One Lagoon, One Voice: The Podcast
Welcome to One Lagoon – One Voice, where members of the Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program sit down with scientists, researchers, and community leaders to discuss important issues facing the 156-mile-long estuary on Florida’s east coast. Learn more about hot topics like seagrass restoration, manatee populations, and much more on the only show that brings both the wondrous and worrisome aspects of the Indian River Lagoon into focus. To learn more about the IRL Council and our lagoon home, visit: onelagoon.org
Invisible Infrastructure: How Baffle Boxes Filter Stormwater Before It Reaches the Lagoon
Every time it rains, stormwater carries trash, sediment, nitrogen and phosphorus into the Indian River Lagoon (IRL). But underground sits a growing network of concrete boxes that most Floridians will never notice. Those boxes are silently cleaning stormwater runoff before it arrives in the lagoon.
In this episode of One Lagoon, One Voice, host Heather Stapleton chats with Dani Straub, Assistant City Engineer for the City of Melbourne, Florida. They cover how a technology invented decades ago evolved into one of the city's most effective stormwater tools.
They also discuss why Melbourne is now home t...
What Fish Populations Are Telling Us About the IRL's Health
Every fishing regulation in Florida (every bag limit, every closed season) traces back to data. Biologists at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) have been collecting it in the Indian River Lagoon (IRL) for 36 years. They use the same standardized, rigorous methods, time after time.
In this episode of One Lagoon, One Voice, IRLNEP Chief Operating Officer Dan Kolodny talks with Derek Tremain, research administrator for the FWC's Fisheries-Independent Monitoring Program at the Indian River Field Lab in Melbourne.
They cover how that long-term dataset influences fishing rules statewide and what it reveals a...
Seeds of Recovery: A Hidden Seed Bank Bringing Seagrass Back to the Indian River Lagoon
For over a decade, persistent algal blooms clouded the Indian River Lagoon (IRL), blocking the sunlight seagrass needs to survive. Since 2011, that loss has rippled through the food web: fewer fish, fewer manatees, a lagoon under stress.
The latest seagrass surveys tell a fresh tale. After years of decline, seagrass is rebounding in five of the six lagoon sub-basins. Part of the answer may have been sitting in the sediment all this time.
In this episode of One Lagoon, One Voice, Deputy Director of the IRL National Estuary Program (IRLNEP) Kathy Hill talks to Lauren...
What Dolphins Are Telling Us About the Indian River Lagoon's Recovery
About 1,000 bottlenose dolphins call the Indian River Lagoon (IRL) home for most of their lives. Researchers have tracked this resident population for 18 years, photo-identifying around 2,000 individual dolphins, and know many by name.
But research shows a disturbing pattern. Most dolphins are thin, some dangerously so. The reasons trace straight back to the lagoon’s health.
In this episode of One Lagoon, One Voice, host Jessy Wayles talks with Wendy Noke, Senior Research Scientist at Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute. They discuss what nearly two decades of data reveal about IRL dolphins, why entanglement has become their primary ca...
Florida Oyster Farming in the Indian River Lagoon
In this episode of One Lagoon – One Voice, we dive into the fascinating world of oyster farming with Sam Walsh of SharkBite Oysters and Nicolette Mariano of Treasure Coast Shellfish. Jessy chats with the farmers about how they grow oysters in floating gear on the Indian River Lagoon, what makes Florida oysters unique, and why eating farmed oysters is actually good for the environment.
You’ll learn how local genetics make oysters stronger and better suited for Florida’s hot, salty waters, how farms create habitat for crabs, fish, and other marine life, and wh...
Art and Creativity Inspired by the Indian River Lagoon
This episode of One Lagoon, One Voice explores how music, dance, and storytelling can turn environmental education into an unforgettable experience. Host Heather Stapleton is joined by Adam Schnell, Artistic Director of Ballet Vero Beach, and Daniel Flick, Senior Lecturer at Rollins College and Creative Mentor for the Indian River Lagoon Estuary In Concert.
