Indian River County Natural Resources Department

09/01/2026

What if every day was World Beach Day? 🏖️

08/28/2026

Volunteers! Come out and join us for First Friday Oyster Mat Workshops! Friday September 4th at Round Island Riverside Park from 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM.

To Volunteer and learn more about Living Docks Visit: 👇
https://indianriver.gov/services/natural_resources/indian_river_lagoon/lagoon_division_projects/living_docks.php

08/24/2026

🎉BIG NEWS INDIAN RIVER COUNTY 🎉

Indian River County has officially hit 13,263 sea turtle nests across 22.4 miles of coastline. An all-time record!

Our sea turtle nesting season runs from March 1st through October 31st, and with nearly two months still remaining, we're excited to see how high those numbers will climb!

Current Breakdown:

Loggerhead: 9,967
Green: 3,228
Leatherback: 68

Follow along on our website to see how high these numbers will climb. https://indianriver.gov/services/natural_resources/coastal_engineering/sea_turtle_conservation_program.php

08/19/2026

Have you spotted the Street Sweeper around town yet? Check out what all it's doing to protect you and the Lagoon here:
https://vimeo.com/1214338020?fl=pl&fe=ti

The IRC Natural Resources street sweeper is only sweeping curbed County roads - not roads within the municipalities or FDOT roads.

This is "Our Streetsweeper Protects the Lagoon" by Indian River County, FL on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.

08/18/2026

🐝🦋 YOUR BACKYARD CAN BECOME A CITIZEN SCIENCE STATION! 🌼🔬

The 2026 Great Southeast Pollinator Census is happening August 21 & 22, and we want to see how many people across our community we can get counting this year!

And the best part? You only need 15 minutes. ⏱️

Citizen science projects gives everyday people the opportunity to help collect information that can contribute to our understanding of the world around us. For the Pollinator Census, that means finding a blooming plant, watching it for 15 minutes, and recording the pollinators that stop by.

🐝 Bees
🦋 Butterflies and moths
🪲 Beetles
🪰 Flies
🐦 Hummingbirds
…and all the other busy little visitors helping our landscapes function!

📋 Need a 2026 Count Sheet? Come see us or request an electronic copy!
Stop by the UF/IFAS Extension Indian River County office and pick up a copy of the 2026 Great Southeast Pollinator Census Count Sheet at:
📍County Administration Building B- 2nd Floor
1800 27th Street, Vero Beach, FL 32960
📧[email protected]

Then choose your counting spot- your backyard, community garden, neighborhood landscape, school, park, or anywhere else you can find blooming plants.

🌸 We especially want Indian River County counting!

How many people can we get participating this year? And what will we discover about the pollinators visiting our part of Florida?

The more observations we collect, the better picture we can build of the pollinators active in our area. That information can also help inform how we educate our community about creating landscapes that provide the plants, habitat, and resources pollinators need to thrive.

This is science you can do right where you live- no lab coat required. 😄🔬🌻

📅 August 21–22, 2026
⏱️ Count for just 15 minutes
📋 Record what you see
🌎 Contribute to citizen science

Let's find out who's buzzing, fluttering, crawling, and flying around Indian River County! 🐝🦋🌼

08/14/2026

Indian River County Living Docks are ALIVE! 🤗
Living Docks are a reproduction tool to support and enhance oyster reproduction in the Indian River Lagoon.

Recruiting filter-feeding organisms to your dock improves water quality and increases habitat, while attracting large organisms such as fish 🐟, dolphins 🐬, and turtles 🐢 to create a more diverse ecosystem.

To Learn More about the Living Dock Program Click Here👇: https://indianriver.gov/services/natural_resources/indian_river_lagoon/lagoon_division_projects/living_docks.php

08/12/2026

Indian River County Department of Natural Resources is now offering Vertical Oyster Gardens with the Living Dock Program.

Recently the Lagoon division partnered with Coastal Conservation Association at an oyster volunteer event at Walking Tree Brewery to build Oyster Gardens and Oyster Mats to enhance Oyster Recruitment in Indian River County.

To Apply For a Living Dock Go To: https://indianriver.gov/services/natural_resources/indian_river_lagoon/lagoon_division_projects/living_docks.php

08/09/2026

** EARLY BIRD SPECIAL for Year 2 of CAMP WILD ROOTS! **

💚 Save $25 off each ticket when you register before September 1st!

Hosted by UF/IFAS Extension of Indian River County, Pelican Island Audubon, and IRC Stormwater, CAMP WILD ROOTS is a 3-day, adults-only nature camp designed to help you reconnect with the outdoors!

Adventures include:
🛶 Kayaking in the Indian River Lagoon
🌲 Exploring the woods and Egret Marsh
🎯 Playing classic camp-style games
🌱 Participating in local environmental projects
🔥 And of course... s'mores! 🍫🔥

Reconnect with your inner child, make new friends, and experience nature like never before. Last year's camp filled up lightning fast ⚡—don't miss your chance this year!

🎟️ Spots are limited—register today!
https://bit.ly/campwildroots26

❓Have questions before registering? Email Alexis at [email protected].