Chart a SEA Change
SCIENCE + EDUCATION + ADVOCACY
Together, we are working to protect,
restore, unite, and promote the Indian River Lagoon
coastal community of east central Florida,
one of our Earth’s rarest and most
valuable natural treasures.
Science
Education
Advocacy
Science
Education
Advocacy
Thanks for Attending!
2026 MRC Low Impact Development Conference
Low Impact Development as a Shared Solution
MRC’s 6th Low Impact Development Conference took place October 22 & 23 at the Hilton Cocoa Beach Oceanside and we could not have asked for a better event! Attendees represented regional municipalities, state and federal agencies, HOAs, engineers, product experts, academics, students, and nonprofits from across the state. Speakers covered everything from stormwater training tools to city-led sustainability programs and HOA ponds to hybrid living shorelines.
Thursday’s keynote was by Kim Dinkins of 1000 Friends of Florida and Friday’s keynote featured filmmaker Chad Crawford of Conservation Florida. Panels addressed how to build community support for stormwater projects and how to create climate-resilient communities.
We are working on getting the presentation slides on our conference website, so make sure you check back if you’re interested in any of the topics.
Youth Action Assembly
Over our 40+ year history, Marine Resources Council (MRC) has hosted 21 Community Action Assemblies. These are modeled after the American Assembly originated by Dwight Eisenhower at Columbia University — a think tank bringing together stakeholders to talk about policy challenges and solutions. Past MRC Action Assemblies have focused on communication, land planning, critical impact areas, seagrass, and more. This 2026 Assembly will be our 22nd and we want to hear from you!
This assembly is open to youth grades 7-12 who live, study, work, or spend time in the Indian River Lagoon watershed. You don’t need a science background. You don’t need prior activism experience. You do need to care about where you live and be willing to work alongside others who feel the same. Whether you’re a reader, a surfer, an artist, an athlete, or someone who has simply noticed that something feels wrong with the water — this assembly was built for you.
LagoonWatch 2.0 has launched!
Just in time for the 35th anniversary of monitoring water quality in the Indian River Lagoon, MRC’s LagoonWatch program is rolling out upgrades! With your help, we’ve modernizing the tools our dedicated volunteers use for their bi-weekly sampling. These improvements bring the program up to current state data standards and make monitoring easier and more impactful than ever.
Updating the program also means more community reports on the health of the Indian River Lagoon. We are now featuring monthly LagoonWatch snapshots on water temperatures, pH, salinity, and nutrients across the Lagoon and will be able to include our citizen science data in the annual IRL Healht Report for the first time!
New: Advocacy Tips & Tricks
Advocacy is an essential part of safeguarding our environment for future generations. Providing input on decision-making at all levels of government is the best way to take part in the democratic process and be a voice for the environment. Like anything, effective advocacy communication takes practice. To help, Marine Resources Council is providing tips and tricks on how to speak up and ensure your voice is heard. We’re providing you with a toolkit for formulating in-person and written comments on our advocacy resources page.
2025 Indian River Lagoon Report
The Report is an annual health assessment of the Indian River Lagoon (IRL) and is the evolution of the Marine Resources Council (MRC) Report Card, first published in 2016. This year, MRC scientists gathered data from partner and government organizations to assess six Lagoon health indicators across all Lagoon basins: harmful algae, seagrass coverage, salinity, sediment health, wastewater spills, and water quality.
Learn about Low Impact Living
Low Impact Living builds on the principles of sustainable land development (Low Impact Development) by adding individual action. We’re employing education, empowerment, advocacy, and demonstrations to encourage Lagoon-friendly living on all scales: individual, family, community, and municipal. Check back as we add more information, resources, and tips-and-tricks to the website.
Interested in a presentation to your community group? Contact Dr. Laura Wilson at Laura@mrcirl.org.
Ted Moorhead, Lagoon Legend
Ted Moorhead was the first Legend of the Indian River Lagoon. Our Lagoon House is named after Ted, who dedicated his life to protecting the Indian River Lagoon, work that we strive to continue every single day. Click to watch Ted tell his legendary story!
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The mission of the Marine Resources Council, an environmental 501(C)(3) nonprofit charitable organization, is to improve water quality and to protect and to restore the fish and wildlife resources of the Indian River lagoon, coastal waters, inshore reefs, and the watershed by advocating and using sound science, education, and the involvement of the public at large.