Together, they share how their performances bring the lagoon to life — from dancing manatees and land crabs in Nutcracker on the Indian River to student-composed music and spoken word performances that give the lagoon its own voice. Their work shows how creative interpretation can...
NOAA & The IRLNEP: Partnering On Transformational Habitat Restoration in the IRL
The Indian River Lagoon is a biodiversity hot spot with over 4,000 documented species but decades of habitat loss, pollution, and climate change have taken a toll. With 89% of its seagrass cover reduced since 2011, oyster reefs degraded, and wetlands diminished, restoring this fragile ecosystem requires bold action and collaboration.
That’s exactly what the Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program (IRLNEP) is tackling through a $9.4 million NOAA Transformational Habitat Restoration and Coastal Resilience Grant.
In this episode of One Lagoon – One Voice, host Jessy Wayles sits down with Dr. Duane De Freese, IRLNEP’s execu...
In the Zone: How Buffer Zones Help Prevent Pollution in the Lagoon
In this episode of the One Lagoon Podcast, Heather Stapleton sits down with two passionate conservation leaders — Tori White, Buffer Zone Coordinator with Brevard Zoo’s Restore Our Shores, and Bill DeLuccia, with the Space Coast Surfrider Foundation — to talk about how buffer zones and bioswales are transforming the Indian River Lagoon and inspiring communities across Florida’s Space Coast.
Buffer zones are vegetated areas between land and water that filter pollutants, reduce stormwater runoff, and provide essential habitat for birds, pollinators, and marine life. Bioswales serve a similar role but...
Inside Port St. Lucie’s McCarty Ranch Water Quality Project
In this episode of One Lagoon, One Voice, host Caleta Scott speaks with Dan Burdett, Natural Resources Manager, and Jenny Tomes, Assistant Manager of Community Outreach for the City of Port St. Lucie.
Together, they explain how the St. Lucie River C-23 Water Quality Project at McCarty Ranch Preserve and Extension is reducing excess freshwater discharges, capturing stormwater, and preventing nutrient pollution in the North Fork of the St. Lucie River and the Indian River Lagoon. The project also recharges aquifers and safeguards future drinking water supplies.
Beyond water management, the p...
Fort Pierce Utility Authority: Making Progress on Wastewater Treatment in the IRL
In Episode 23 of One Lagoon, One Voice, host Caleta Scott talks with Mike Martin from Fort Pierce Utilities Authority about Fort Pierce’s plan to relocate its waterfront wastewater treatment plant away from the Indian River Lagoon. They discuss the project’s advanced water treatment technology, funding milestones, and how it’s designed to improve lagoon water quality while supporting the city’s future growth.
The episode also looks ahead to redevelopment possibilities for the current plant site, from mixed-use projects to potential public spaces—always with an eye on balancing economic progress with lagoon conservation.
Sediment Secrets: What the Lagoon's Tiniest Animals Are Teaching Us About Lagoon Health
Season 3 of One Lagoon, One Voice: The Podcast is here! Follow on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Youtube, or wherever else you listen to podcasts to catch a new episode every Tuesday!
Dive into Episode 22 of One Lagoon, One Voice as Daniel Kolodny, COO of the Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program, sits down with Dr. Holly Sweat of the Smithsonian Marine Station. Together, they explore the hidden world of infauna — the tiny bottom-dwelling organisms that play a massive role in the health of the Indian River Lagoon’s sediments and ecosystems. From burrowing worms to microscopic flatworms, discover how...
What's the Plan? How Indian River County Is Addressing Lagoon Issues
Season 3 of One Lagoon, One Voice: The Podcast is here! New episodes every Tuesday.
➜ Follow on Spotify, Apple, Youtube or wherever you listen to podcasts: https://onelagoon.org/podcast/
In this episode of One Lagoon – One Voice, host KJ Ayers-Guerra sits down with Melissa Meisenberg, Senior Environmental Specialist for Indian River County’s Lagoon Division, to explore the county’s bold Lagoon Management Plan. From tackling harmful algal blooms and stormwater runoff to restoring oyster habitats and seagrass beds, Melissa shares how science, community partnerships, and innovative projects are working together to heal one of Florida’s...
