November 2025 Save Our Lagoon Citizen Oversight Committee Meeting Highlights

The Save Our Indian River Lagoon (SOIRL) Citizen Oversight Committee (COC) met on November 21, 2025, at the Brevard County Government Center in Viera. The committee reviewed fiscal updates, project progress, and voted on updates to the SOIRL Project Plan for 2026.

Program Progress and Fiscal Report

SOIRL staff reported continued project implementation and community participation across Brevard County. As of this meeting, 116 community projects and 2,269 homeowner projects have been completed through the SOIRL Project Plan.

Key project milestones this month included:

• Septic Upgrades: 30 additional homeowner upgrades reimbursed (594 completed; 929 agreements executed).
  
  
• Quick Connects: 8 additional connections reimbursed (522 completed; 556 agreements executed).
  
  
• Derelict Vessel Removal: One vessel removed.
  
  
• Oyster Monitoring by University of Central Florida: At one-year post-construction, the Turkey Creek Offshore project had an average density of 3,717 live oysters per square meter.
  
  
• Stormwater Basin Retrofits: Lake Waelti, Lake Washington & Croton Road, and North Wickham & Conservation Place Pond retrofits completed.

Financial Overview

Fiscal Analyst Lori Pierce reported that total program revenue since inception has reached $488 million. Expenditures for FY2025 total $38.4 million, primarily directed toward capital improvement and intergovernmental restoration projects.

Quarterly Project Update

Environmental Section Supervisor Terri Breeden provided a quarterly update covering work completed from July 1 through September 30.

These efforts span multiple project categories, including Wastewater Treatment Facility Upgrades, Septic System Removal, Stormwater Improvements, Vegetation Harvesting, Oyster Restoration, and more.

Quarterly Outreach Update

During the Quarterly Outreach Update, Brandon Smith reported on communications shared through the SOIRL website, social media channels, newsletters, and the Lagoon Loyal program.

Interested in getting involved? December offers several volunteer events where you can make a positive impact, support lagoon restoration, and learn more about how your actions help protect our community.

Volunteer opportunities:

December 5 – Marine Resources Council First Friday Litter Patrol

December 12 – Marine Resource Council Mangrove Workshop

December 13 – Waterway Warriors State Road 528 Cleanup

Ongoing volunteer opportunities:

• Brevard Zoo Restore Our Shores – Email for current volunteer sessions 
• Florida Horseshoe Crab Watch – contact Holly Abeels for details
• ORCA Pollution Mapping and Pyrodinium Analysis – Contact Lauren or Kathy 
• Rotary Park Storm Drain Marking and Rain Garden Maintenance – Contact Carlos Cuevas 
• Surfrider Foundation Blue Water Task Force Monitoring – contact Chris Baker for participation details

Indian River Lagoon Economic Impact Update & Ecosystem Services Valuation

A special presentation from The Balmoral Group highlighted the economic significance of the Indian River Lagoon. Their analysis estimates that recreational fishing, boating and shoreline activities, tourism, commercial fishing, boat-building, natural resource management, and the region’s aviation and aerospace sectors generate $28.3 billion in annual local economic impact. In addition, the lagoon’s ecosystem services—ranging from habitat and water-quality benefits to coastal protection, recreation, and property-value influences—contribute over $10 billion in annual economic value.

The study also found that infrastructure and restoration improvements around the lagoon yield an estimated 24-to-1 return on investment, underscoring the economic and environmental benefits associated with continued restoration efforts.

Economic Forecasting

Natural Resources Management Director Virginia Barker presented an economic forecast for the SOIRL program, outlining key economic shifts since the program began in 2016 and recent changes to Florida’s sales tax laws. She also highlighted rising construction costs and their impact on project implementation.

These considerations informed subsequent agenda items involving project withdrawals, as well as the introduction of 15 proposed projects for inclusion in the 2026 SOIRL Project Plan Update.

Project Withdrawals

Terri Breeden returned to present six withdrawn projects, which together free up more than $18.3 million in funding for future efforts. She also noted that an additional $1.9 million was saved through external grant awards applied to five other projects.

Taking these adjustments into account, along with the program’s economic forecast, SOIRL estimates that approximately $12.9 million in total funding can now be reallocated to new or existing restoration projects.

2026 Funding Requests & Recommendations for the 2026 Plan Update

Terri Breeden presented 14 project proposals—both new initiatives and revisions—recommended for inclusion in the 2026 SOIRL Project Plan Update. Each proposal included project scope, total cost, and anticipated nutrient reduction in lbs/yr of total nitrogen removal.

Following discussion and public comment, the Citizens Oversight Committee voted to approve funding for all 14 projects as part of the 2026 Plan Update.

Minimum Funding Level for Septic Upgrades 

Associate Environmental Specialist Joel Beaudry presented a proposal to adjust minimum funding levels for Septic Upgrades under the homeowner grant program. While the current standard of $1,600 per pound of total nitrogen reduction would remain unchanged, the update would establish a $6,000 minimum cost-share for property owners.

The proposal comes in response to new state requirements related to septic systems in the Indian River Lagoon Protection Program area, as well as the septic moratorium in the North Indian River Lagoon basin. With demand for upgrades increasing under these changes, the adjustment helps SOIRL funding provide relief to impact property owners.

The Citizens Oversight Committee approved the proposal for a SOIRL-funded $6,000 minimum cost-share, with the caveat that state funds must be used if available, and will pilot the update for one year to evaluate its effectiveness.

Conclusion

The November 2025 COC meeting focused on fiscal planning, economic forecasting, and review of proposed projects for the 2026 SOIRL Project Plan. The committee reviewed project withdrawals, new proposals, and updated cost forecasts to support well-informed funding decisions. Presentations highlighted recent project activity, updated economic analyses, and new state requirements that factor into upcoming planning. Overall, the meeting provided a clear snapshot of where the program stands today and the considerations shaping the next update to the SOIRL Project Plan.