Cooler weather in Florida has finally arrived, and although it wasn’t actually freezing outside this morning, it sure feels like it to us Floridians! But wait, will we even see a freeze in coastal central Florida this year? If you had asked me fifty years ago, I would have said definitely, yes. However, the average [&#8230;]

<h4>Cooler weather in Florida has finally arrived, and although it wasn’t actually freezing outside this morning, it sure feels like it to us Floridians! But wait, will we even see a freeze in coastal central Florida this year?</h4>
If you had asked me fifty years ago, I would have said definitely, yes. However, the average minimum temperatures in Volusia and Flagler Counties over the past decade were about 7 degrees warmer than they were fifty years ago. The result? We have only had freeze days in Flagler and Volusia Counties in five of the past ten years.
&nbsp;
<figure id="attachment_4827" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-4827" style="width: 715px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" fetchpriority="high" class=" wp-image-4827" src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/flaglerco/files/2024/11/freezeDays_chart-1024x512.png" alt="" width="715" height="357" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-4827" class="wp-caption-text">The number of freeze days in Volusia and Flagler Counties from 1951-2023. The overall trend observed 0.8 (Volusia) and 1.1 (Flagler) fewer freeze days per decade.  This graph was created in the County-Level Minimum Temperature Explorer tool.</figcaption></figure>
&nbsp;
When we talk about climate change, we often focus on the average or warmest temperatures. However, there has also been an increase in the minimum temperatures we see in Florida, which affects the number of freeze days we have. Here in central-north Florida, we are in an interesting location because we are right along the freeze line, which affects whether many species of plants will survive. As a result, we end up seeing some different species just a bit further to our south versus our north – and some of those southern species may be creeping their way to the north.
&nbsp;
One such type of plant is the <a href="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/flaglerco/2023/04/25/florida-mangroves/">mangrove</a>. Mangroves are a group of trees that can live in high salinity conditions, which many other species of plants cannot survive. We have three species of mangroves in Florida: red, black, and white (you can learn more about mangroves and how to ID the three species in my previous blog <a href="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/flaglerco/2023/04/25/florida-mangroves/">Florida Mangroves</a>).  Mangroves live along the edges of our estuaries, providing important habitat and protecting our shorelines from erosion and storms. If you are in southern Florida, you will see mangroves along all the estuarine coasts. However, up along the northern coasts of Florida, you see salt marsh instead of mangroves. This is because mangroves are not tolerant of very cold weather. The most cold-tolerant species, the black mangrove, exhibits leaf loss at 25 degrees Fahrenheit and mortality at 20 degrees Fahrenheit (<a href="https://www.watershedecology.org/uploads/1/2/7/3/12731039/osland_et_al._2019-_temperature_thresholds_for_black_mangrove_freeze_damage_mortality_and_recovery.pdf">Osland et al., 2019</a>). 
<figure id="attachment_3717" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3717" style="width: 676px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" class=" wp-image-3717" src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/flaglerco/files/2023/04/mangroves-all-three-mixed-small.jpg" alt="" width="676" height="558" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-3717" class="wp-caption-text">This image shows a mix of all three mangrove species, but primarily the black mangrove, taken at low tide.  You can see the black mangrove pneumatophores sticking up from the sediment along the base of the trees.  These are specialized root structures can grow upward from under the ground to allow to oxygen exchange.</figcaption></figure>
&nbsp;
Mangroves have appeared and disappeared in central/northern Florida several times over the past couple of centuries, with each loss associated with an extreme freeze event (<a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.1902181116">Cavanaugh et al. 2019 has a great diagram of the time frame</a>).  The last time we had temperatures below 20 degrees Fahrenheit in Volusia and Flagler Counties was in 1989. The 1980s saw several years of extreme freezes (1981, 83, 85, 89) with temperatures below 20 degrees. This affected many plants throughout Florida and had a large negative impact on the state’s citrus industry. It also killed most of the mangroves in our counties. In the time following, those coastal areas grew in with salt marsh grasses. However, we have not had a freeze below 20 degrees since 1989 and over the years mangroves have been reestablishing themselves in our estuaries and moving further north.
<figure id="attachment_4829" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-4829" style="width: 699px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" class=" wp-image-4829" src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/flaglerco/files/2024/11/coldestTmin_chart-1024x512.png" alt="" width="699" height="350" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-4829" class="wp-caption-text">The minimum temperature observed in Volusia and Flagler Counties from 1951-2023. The overall trend for our area is an increase of 1.1 degrees Fahrenheit per decade.  This graph was created in the County-Level Minimum Temperature Explorer tool.</figcaption></figure>
&nbsp;
<h3>What will happen in the future?</h3>
It is hard to know the fate of our salt marsh and mangrove habitats because we are right on the edge of their thermal tolerance zone and an extreme freeze event could have a big change in the habitats we currently see. However, with the trend in increasing minimum temperatures that has been observed over the past century, we would expect to continue to see mangroves living in our estuaries and continuing to move further to the north into the marsh habitats of northern Florida and southern Georgia. There are <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/gcb.13727">many researchers</a> at universities and <a href="https://gtmnerr.org/research/">National Estuarine Research Reserves</a> studying the growth of mangroves in these areas and the potential impacts on estuarine processes or other species that live in the estuaries. Keep your ears peeled to see what all they discover!  In the meantime, we can expect to see fewer freeze days and overall warmer temperatures in the coming years. 
&nbsp;
<h3>Temperature data</h3>
The data on minimum temperature and freeze days in Flagler and Volusia counties in this article was obtained through the <a href="https://cmintemp.scipp.lsu.edu/">County-Level Minimum Temperature Explorer,</a> created by a team at LSU.  If you live in a different county in Florida (or anywhere in the US!) you can find the minimum temperature and freeze day data in the<a href="https://cmintemp.scipp.lsu.edu/"> County-Level Minimum Temperature Explorer</a> tool.

