Indian River Lagoon Seagrass Communities (2017)

These data document and inventory seagrasses for the management of the resource, identify "healthy" areas that may deserve special protection efforts, and identify potential "problem" areas that require further investigation. These data are intended for use in documenting large-scale trends in the status of this resource. The Indian River Lagoon (IRL) Surface Water Improvement and Management (SWIM) Plan directs the South Florida and St. Johns River Water Management Districts to map seagrasses in the Indian River Lagoon at two to three-year intervals. Dewberry was contracted by the St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD) to complete aerial imagery acquisition, orthophotography, field work, photointerpretation, and ArcGIS geodatabase delivery of seagrass maps within the Indian River Lagoon System (IRL). As a water resource manager, the SJRWMD requires geospatial technologies to help assess, monitor, analyze and manage water quality within the Indian River Lagoon. The many options surrounding geospatial technology today must be implemented strategically and cost effectively. The information derived from geospatial data can be instrumental only if the development of such data is designed to provide actionable information. The SJRWMD has made a significant investment in analyzing changes in seagrass distribution through the use of geospatial technology. The mapping and trend analysis performed under this project provides quantifiable data vital to the assessment of water quality and the general health of the estuarine system. The resultant data provides an overall picture of the seagrass resource in the IRL over time. The maps serve as important management tool for assessing distribution trends of the seagrass resource. They help identify healthy areas that may deserve special protection efforts along with potential problem areas that require further investigation. For more information see report from here: Seagrass 2017