February 2026 Save Our Lagoon Citizen Oversight Committee Meeting Highlights

The Save Our Indian River Lagoon (SOIRL) Citizen Oversight Committee (COC) met on February 20th, 2026, at the Brevard County Government Center in Viera. The committee heard quarterly updates from SOIRL staff and also heard special presentations on renewal workshop feedback and biochar.

Program Progress and Fiscal Report

SOIRL staff reported continued project implementation and community participation across Brevard County. As of this meeting, 125 community projects and over 2,350 homeowner projects have been completed through the SOIRL Project Plan.

Key project updates since the January meeting include:

• Committee's recommended 2026 Plan Update was adopted by the County Commission on February 10th
• Septic Upgrades: 33 additional homeowner upgrades reimbursed (660 to date, 1,079 agreements executed)
• Quick Connects: 2 additional connections reimbursed (531 to date, 560 agreements  executed)
• Leaky Lateral Repairs: 2 additional voluntary repairs (32 voluntary repairs, 757 of 786 code cases resolved)
• Derelict Vessel Removal: 3 additional vessels removed
• Basin 958 Pioneer Road Vegetation Harvesting and Basin 960 Pioneer Road Denitrification completed
• Brevard Zoo Central IRL Tributary Pilot, Oyster 2, and Oyster 3 projects completed
• One additional clam aquaculture project completed

These projects contribute directly to nutrient reduction goals designed to improve water quality in the Indian River Lagoon.

February Cold Snap Impacts

Program Director Virginia Barker reviewed the ecological impacts of February’s cold snap, which brought temperatures comparable to Brevard County’s coldest winter on record in 2010.

Water temperature data from continuous monitoring stations showed rapid drops between February 1–3 into ranges known to stress lagoon wildlife. During that period:

• SOIRL and Natural Resources staff monitored conditions closely using continuous temperature data.
• Three Natural Resources staff members deployed on the water during below-freezing conditions to search for cold-stunned sea turtles.
• In coordination with partner agencies and rehabilitation organizations, staff helped rescue nearly 200 cold-stunned green sea turtles, which were transported to rehabilitation centers for gradual warming, evaluation, and release or treatment as needed.
• 27 fish kills were reported from Haulover Canal to Sebastian Inlet.

While impacts were visible across multiple areas, staff reported that the overall scope was limited compared to the prolonged freeze of 2010.

The 2010 freeze contributed to widespread macroalgae die-offs that released large amounts of nutrients into the lagoon, which may have played a role in triggering the 2011 “super bloom.” Staff noted that this year’s shorter-duration freeze, along with warmer daytime recovery periods, likely reduced the risk of similar large-scale nutrient release.

SOIRL maintains an emergency contract with Keep Brevard Beautiful and local fishermen to coordinate rapid fish removal if needed, helping address potential nutrient pulses from fish mortality.

Financial Overview

Fiscal Analyst Lori Pierce reported:

• $3.9 million in November sales tax collections
• $504 million in total program revenue since inception
• $8.7 million in FY2026 expenditures to date
• $98 million assigned to ongoing projects

Staff also discussed recent reductions in projected sales tax revenue due to state-level tax exemptions. Current estimates suggest collections may run several million dollars below projections this fiscal year.

Quarterly Project Update

Environmental Section Supervisor Terri Breeden gave a detailed Quarterly Project Update for the period October 1st through December 31st, 2025.

• Public Education: 7 projects (6 complete, 1 ongoing)
• Wastewater Treatment Facility Upgrades: 9 projects (4 complete, 1 in construction, 2 in design)
• Rapid Infiltration Basin/Sprayfield Upgrades: 2 projects (1 completed)
• Package Plant Connections: 3 projects (1 complete, 1 in design)
• Sewer Laterals: 6 projects (5 Smoke Testing complete, 1 County-wide repairs 96% complete)
• Septic Removal: 44 projects (5 complete, 15 in construction, 17 in design, 4 in bidding)
• Septic Upgrades: 1,469 completed
• Quick Connects to Sewer: 876 completed
• Stormwater Projects: 248 projects (56 completed, 5 in construction, 9 in design)
• Vegetation Harvesting: 10 projects (10 complete)
• Muck Removal: 21 muck removal projects (4 complete)
• Interstitial Water Treatment: 16 projects (3 complete)
• Oyster Bars: 26 projects (15 complete, 3 in construction, 5 in design)
• Planted Shorelines: 10 projects (9 complete)
• Clam Aquaculture: 18 of 18 farmers contracted
• Clam Restoration: 2 projects (1 underway, 1 in design)

As of this quarter, estimated total nitrogen (TN) reduction is 178,966 lbs annually and 143,807 lbs in one-time reductions. Total phosphorus (TP) reduction is 15,963 lbs annually and 6,317 lbs in one-time reductions. With the 2025 numbers in, SOIRL estimates over 1 million lbs in TN reduction from projects completed and underway.