Cooler weather in Florida has finally arrived, and although it wasn’t actually freezing outside this morning, it sure feels like it to us Floridians! But wait, will we even see a freeze in coastal central Florida this year?

If you had asked me fifty years ago, I would have said definitely, yes. However, the average minimum temperatures in Volusia and Flagler Counties over the past decade were about 7 degrees warmer than they were fifty years ago. The result? We have only had freeze days in Flagler and Volusia Counties in five of the past ten years.

 

The number of freeze days in Volusia and Flagler Counties from 1951-2023. The overall trend observed 0.8 (Volusia) and 1.1 (Flagler) fewer freeze days per decade.  This graph was created in the County-Level Minimum Temperature Explorer tool.
 

When we talk about climate change, we often focus on the average or warmest temperatures. However, there has also been an increase in the minimum temperatures we see in Florida, which affects the number of freeze days we have. Here in central-north Florida, we are in an interesting location because we are right along the freeze line, which affects whether many species of plants will survive. As a result, we end up seeing some different species just a bit further to our south versus our north – and some of those southern species may be creeping their way to the north.

 

One such type of plant is the mangrove. Mangroves are a group of trees that can live in high salinity conditions, which many other species of plants cannot survive. We have three species of mangroves in Florida: red, black, and white (you can learn more about mangroves and how to ID the three species in my previous blog Florida Mangroves).  Mangroves live along the edges of our estuaries, providing important habitat and protecting our shorelines from erosion and storms. If you are in southern Florida, you will see mangroves along all the estuarine coasts. However, up along the northern coasts of Florida, you see salt marsh instead of mangroves. This is because mangroves are not tolerant of very cold weather. The most cold-tolerant species, the black mangrove, exhibits leaf loss at 25 degrees Fahrenheit and mortality at 20 degrees Fahrenheit (Osland et al., 2019). 

This image shows a mix of all three mangrove species, but primarily the black mangrove, taken at low tide.  You can see the black mangrove pneumatophores sticking up from the sediment along the base of the trees.  These are specialized root structures can grow upward from under the ground to allow to oxygen exchange.
 

Mangroves have appeared and disappeared in central/northern Florida several times over the past couple of centuries, with each loss associated with an extreme freeze event (Cavanaugh et al. 2019 has a great diagram of the time frame).  The last time we had temperatures below 20 degrees Fahrenheit in Volusia and Flagler Counties was in 1989. The 1980s saw several years of extreme freezes (1981, 83, 85, 89) with temperatures below 20 degrees. This affected many plants throughout Florida and had a large negative impact on the state’s citrus industry. It also killed most of the mangroves in our counties. In the time following, those coastal areas grew in with salt marsh grasses. However, we have not had a freeze below 20 degrees since 1989 and over the years mangroves have been reestablishing themselves in our estuaries and moving further north.

