms, better water clarity, and expanding seagrass beds are signs of progress.  To capitalize on these improving conditions, the University of Florida and Brevard Zoo have been growing millions of nature’s filtration engineers - clams - to release into the lagoon.

A decade ago, residents in the Indian River Lagoon’s 5 counties joined hands across multiple lagoon causeways to bring awareness to the decline of the Indian River Lagoon. On February 1st, residents will once again stand side by side over the A. Max Brewer Bridge.  This time, they will release 100,000 clams into the Indian River Lagoon to celebrate the improvements made toward a cleaner estuary. In addition, the many city, state, non-profit, and community partners that have helped complete these projects, will be on hand to share information on progress, future plans, and ways residents can also get involved to further assist with the continued recovery of the Indian River Lagoon. Interactive exhibits, games, and food trucks will also be on site for the enjoyment of all.

The SOIRL Program was approved by Brevard County voters in 2016, using funds from a half-cent sales tax to reduce and remove pollution from the Indian River Lagoon estuary, while simultaneously restoring natural habitats that further clean the water.  SOIRL projects improve wastewater treatment plants, fix leaking sewer lines, remove or upgrade septic systems, treat stormwater, remove muck from the lagoon, reduce residential pollution, and restore oysters, clams, seagrass, and shoreline plants.

For more information contact the SOIRL program at IRLProject@BrevardFL.gov