BY MARK SCHUMANN

FORT PIERCE – The second annual Indian River Lagoon Symposium, sponsored by Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, drew a crowd of 250 participants Thursday and Friday, including scientists, elected officials, environmentalists, educators and citizen activists concerned about protecting the health of the lagoon.

Everyone agrees the Indian River Lagoon is suffering from polluted storm water runoff, which is affecting plants, birds and fish that depend on the lagoon’s diverse, yet fragile ecosystem.  Just how sick the lagoon is becoming, and what practical steps can be implemented to reverse declines in plant and wildlife populations were the topics addressed by representatives of the Saint John’s Water Management District, the National Estuary Program, the Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program, scientists and citizen activists.

John Orcutt, a resident of Vero Beach, who formerly worked as a scientist with Harbor Branch, said it is time to embrace a new paradigm for organizing government efforts, and for building political will for protecting the lagoon.  “Only government has the tools to deal with remediating pollution,” he said.

While arguing that the lagoon cannot be saved without effective government action, Orcutt also outlined obstacles local, state and federal agencies mush overcome, including reduced funding, the tendency of agencies to retain personnel who have proved to be ineffective, an adherence to an outdated organizational model for the responsibilities assumed by different government agencies, obstacles to the adoption and enforcement of effective fertilizer restrictions, a paralysis of analysis that leads to more study and less action, and a lack of focus on measuring results.

In illustrating his point, Orcutt explained that just as the Environmental Protection Agency is planning to turn over more of its responsibilities to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, DEP is laying off some if its most seasoned and employees.

Orcutt argued that it is time to consider a paradigm shift that places more emphasis on what individual county commissions can accomplish, with local public support, and with assistance from the state and federal government.

Orcutt said the kind of measures needed to save the lagoon simply will not happen without the commitment and involvement of the five county commissions from Volusia County south to Martin County.

Robert Virnstein, a sea grass ecosystem analyst, told the group that thought there will never be enough research data available to know with certainty what is killing off vital sea grass beds and reducing the populations of fish, decisions must be made now to preserve one of North America’s most diverse estuaries.

Kathy Hill, with the Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program, addressed efforts to educate the general public.  More specifically, Hill explored ways of more effectively engage stakeholders in the health of the lagoon to support and participate in preservation efforts.

During the open discussion that followed the presentations by Virnstein, Hill and Orcutt, one member of the public, emphasizing the importance of getting the message to people who don’t realize how quickly the lagoon is declining said, “We need an Indian crying.”