The minimum temperature observed in Volusia and Flagler Counties from 1951-2023. The overall trend for our area is an increase of 1.1 degrees Fahrenheit per decade.  This graph was created in the County-Level Minimum Temperature Explorer tool.
 

What will happen in the future?

It is hard to know the fate of our salt marsh and mangrove habitats because we are right on the edge of their thermal tolerance zone and an extreme freeze event could have a big change in the habitats we currently see. However, with the trend in increasing minimum temperatures that has been observed over the past century, we would expect to continue to see mangroves living in our estuaries and continuing to move further to the north into the marsh habitats of northern Florida and southern Georgia. There are many researchers at universities and National Estuarine Research Reserves studying the growth of mangroves in these areas and the potential impacts on estuarine processes or other species that live in the estuaries. Keep your ears peeled to see what all they discover!  In the meantime, we can expect to see fewer freeze days and overall warmer temperatures in the coming years. 

 

Temperature data

The data on minimum temperature and freeze days in Flagler and Volusia counties in this article was obtained through the County-Level Minimum Temperature Explorer, created by a team at LSU.  If you live in a different county in Florida (or anywhere in the US!) you can find the minimum temperature and freeze day data in the County-Level Minimum Temperature Explorer tool.

Cooler weather in Florida has finally arrived, and although it wasn’t actually freezing outside this morning, it sure feels like it to us Floridians! But wait, will we even see a freeze in coastal central Florida this year? If you had asked me fifty years ago, I would have said definitely, yes. However, the average […]

Brr, It’s Cold Out Here… But Not as Cold As It Used to Be (And What That Means for Mangroves)

November 22, 2024 from 8:30 AM until 12:30 PM The Volusia County Farm Tour has been a popular fall tradition since 1981. The agricultural industry is the silent engine of the Volusia County economy where local farmers create jobs, feed families and pump more than $780 million into the local economy. The University of Florida/IFAS [&#8230;]