UCF: Leading the Way Towards Oyster and Shoreline Restoration in Mosquito Lagoon
In our 20th episode of One Voice, we chat with Dr. Melinda Donnelly and Dr. Linda Walters, professors at the University of Central Florida who work in the Coastal and Estuarine Ecology Lab.
We discuss how more than 15 years of funding has restored the oyster reefs and shorelines of the Canaveral National Seashore in the Mosquito Lagoon. Additionally, how the reduced use of plastic materials used in the restoration process has led to the development of new and improved restoration materials. We also discuss the Virtual Reality Education Project and other opportunities for volunteers to get involved.<...
All About Mosquito Impoundments
In our 19th episode of One Voice, we chat with Dr. J. Cho, professor of environmental sciences at Bethune-Cookman University, Dave Fuss, director of land stewardship at the Indian River Land Trust, and Dr. Jon Shenker, professor emeritus at the Florida Institute of Technology.
We talk all about mosquito impoundments and how they contribute to mosquito control, water quality, water connectivity and improved fish habitats. We even discuss how they can serve as seagrass nurseries — all in the Indian River Lagoon.
To learn more about Dr. J. Cho’s work, visit the Coastal Habitat Integrated Mappi...
Get The Muck Outta Here! Why Muck Removal is Important to IRL Restoration
In our 18th episode of One Voice, we chat with Dr. Austin Fox from the Florida Institute of Technology about all things muck — and why removing it from the Indian River Lagoon is so important.
To learn more about the Florida Institute’s muck removal project and process, visit Florida Tech’s Indian River Lagoon Research Institute and the muck dredging final reports.
To learn more about the IRL Council and our lagoon home, visit: https://onelagoon.org/
➜ Indian River Lagoon vital signs: https://onelagoon.org/steps-to-success/
➜ Volunteer: https://onelagoon.o...
Helping Homeowners Connect to Sewer Systems in Priority Communities
Our 17th episode of One Voice features Judy Orcutt, President of the Clean Water Coalition (CWC) of Indian River County, and Matt Mitts, Director of Public Works at Vero Beach. We discuss the CWC’s project to convert working families’ homes and properties in ALICE communities in Vero Beach into the city's STEP sewer system.
To learn more about the IRL Council and our lagoon home, visit: https://onelagoon.org/
➜ Indian River Lagoon vital signs: https://onelagoon.org/steps-to-success/
➜ Volunteer: https://onelagoon.org/find-volunteer-event/
➜ Help From Home: https://onelagoon.org/helping-from-home/
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Floating Wetlands & Other Stormwater Treatments To Reduce Pollution To The IRL
In our 16th episode of One Voice, we speak with project manager, Scott Tedford, from the environmental resources division at Martin County Public Works. We explore various stormwater treatments such as floating wetlands that reduce pollution in the Indian River Lagoon (IRL).
To learn more about stormwater treatment areas and Martin County’s water quality projects, visit Martin County Public Works.
To learn more about the IRL Council and our lagoon home, visit: https://onelagoon.org/
➜ Indian River Lagoon vital signs: https://onelagoon.org/steps-to-success/
➜ Volunteer: https://onelagoon.org/find-volunteer-event/
➜ Help From...
Long-Term Monitoring of Harmful Algal Blooms in the IRL
In our 15th episode of One Voice, we’re diving into the ins and outs of algae and algae blooms in the Indian River Lagoon. Our guests are two leading algal researchers: Edward Philips from the University of Florida and Malcolm McFarland from Florida Atlantic University at Harbor Beach.
To learn more about Ed and Malcolm’s long-term monitoring of harmful algal blooms in the IRL, visit Florida Atlantic University and the University of Florida websites:
https://www.fau.edu/hboi/research/ocean-health-human-health/florida-center-for-coastal-and-human-health/habs/indian-river-lagoon/https://water.ifas.ufl.edu/harmful-algal-blooms/To lea...
