Indian River Land Tr Inc

INDIAN RIVER LAGOON COASTAL WETLANDS I

WINTER BEACH SALT MARSH RESTORATION PROJECT

INDIAN RIVER LAND TRUST S COASTAL OAKS PRESERVE IS A 226-ACRE CONSERVATION AREA SITUATED ALONG THE INDIAN RIVER LAGOON IN VERO BEACH, FLORIDA. WITHIN THE PRESERVE, THERE EXIST SEVEN DISTINCT HABITAT TYPES, INCLUDING RARE HIGH SALT MARSH. IRLT HAS A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPAND THE SALT MARSH HABITAT BY REMOVING INVASIVE BRAZILIAN PEPPER TREES FROM A TRANSITION ZONE BETWEEN EXISTING HIGH SALT MARSH AND HYDRIC PALM HAMMOCK IN AN AREA KNOWN AS NORTH BILLS. PRESENTLY, THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 1.5 ACRES OF HIGH SALT MARSH ADJACENT TO THE PROJECT SITE, WITH THE POTENTIAL TO EXPAND THE MARSH UP TO 6 ACRES FOLLOWING RESTORATION.EXPANSION OF SALT MARSH HABITAT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BENEFIT NUMEROUS THREATENED AND AT-RISK ANIMAL SPECIES, INCLUDING THE EASTERN BLACK RAIL, ATLANTIC SALT MARSH SNAKE, AND A DIVERSE ARRAY OF WADING BIRDS. IN ADDITION, THE EXPANDED SALT MARSH VEGETATION IS EXPECTED TO ENHANCE WATER QUALITY THROUGH SEDIMENT RETENTION AND NUTRIENT REDUCTION, WHICH WOULD BE BROADLY BENEFICIAL GIVEN THE TIDAL CONNECTION BETWEEN THE RESTORATION SITE AND THE INDIAN RIVER LAGOON.MECHANICAL REMOVAL OF BRAZILIAN PEPPER TREES WILL BE ACCOMPLISHED USING AN EXCAVATOR EQUIPPED WITH A MULCHING HEAD DURING APRIL-MAY 2025 WHEN SITE CONDITIONS WILL BE DRIEST. TO ACCELERATE SALT MARSH RECRUITMENT, IRLT IS PROPOSING TO RAKE THE MULCH LAYER FROM THE MAJORITY OF THE RESTORATION SITE TO PROVIDE EXPOSED SUBSTRATE SUITABLE FOR RAPID RECRUITMENT AND COLONIZATION BY DESIRED SALT MARSH SPECIES. BASED ON PRIOR EXPERIENCE AT A NEARBY SALT MARSH RESTORATION SITE, HERBICIDE TREATMENT OF RE-SPROUTING BRAZILIAN PEPPER STUMPS AND SEED RECRUITS WILL BE CONDUCTED DURING THE 2026 GROWING SEASON. THE LAND TRUST ANTICIPATES THAT SALT MARSH HABITAT WILL DEVELOP WITHIN THE CLEARED AREA DURING THE GRANT PERFORMANCE PERIOD.

HIGH SALTMARSH RESTORATION IN INDIAN RIVER LAGOON