<h1>November 22, 2024 from 8:30 AM until 12:30 PM</h1>
<img decoding="async" class=" wp-image-2967 alignleft" src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/volusiaco/files/2023/10/farm.tour_.logo_-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="254" height="169" /> The Volusia County Farm Tour has been a popular fall tradition since 1981. The agricultural industry is the silent engine of the Volusia County economy where local farmers create jobs, feed families and pump more than $780 million into the local economy. The University of Florida/IFAS Extension office and the Volusia County Farm Bureau have partnered with six local producers to highlight their farming techniques, their products, and their passion for agriculture. Everything from growing vegetables to raising livestock will be highlighted at this year’s event and we hope you enjoy learning about Volusia County agriculture.
We are excited to announce this year’s tour stops. We will have three stops on the West side of the county, and we will have three stops on the East side of the county. Participation is free and participants can go to which locations they choose at the designated time slots. This allows the farmer/family to have one hour to showcase what they are producing. Some of the stops may have the opportunity to purchase their products.
<h2>2024 Farm Tour Stops</h2>
Tour A (West)                                                                                         Tour B (East) 
♦ Spring Garden Ranch 8:30 AM – 9:30 AM                                      ♦ Edgar Farms- Easterseals 8:30 AM – 9:30 A 
900 Spring Garden Ranch Rd, DeLeon Springs                                  3804 Pioneer Trail, New Smyrna Beach 
♦ EFG Orchids 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM                                                  ♦ Benedict 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM 
4265 Marsh Rd, DeLand                                                                           705 Airport Road, New Smyrna Beach 
♦ Double W Ranch 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM                                            ♦ Derbyshire Place 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM 
3252 N Spring Garden Ave, DeLand                                                      962 Derbyshire Rd, Daytona Beach
<ol>
<li>Spring Garden Ranch: Established in 1949 as a cattle and dairy farm. Today it is North America’s largest standardbred training facility. This beautiful ranch is set on 148 acres of land and holds annual qualifying races before the harness racing season begins. Other amenities include, tack rooms, offices, an RV park, and a recreation center, which overlooks the track.</li>
<li>E.F.G Orchids: Family owned and operated since 1939, recently celebrated its 80th year in business. A 17,000 square foot retail greenhouse, nursery and garden center. They specialize in custom arrangements, plant supplies, orchids and more. In 2017, they implemented modern point of sale systems, redesigned different areas of the greenhouse to create a more retail-friendly atmosphere, and have become very efficient in the propagation of many different varieties of indoor house plants.</li>
<li>Double W Ranch: The Double W Ranch was founded in 1959 as a citrus operation. They grew all types of citrus fruit for several decades and contracted with the Minute Maid Corporation for harvesting. The 3 killing freezes in the 1980&#8217;s combined with hurricanes, drought and diseases destroyed the citrus trees. Their land evolved to become a hay and cattle pasture operation for several decades and today is again evolving into a different style of cattle ranching. They are now transitioning with a new partner to become a farm to table style ranch offering a fresh local product directly to the customer.</li>
<li>Edgars Farm-Easterseals: Named in honor of Edgar Allen, a visionary Rotarian from 1920 Ohio, whose tragic personal story led to the founding of the National Crippled Children&#8217;s Society—later evolving into Easterseals. With pride, they introduce Edgar&#8217;s Farm, a space where history, compassion, and dreams intersect. Our vision for Edgar&#8217;s Farm is ambitious—a K-12 private school, known as the Empowerment Academy. The existing pasture and fields will provide a place for children and young adults to learn the art of agriculture, growing vegetables, flowers and fruits. And not to forget the trusted equine therapy program with nine horses and a donkey ready to continue the transformative journey. Animals are the heart of the farm and stand as an integral part of Edgar&#8217;s Farm.</li>
<li>Benedict Farms: Located in Samsula, established circa 1934, is built on family tradition. After many years of producing hay for their cattle, the farm has expanded by growing delicious seasonal vegetables to be enjoyed by their local community. They are rapidly growing to offer their community traditionally raised and grown just like grandma and grandpa did it.</li>
<li>Derbyshire Place: Growing food in the desert may seem like an impossible challenge, but a community in Daytona Beach is determined to make it a reality. Leaders at Derbyshire Place are creating a new community garden aimed at enhancing nutrition for local families. Designated a USDA food desert since 2010, the Derbyshire area faces significant food accessibility issues. The community garden will empower residents to grow their own fresh produce. The produce harvested from this community garden is also donated to local food banks and homeless shelters. During peak season, you can often find students selling surplus vegetables on Saturday mornings right at the garden.</li>
</ol>
<img decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-3761 lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" alt="" width="200" height="168" data-src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/volusiaco/files/2024/11/shorten-edgars-logo-300x252.png">   <img decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-3755 lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" alt="" width="136" height="136" data-src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/volusiaco/files/2024/11/Anthurium-EFG-300x300.jpeg"> <img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone wp-image-3749 lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" alt="" width="185" height="185" data-src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/volusiaco/files/2024/11/Derbyshire-Place-Logo-300x300.jpg"> <img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone wp-image-3757 lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" alt="" width="127" height="169" data-src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/volusiaco/files/2024/11/20230419_104818-225x300.jpg">  <img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone wp-image-3747 lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" alt="" width="196" height="81" data-src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/volusiaco/files/2024/11/Spring-Garden-Logo.jpg">  <img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="alignnone wp-image-3763 lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" alt="" width="183" height="153" data-src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/volusiaco/files/2024/11/benedict-farm-logo-300x250.jpg">
For more information about each of our farms representing Farm Tour 2024, contact the UF/IFAS Extension Volusia County at 386-822-5778.
&nbsp;