Education and Outreach Update

Communications staff member Brandon Smith reported continued digital engagement and steady community outreach progress.

• The SOIRL website continues attracting a consistent mix of new and returning visitors.
• Lagoon Loyal sign-ups increased during the quarter, driven largely by in-person outreach at fall festivals and events.
• A new Lagoon Loyal website is in development.
• Social media engagement spiked around high-interest topics such as muck removal, sewer infrastructure, and homeowner grant programs.
• Seasonal reminders encouraged residents to reduce holiday water use and protect septic systems.
• SOIRL and Harmful Algal Bloom newsletters continue performing above national average open rates.

The update emphasized that restoration depends not only on infrastructure investments, but also on informed daily actions by residents and businesses that help reduce nutrient pollution at the source.

Other Reports and Special Presentations

Lessons Learned, February 2025 - Dr. John Windsor

Emeritus committee member Dr. John Windsor presented on the role of the Citizens Oversight Committee in guiding SOIRL projects and policy. He shared findings from a 2025 survey of past and present COC members reflecting on their experiences and offering suggestions for continued program improvement.

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Summary of Renewal Workshop Feedback - Virginia Barker

Program Director Virginia Barker presented a summary of public feedback gathered during the County Commission's workshops on a potential SOIRL renewal. She organized comments into thematic groups to highlight the issues of greatest interest to the public. Key themes included expanding SOIRL's scope in wastewater and stormwater projects, increasing the visibility of program projects, and encouraging more hands-on community engagement and education. Some comments also proposed new project types that could be incorporated into a revamped project plan.

These comments will help inform the Citizens Oversight Committee as it considers the future direction of the SOIRL program. At this time, no renewal referendum has been placed on the ballot. The County Commission continues evaluating options for future funding and program structure.

Video - Wickham Road Stormwater Pond Floating Wetlands and Flow Path Retrofit

SOIRL premiered a new video highlighting the completed Wickham Road Stormwater Pond Floating Wetlands and Flow Path Retrofit project. This project upgraded an existing stormwater pond at Longleaf Elementary School and two other ponds on Wickham Road to improve stormwater treatment capacity. Floating wetlands enhance water quality through biological processes and are being implemented at stormwater ponds across the county. The project also incorporates turbidity curtains to extend water flow and facilitate treatment. The video is available on the Save Our Indian River Lagoon YouTube channel.

Biochar Proposal Review and Roundtable Discussion – Charles Venuto

As part of the committee’s new business, members heard Emeritus member Charles Venuto’s summary of a proposal from Bob Pickert of Wakefield Biochar to mix biochar with dredged muck to create a marketable fertilizer. Biochar is a carbon-rich material produced through pyrolysis and is already used as an ingredient in some BioActivated Media (BAM) projects and Best Management Practices (BMPs) funded by SOIRL.

Emeritus committee member Charles Venuto researched the proposal and reported his findings to the COC, reviewing existing literature on lagoon muck and past studies on its use as a fertilizer. He identified key challenges including state-level restrictions on muck dredging and consumer fertilizer regulations. The committee concluded that a feasibility study would not be appropriate for SOIRL funding at this time, but agreed the concept could be monitored if outside funding becomes available. A summary of findings will be forwarded to the Board of County Commissioners for informational purposes.

Funding Applications and Guidelines

Terri Breeden returned to present an overview of SOIRL's funding application process and guidelines, reviewing the yearly project proposal schedule that runs from a cost-share eligibility vote in July through final plan approval in February. She walked the committee through the application questions and the online portal used by applicants, noting that the application was originally designed to be straightforward while capturing key information such as nitrogen load reduction benefit, project location, cost, and responsible entities for implementation and long-term maintenance. Guidelines provide nutrient removal efficiencies consistent with state standards and Basin Management Action Plans (BMAPs), and cost share for each project type is approved by the COC based on recent actual costs and available outside funding sources.

Committee members proposed adding questions to the application related to additional best management practices and pollution reduction commitments beyond current SOIRL standards. After discussion, the committee decided to take more time to review the existing application and tabled the topic for a future meeting.

Conclusion

The February 20th, 2026 COC meeting highlighted the continued progress of the SOIRL program, which has now surpassed $504 million in total revenue and an estimated 1 million lbs in total nitrogen reduction projects completed and underway. Committee members engaged with a range of topics, from the ecological impacts of February's cold snap on the lagoon to public feedback on a potential program renewal. Special presentations covered the COC's evolving role in program governance, an innovative biochar and muck fertilizer proposal, and updates to the funding application process. As SOIRL looks toward the future, the committee remains focused on expanding restoration efforts, strengthening community engagement, and ensuring the program continues to deliver measurable benefits to the Indian River Lagoon.