Banana River Lagoon
The 2024 health assessment for the Banana River Lagoon is “okay”. Assessments are consistent across all five health indicators, with harmful algae concentrations, seagrass coverage, sediment health, wastewater spills, and water quality showing things were okay for the year in this basin. Overall, things are holding steady with room to make significant improvements.
Harmful Algal Blooms
From August 1, 2023 to August 1, 2024, the Banana River Lagoon experienced three harmful algal bloom events. The median chlorophyll-a concentration in the basin for the year was 6.4 ug/L; the average concentration value was 7.11 ug/L. This earns an “okay” assessment.
Seagrass Coverage
Compared to 2023 seagrass coverage, the Banana River Lagoon earned an “okay” assessment for 2024 coverage. This was determined by the consistent coverage of seagrass in the basin from August 2023 to August 2024.
Sediment Health
Sediment health data points for the Banana River Lagoon came from research by Florida Institute of Technology at Kars Park and Sykes Creek. Sediment health was highly variable in the Sykes Creek area, but too limited across the whole basin to draw conclusions. Sediment quality studies are an area where we need to expand research efforts to inform Lagoon health and restoration projects.
Wastewater Spills
From 2023 to 2024, there were 25 wastewater spills that affected the Banana River Lagoon watershed with six releasing into the Lagoon. Of those six spills (between 800 and 90,000 gallons), five released untreated wastewater and one released highly treated reuse water.
Water Quality
Water quality in the Banana River Lagoon was “okay” in 2024. The health indicator assessment is based on averaging the pH, turbidity, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, dissolved oxygen, and chlorophyll-a values in the basin. The Banana River Lagoon received a “good” for pH, total phosphorus, and dissolved oxygen, “okay” for turbidity and chlorophyll-a, and “very poor” for total nitrogen.
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