November 22, 2024 from 8:30 AM until 12:30 PM
 The Volusia County Farm Tour has been a popular fall tradition since 1981. The agricultural industry is the silent engine of the Volusia County economy where local farmers create jobs, feed families and pump more than $780 million into the local economy. The University of Florida/IFAS Extension office and the Volusia County Farm Bureau have partnered with six local producers to highlight their farming techniques, their products, and their passion for agriculture. Everything from growing vegetables to raising livestock will be highlighted at this year’s event and we hope you enjoy learning about Volusia County agriculture.
We are excited to announce this year’s tour stops. We will have three stops on the West side of the county, and we will have three stops on the East side of the county. Participation is free and participants can go to which locations they choose at the designated time slots. This allows the farmer/family to have one hour to showcase what they are producing. Some of the stops may have the opportunity to purchase their products.
2024 Farm Tour Stops
Tour A (West)                                                                                         Tour B (East)
Spring Garden Ranch: Established in 1949 as a cattle and dairy farm. Today it is North America’s largest standardbred training facility. This beautiful ranch is set on 148 acres of land and holds annual qualifying races before the harness racing season begins. Other amenities include, tack rooms, offices, an RV park, and a recreation center, which overlooks the track.
E.F.G Orchids: Family owned and operated since 1939, recently celebrated its 80th year in business. A 17,000 square foot retail greenhouse, nursery and garden center. They specialize in custom arrangements, plant supplies, orchids and more. In 2017, they implemented modern point of sale systems, redesigned different areas of the greenhouse to create a more retail-friendly atmosphere, and have become very efficient in the propagation of many different varieties of indoor house plants.
Double W Ranch: The Double W Ranch was founded in 1959 as a citrus operation. They grew all types of citrus fruit for several decades and contracted with the Minute Maid Corporation for harvesting. The 3 killing freezes in the 1980’s combined with hurricanes, drought and diseases destroyed the citrus trees. Their land evolved to become a hay and cattle pasture operation for several decades and today is again evolving into a different style of cattle ranching. They are now transitioning with a new partner to become a farm to table style ranch offering a fresh local product directly to the customer.
Edgars Farm-Easterseals: Named in honor of Edgar Allen, a visionary Rotarian from 1920 Ohio, whose tragic personal story led to the founding of the National Crippled Children’s Society—later evolving into Easterseals. With pride, they introduce Edgar’s Farm, a space where history, compassion, and dreams intersect. Our vision for Edgar’s Farm is ambitious—a K-12 private school, known as the Empowerment Academy. The existing pasture and fields will provide a place for children and young adults to learn the art of agriculture, growing vegetables, flowers and fruits. And not to forget the trusted equine therapy program with nine horses and a donkey ready to continue the transformative journey. Animals are the heart of the farm and stand as an integral part of Edgar’s Farm.
Benedict Farms: Located in Samsula, established circa 1934, is built on family tradition. After many years of producing hay for their cattle, the farm has expanded by growing delicious seasonal vegetables to be enjoyed by their local community. They are rapidly growing to offer their community traditionally raised and grown just like grandma and grandpa did it.
Derbyshire Place: Growing food in the desert may seem like an impossible challenge, but a community in Daytona Beach is determined to make it a reality. Leaders at Derbyshire Place are creating a new community garden aimed at enhancing nutrition for local families. Designated a USDA food desert since 2010, the Derbyshire area faces significant food accessibility issues. The community garden will empower residents to grow their own fresh produce. The produce harvested from this community garden is also donated to local food banks and homeless shelters. During peak season, you can often find students selling surplus vegetables on Saturday mornings right at the garden.
         
For more information about each of our farms representing Farm Tour 2024, contact the UF/IFAS Extension Volusia County at 386-822-5778.

November 22, 2024 from 8:30 AM until 12:30 PM The Volusia County Farm Tour has been a popular fall tradition since 1981. The agricultural industry is the silent engine of the Volusia County economy where local farmers create jobs, feed families and pump more than $780 million into the local economy. The University of Florida/IFAS […]

43rd Annual Volusia County Farm Tour

Do you spend time out on the Indian River Lagoon? Whether you enjoy boating, canoeing, fishing, kayaking, snorkeling or just soaking up the sun in these critical estuaries, Florida Sea Grant is calling on volunteers for the Eyes on Seagrass Blitz. From Nov. 1 to Nov. 15, the blitz will rely on residents to report [&#8230;]

