Do you spend time out on the Indian River Lagoon?  Whether you are a fisher spending time out on your boat or a kayaker who enjoyed paddling the lagoon, if you are out on the water, you can contribute to the Eyes on Seagrass in the Indian River Lagoon Blitz!

Eyes on Seagrass is a participatory science program that monitors the health and status of Florida’s seagrass population. Organized by UF/IFAS Extension and Florida Sea Grant, the Eyes on Seagrass Blitz is a two-week effort between November 1-15 to collect data on the presence (or absence) of seagrass in the Indian River Lagoon. These data will allow us to better understand the current range of seagrass in the Indian River Lagoon and help inform future monitoring and restoration work.

The Eyes on Seagrass Blitz will rely on residents to report seagrass using the Seagrass Spotter App. A reporting involves taking a picture and answering a few quick questions about the area in the app. Participants may report as many or as few sightings as they would like across the entire Indian River Lagoon region, including Mosquito Lagoon and the Banana River. We are interested in both the presence and absence of seagrass across the lagoon.

How to participate:

1. Download the Seagrass Spotter app in the Apple App store or Google Play store to your phone and create a free account. -OR- If you prefer, you can create an account on the computer version of the program.
2. Review the Eyes on Seagrass Species ID Guide.  You can download this PDF version to print out or save the image files of the seagrass guides posted at the end of this blog to your phone for reference!  You can also watch the short video in the “Seagrasses of the Indian River Lagoon” section of this blog, where I provide information about each of the species, where you are likely to find them, and how to identify them.
3. Read the full instructions of how to use the Seagrass Spotter app and submit your sighting.  You can also watch the short video below that walks you through the steps.  Then download or print a copy of the shortened field protocol to have with you when you are out on the water.
4. Ensure that you have all the proper safety gear on your vessel and check that the weather conditions are safe to be out on the water. Low wind conditions are ideal for both your safety and visibility through the water’s surface.
5. Complete the Eyes on Seagrass Volunteer form to learn about future Eyes on Seagrass volunteer opportunities.

For more information visit the Eyes on Seagrass in the IRL Blitz event website.

Video: How to Participate in the Eyes on Seagrass Blitz in the Indian River Lagoon

Keep reading below to learn more about the seagrasses in the Indian River Lagoon!  If you would rather listen than read, we encourage you to register for the Eyes on Seagrass in the IRL webinar on October 23^rd at 7 pm to learn about species identification, the history of seagrass in the Indian River Lagoon, and how to participate in the Eyes on Seagrass Blitz in the Indian River Lagoon. Register for the webinar here: tinyurl.com/SeagrassintheIRL

Why do we need to monitor the seagrasses?

Seagrasses have declined dramatically in the past 15 years due to decreased water clarity and quality from algae blooms. Seagrasses need sunlight to photosynthesize and live.  Therefore, if the water becomes too full of algae, they are unable to survive.  Excess nutrients from leaking septic systems and fertilizer feed algae and cause these large blooms. Unfortunately, this has resulted in a loss of seagrass in the Indian River Lagoon.

Seagrass is important because it provides habitat for juvenile fish and other small animals.  It also helps prevent erosion and hold the seafloor sediment in place, and it is a food source for manatees and many other animals.  When we lose our seagrass, it has a negative impact on the whole Indian River Lagoon ecosystem.

Thankfully, we have heard anecdotal reports of increased seagrass in many parts of the lagoon over the past two years.  We hope that through the Eyes on Seagrass Blitz we will have the data to help us know where seagrasses are now living.  This will help us have a better understanding of the current status of seagrass and will help us plan both our out future Eyes on Seagrass in-water seagrass monitoring program in the Indian River Lagoon.  It will also allow us to provide useful information for Florida Fish and Wildlife and other organizations who are engaged in restoration activities as to where they should focus their efforts.

Species of seagrass in the Indian River Lagoon:

Video: Species identification of seagrasses in the Indian River Lagoon 

There are seven species of seagrass in the Indian River Lagoon: shoal grass, turtle grass, manatee grass, star grass, paddle grass, Johnson’s seagrass, and Widgeon grass.  Shoal grass is the most abundant type of seagrass throughout the entire Indian River Lagoon.  To the north in Mosquito Lagoon, you are likely to see star grass in addition to shoal grass.  In contrast, there are some species that are only found south of Sebastian Inlet, such as turtle grass, paddle grass, and Johnson’s seagrass. Read more about each of the seagrass species in our ID guide below.  You can also save the images below to your phone for future reference or you can download the PDF of this ID guide.

Species ID Guides for Seagrasses in the Indian River Lagoon

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