Brevard County's SOIRL Program: Partnering with Citizens To Fund Restoration
In our 14th episode of One Voice, we speak with Virginia Barker and Terri Breeden of Brevard County’s Natural Resources Management Department. Listen as we discuss the half-cent sales tax and how it’s sparked drastic improvement efforts in the lagoon, including the Save Our Indian River Lagoon (SOIRL) project.
To learn more about funds raised via the half-cent sales tax, SOIRL and how it’s helped clear mass amounts of pollution in the IRL, visit Brevard County’s Save Our Indian River Lagoon project plan: https://www.brevardfl.gov/SaveOurLagoon/ProjectPlan
To learn more abou...
Clam Restoration in the IRL
In our 13th episode, we’re diving into IRL clam restoration and the key efforts to preserve them.
Clams may seem like simple creatures, but they play crucial roles in maintaining the health of our coastal environments. From filtering and improving water quality to providing habitat and food for marine life, clams truly multitask along Florida’s shores.
In this episode, we chat with Dr. Todd Osborne from the University of Florida Whitney Lab and explore the science behind clam restoration, the challenges these vital bivalves face and innovative projects aimed at bringing them back from t...
What Are NEPs? What Do They Do & How Are They Different From Other Organizations?
In today’s episode we discuss the National Estuary Program and how it works. The NEP functions within a unique collaborative governance model structured around collaboration and communication among every stakeholder in the watershed. We talk about the EPA’s connection to the NEP, the NEP Management Conference, how the NEP brings people together and our shared mission of protecting and restoring waterways.
IRL Community Engagement Coordinator Jessy Wales discusses all these things and more with Jennifer DiMaio, Physical Scientist with the US Environmental Protection Agency and Duane DeFreese, Executive Director of the IRL Coun...
IRL Look Back: A Perspective on Access & Fostering a Love of the Environment
Indian River Lagoon Community Engagement Coordinator Caleta Scott sits down with a very special guest — her father, Ronald Scott. As a Fort Pierce Florida native, Scott speaks of his experiences growing up as a Black nature-lover in the 1950s, and father and daughter discuss environmental accessibility through the years, fishing in the IRL, and tips on inspiring a love for the environment in children from a young age.
To learn more about the IRL Council and our lagoon home, visit: https://onelagoon.org/
➜ Indian River Lagoon vital signs: https://onelagoon.org/steps-to-success/
➜ Volunteer: https://onelag...
Southern IRL - Environmental Issues & Solutions
Community Engagement Coordinator Caleta Scott brings on Lisa Krimsky and Vincent Economio from University of Florida Institute of Food & Agricultural Sciences for episode 10. We discuss Martin County’s Water Ambassador Program, how human activities influence water quality, the benefits of living shorelines and the state of wild oyster habitats in the IRL.
To learn more about the IRL Council and our lagoon home, visit: https://onelagoon.org/
➜ Indian River Lagoon vital signs: https://onelagoon.org/steps-to-success/
➜ Volunteer: https://onelagoon.org/find-volunteer-event/
➜ Help From Home: https://onelagoon.org/helping-from-home/
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Monitoring Lagoon Health: The Indian River Lagoon Observation Network (IRLON)
In episode 9, we’re sitting down with Dr. Dennis Hanisak and Kristen Davis from Florida Atlantic University’s Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute. We cover IRLON, or Indian River Lagoon Observatory Network of Environmental Sensors, measuring the water quality and weather data of the lagoon, accessible data, community outreach and hope for the future.
To learn more about the IRL Council and our lagoon home, visit: https://onelagoon.org/
➜ Indian River Lagoon vital signs: https://onelagoon.org/steps-to-success/
➜ Volunteer: https://onelagoon.org/find-volunteer-event/
➜ Help From Home: https://onelagoon.org/helping-from-home/
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Lagoon Perspectives From A 5th Generation Commercial Fishing Family
Executive Director Duane DeFreese chats with 5th generation commercial fisherman Charlie Sembler about how the Indian River Lagoon has changed since he was young, his time in the Florida Legislature, and practical advice for educating elected officials and the general public on how to help the IRL return to health.
