The St Lucie River Issues Team represents 17 different federal, state and local governments as well as agricultural and environmental organisations. Their aim is to prioritise and fund projects which provide immediate results toward improving water quality and ecosystem functions in the St Lucie Estuary and the Indian River Lagoon.

Through their recommendations, the South Florida Water Management District is investing $465,118 with its partners at the Treasure Coast Resource Conservation and Development Council. The project aims to reduce the amount of sediment flowing to the Indian River Lagoon and upgrade the Fort Pierce Farms Water Control District Canal 1.

Further funding of $178,641 is being invested with partners at the City of Port St Lucie to continue a project to clean stormwater from older neighbourhoods in the north western part of the city’s canals, as well as the St Lucie River and Estuary.

Kevin Powers, South Florida Water Management District Governing Board member, said: “This action for funding projects backs our commitment to improving water quality for the Indian River Lagoon, the St Lucie Estuary and the residents and wildlife that depend on their health. We are as committed as ever to being good stewards of the environment and protecting these vital waterways to sustain our region and our way of life.”