The Save Our Indian River Lagoon (SOIRL) Citizen Oversight Committee (COC) met on January 16, 2026, at the Brevard County Government Center in Viera. The committee reviewed the changes made to the SOIRL Project Plan as part of the 2026 Update in preparation to send it for approval by the Board of County Commissioners.

Program Progress and Fiscal Report

SOIRL staff reported continued project implementation and community participation across Brevard County. As of this meeting, 119 community projects and over 2,300 homeowner projects have been completed through the SOIRL Project Plan.

Key project updates since the November meeting include:

• Septic Upgrades: 23 additional homeowner upgrades reimbursed (627 to date, 1,006 agreements executed)
• Quick Connects: 2 additional connections reimbursed (529 to date, 559 agreements  executed)
• Leaky Lateral Repairs: 4 additional voluntary repairs (30 voluntary repairs, 755 of 786 code cases resolved)
• Derelict Vessel Removal: 2 additional vessels removed
• Grand Canal Muck Dredging: In-water dredging completed 11/25; 548,035 cubic yards dredged; restoration to the Dredge Material Management Area to be complete 2/28/2026

Financial Overview

Fiscal Analyst, Lori Pierce, reported that total program revenue since inception has reached $500 million. Expenditures for FY2026 total $5.2 million, primarily directed toward capital improvement and intergovernmental lagoon restoration projects.

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Program Director, Virginia Barker, provided an additional revenue update, discussing the proposed FY2026-27 state budget for environmental restoration. The state has allocated $100 million for estuary restoration efforts, to be shared with all lagoon counties and Biscayne Bay. 

She also discussed the impacts of other external factors on SOIRL revenue in preparation of the discussion surrounding the 2026 Project Plan Update.

2026 Stormwater Project Substitutions Comparisons

Environmental Section Supervisor Terri Breeden provided information on new Stormwater projects to be added to the 2026 Project Plan Update, which would increase the effectiveness of the SOIRL cost-share. The 6 new projects have an average cost share of $574 per lb of Total Nitrogen (TN). The 9 previous projects had an average cost share of $767/lb TN.

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Cocoa Beach Golf Muck Capping Project

Terri Breeden continued presenting on The Cocoa Beach Golf Muck Capping project, which is expected to transfer project management from the City of Cocoa Beach to Brevard County. 

This project would be the first muck capping project under SOIRL’s supervision. Previous muck capping has been done in the North Banana River by FPL and in Lake Worth Lagoon. Muck capping is an environmental remediation technique where a layer of clean sand is spread over nutrient-rich muck on the bottom to trap it and prevent it from leaching nutrients into the water. The sand provides a biological filter for any nutrient-laden water that migrates up from the muck. It may promote seagrass growth since it brings the bottom to a shallower depth. Leveling the bottom with the surrounding area will also prevent new muck from accumulating.

The Cocoa Beach Golf Muck Capping project will include 141 acres of muck capping located near Cocoa Beach Golf Course and Cocoa Beach High School in the Banana River.

The Cove Package Plant Connection

The Cove Package Plant Connection project, previously part of the SOIRL Project Plan, has been withdrawn, as reported by Terri Breeden. This withdrawal also removes the associated funding from the FDEP grant WG099. The Cove’s decision to remove its project was made based on the lack of homeowner support in an MSBU survey. The Cove will instead seek funds to upgrade the package plant.

My Lagoon Story: Nick Sanzone

As part of the special presentations, SOIRL premiered a new video in their My Lagoon Story series featuring COC member Nick Sanzone. In the video, Sanzone shared his personal connection to the Indian River Lagoon, urging others to become involved in their local community as good stewards of the ecosystem.

Draft Save Our Indian River Lagoon Project Plan Update

Marcy Frick of TetraTech presented the proposed updates to the Save Our Indian River Lagoon Project Plan. The majority of changes to the plan include updated figures and statistics, as well as changes to statewide policies.

The Septic-to-Sewer and Septic System Upgrades section saw many changes, including info about House Bill 1379 requirements affecting septic systems in the Indian River Lagoon watershed, as well as updates to cost-share requirements, retroactive reimbursements, and total phosphorus estimates.

The 2026 Update to the Save Our Indian River Lagoon (SOIRL) Project Plan shows an increase in project spending of over $280 million compared to the original plan. This increase is attributed to greater revenues than first expected and securing additional state and federal grant funding. During the meeting, Frick presented graphs that illustrated this cost difference over time. Furthermore, the priorities for certain project types have been adjusted. These changes reflect an effort to respond to community needs and to strategically utilize cost-share opportunities based on new data.

The Citizens Oversight Committee approved the Draft 2026 Project Plan Update and advanced it to the Board of County Commissioners for consideration at their February meeting.

Conclusion

The January 2026 meeting highlighted continued implementation of the Save Our Indian River Lagoon program, with 119 community projects and more than 2,300 homeowner projects completed to date. The Citizen Oversight Committee approved the Draft 2026 Project Plan Update and advanced it to the Board of County Commissioners for consideration. The update reflects revised cost estimates, regulatory changes, and project substitutions designed to improve cost-effectiveness and responsiveness to community input. With total program revenues reaching $500 million since inception, the committee reaffirmed its role in overseeing strategic use of funds to support lagoon restoration and long-term water quality improvements.