To learn more about the IRL Council and our lagoon home, visit: https://onelagoon.org/
➜ Indian River Lagoon vital signs: https://onelagoon.org/steps-to-success/
➜ Volunteer: https://onelagoon.org/find-volunteer-event/
➜ Help From Home: https://onelagoon.org/helping-from-home/
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IRL Restoration: Jumpstarting Seagrass Growth in the IRL
IRL Community Engagement Coordinator, Jessy Wales, sits down with Brevard Zoo Conservation Manager Olivia Escandell and Marine Discovery Center Conservation Science Coordinator Tess Sailor-Tynes to chat about historic funding in support of the Indian River Lagoon. They both have many exciting projects underway such as seagrass restoration, building seagrass nurseries, shuck & share oyster and clam programs, and more. They dive into the details and explain how community collaboration and volunteer programs have had an impactful effect on seagrass restoration in the IRL.
To learn more about the IRL Council and our lagoon home, visit: https...
Conservation Lands Create Unique Recreation Opportunities On The IRL
Indian River Lagoon Counties identify lands for purchase based on their conservation value with consideration to allowing for public access and recreational use and enjoyment. In episode 6 of our podcast, we talk with Beth Powell (Director of IRL County Parks), Amy Griffin (Environmental Resources Director of St. Lucie County), and Mike Knight (Program Manager at Brevard County Environmentally Endangered Lands Program) about how lands are identified for purchase and what the criteria are, how public recreation factors into decision-making, particular projects’ successes, and each of the managers’ favorite projects in their respective counties.
To learn more...
Professional Guides Talk Fishing On The IRL: Past & Present
In our fifth episode, we talk with Captain Jim Ross and Captain Blair Wiggins, commercial fishing guides and Indian River Lagoon locals who have witnessed first-hand many of the changes to the Lagoon’s ecosystem. We discuss the potential solutions to Lagoon issues, including the IRL Clam Project, and what everyone in the community can do to help — whether you’ve just moved here or have called the Lagoon your home for generations.
To learn more about the IRL Council and our lagoon home, visit: https://onelagoon.org/
Manatees in the Indian River Lagoon
Manatees are among the most beloved creatures that call the Indian River Lagoon home, but these graceful sea cows have recently been threatened with a concerning spike in deaths. The IRL Council sits down with Dr. Martine deWitt from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to discuss the importance of manatees to lagoon ecology and examine the cause behind this heartbreaking phenomenon.
To learn more about manatee and the efforts to preserve their populations, visit: myfwc.com
To learn more about the IRL Council and our lagoon home, v...
The Brevard Aquarium Project
In September of 2021, the Canaveral Port Authority approved the construction of a new, 14-acre aquarium in conjunction with Brevard Zoo that will be a major educational resource for students, citizens, and the scientists. The Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program is joined by Keith Winsten, Executive Director of Brevard Zoo and champion of the Aquarium Project to explore how this new facility will teach and inspire an environmental ethic in the lagoon community.
To learn more about the Aquarium Project, visit: ourlegacycampaign.org/aquarium
To learn more about the I...
Seagrasses: Moving Towards Restoration in the Indian River Lagoon
Seagrasses are at the crux of many issues facing the Indian River Lagoon. But why are these underwater grasses so important? How do they impact water quality and ecology? And what is being done to nurse their damaged populations back to health? Lori Morris and Lauren Hall from St. Johns Water Management District stop by to discuss the role seagrasses play in the lagoon’s future.
To learn more about seagrass restoration initiatives, visit: www.sjrwmd.com
To learn more about the IRL Council and our lagoon home, visit: htt...
IRLNEP Mission: One Lagoon, One Voice
Meet the members of the Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program and learn about their mission to lead the charge in lagoon restoration by uniting the community around the message of “One Lagoon.”
To learn more about the IRL Council and our lagoon home, visit: https://onelagoon.org/
➜ Indian River Lagoon vital signs: https://onelagoon.org/steps-to-success/
➜ Volunteer: https://onelagoon.org/find-volunteer-event/
➜ Help From Home: https://onelagoon.org/helping-from-home/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IRLNEP/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/onelagoon
Instagram: https://www.instagr...
