The Ocean Research & Conservation Association (ORCA) announced today it will lead the effort for The Campaign for a Clean Indian River Lagoon. The project was developed with one goal in mind, to bring communities and resources together to restore the Indian River Lagoon.

ORCA plans to provide comprehensive water monitoring and sediment testing throughout the entire 156 miles of the lagoon so sources of pollution can be identified and eliminated or remediated. Edith Widder, PhD, founder and president of ORCA said, “clean, abundant water is essential to the Treasure Coast’s environmental, human and economic health, but  the biggest problem in cleaning up water pollution is that first, you have to identify the pollutants.  In many cases stopping pollution may be all that is required because, given the chance, nature is very good at healing itself.”

The plan includes three simple steps; first, using ORCA’s Fast Assessment of Sediment Toxicity (FAST™) program, we will test the sediments to determine the identity and concentrations of pollutant accumulations. Along with that, we will create a pollution gradient map (similar to a weather map) of the entire 156 miles of the Indian River Lagoon. Second, ORCA will install 50 ORCA Kilroy™ water monitoring devices in the lagoon to track water flow patterns and contaminants in the water column. Finally, ORCA will consult with communities to recommend the most innovative solutions possible for their specific pollution problems and help restore our treasured waters.