On Wednesday, July 8, the Town Manager joined AquaTech's team of 4 installers to plant 9,600 seagrasses in support of a healthy Indian River Lagoon.
Over the winter, AquaTech worked with the Town and the Community Association to obtain the necessary state permits to plant seagrasses, having completed a field visit in January, 2026 to seek out the most viable areas within the boundaries of the Town. The first site to receive plants was the area surrounding the community's kayak launch facility.
The water was warm and opaque; the bottom was soft and muddy, but the installation work was quick. In just a day and a half, the seagrasses were hand-planted in small clusters about 2 to 3 feet apart. In 30 days' time, the plants will be revisited to monitor whether they are thriving.
Seagrasses in the Indian River Lagoon have been on the decline, though recently efforts to improve this waterway's health have started to pay off. These include the planting and monitoring of seagrasses, as well as the reduction of runoff loaded with nitrogen and phosphorus to the lagoon, such as those found in common fertilizers, which cause harmful algal blooms that can kill off seagrasses.
Seagrass supports better water quality and clarity by acting as a natural filter; it provides shoreline and seabed stabilization and can help attenuate wave action. It also provides critical habitat and is a food source for protected species, such as manatees. In short, seagrass is important to the health of the lagoon, which is vital to the community for recreation and resilience. That's why AquaTech's efforts were fully funded by a state grant.