<figure id="attachment_48813" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-48813" style="width: 429px" class="wp-caption alignright"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class=" wp-image-48813" src="https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/news/files/2024/10/Scientists-surveying-seagrass-beds-off-the-coast-of-Florida_UF-IFAS-Photo-by-Tyler-Jones-300x225.jpg" alt="Photo shows Scientists surveying seagrass beds off the Gulf coast of Florida. _UF IFAS Photo by Tyler Jones." width="429" height="322" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-48813" class="wp-caption-text">Scientists surveying seagrass beds off the coast of Florida. UF IFAS Photo by Tyler Jones.</figcaption></figure>
Do you spend time out on the Indian River Lagoon? Whether you enjoy boating, canoeing, fishing, kayaking, snorkeling or just soaking up the sun in these critical estuaries, Florida Sea Grant is calling on volunteers for the <a href="https://www.flseagrant.org/citizenscience/eyes-on-seagrass/eyes-on-seagrass-in-the-indian-river-lagoon-blitz/">Eyes on Seagrass Blitz</a>.
From Nov. 1 to Nov. 15, the blitz will rely on residents to report seagrass using the <a href="https://seagrassspotter.org/">Seagrass Spotter App</a>. Participants will fill out the <a href="https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=-KBNDTFKdk2s5gpiMx4bhBb1qymN-cBJjWGi2hbQhK1UQTFDQ0VaWFNERjNMSjhBTFE1TTBGMjVJOSQlQCN0PWcu&amp;route=shorturl">online volunteer form</a>, take photos, use the <a href="https://www.flseagrant.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Seagrass-ID-updated-two-pages.pdf">identification guides to determine species</a> and upload their findings to the designated app. More information is available from this <a href="https://www.flseagrant.org/citizenscience/eyes-on-seagrass/eyes-on-seagrass-in-the-indian-river-lagoon-blitz/">Florida Sea Grant website</a>.
This data will help identify areas and the types of monitoring needed for future monitoring and surveys. Participants are asked to report both the presence and absence of seagrass across the lagoon.
This community-driven seagrass monitoring event takes place along the entire Indian River Lagoon region, including Mosquito Lagoon and the Banana River in Volusia, Brevard, Indian River, St. Lucie and Martin counties. With this large-scale citizen-science effort, volunteers will contribute valuable data on seagrass health, crucial to restoring the Lagoon’s fragile ecosystems.
“Since seagrasses thrive in healthy waters, their presence is an indicator of good water quality in the lagoon,” said<a href="https://www.flseagrant.org/fsg-directory/dr-lisa-krimsky/"> Lisa Krimsky</a>, regional water resources agent with Florida Sea Grant. “Knowing where seagrass is absent is just as important as understanding where it is present. Monitoring overall seagrass distribution and composition is essential for understanding overall ecosystem health.”
This event builds on the success of the <a href="https://www.flseagrant.org/citizenscience/eyes-on-seagrass/">Eyes on Seagrass program in Charlotte and Escambia Counties</a>, and anyone in the Indian River Lagoon can now be a part of the collective effort to safeguard the lagoon’s health.
 The Indian River Lagoon is home to a vibrant ecosystem featuring lush seagrass beds that provide critical habitats and nurseries for marine species like manatees, sea turtles and various fish and invertebrates. Seagrass plays a vital role in enhancing water quality by stabilizing sediments, removing nutrients, producing oxygen and sequestering carbon dioxide.
&nbsp;
ABOUT UF/IFAS 
The mission of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is to develop knowledge relevant to agricultural, human and natural resources and to make that knowledge available to sustain and enhance the quality of human life. With more than a dozen research facilities, 67 county Extension offices, and award-winning students and faculty in the UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, UF/IFAS brings science-based solutions to the state’s agricultural and natural resources industries, and all Florida residents. 
<a href="http://www.ifas.ufl.edu">ifas.ufl.edu</a>  |  <a href="https://twitter.com/UF_IFAS">@UF_IFAS</a>
 
ABOUT FLORIDA SEA GRANT
The Florida Sea Grant program, hosted at UF/IFAS, is a university-based program that supports research, education and Extension to conserve coastal resources and enhance economic opportunities for the people of Florida. In addition to UF/IFAS, the program is a partnership between Florida universities, the <a href="https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.noaa.gov%2F&amp;data=05%7C01%7Ctorymoore%40ufl.edu%7C5059361f69bd4470d65908daad2d94fe%7C0d4da0f84a314d76ace60a62331e1b84%7C0%7C0%7C638012708565515659%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=5EEyj7SPrBzBVgb%2BtGjD3fIp2O9e900lcUy7yRhbBS4%3D&amp;reserved=0">National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration</a> 
and county governments.
<a href="https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.flseagrant.org%2F&amp;data=05%7C01%7Ctorymoore%40ufl.edu%7C5059361f69bd4470d65908daad2d94fe%7C0d4da0f84a314d76ace60a62331e1b84%7C0%7C0%7C638012708565515659%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=8Ex2Og9OC2B4e02lNxgiwmx2bPgr8lCe7onsCM1hhes%3D&amp;reserved=0">flseagrant.org</a>  |  <a href="https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2FFloridaSeaGrant&amp;data=05%7C01%7Ctorymoore%40ufl.edu%7C5059361f69bd4470d65908daad2d94fe%7C0d4da0f84a314d76ace60a62331e1b84%7C0%7C0%7C638012708565515659%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=3YV9%2BBUAsSAD9gjZ7kyOjd%2FBzf3MrzWv9kQFMsAYhfM%3D&amp;reserved=0">@FloridaSeaGrant</a>
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by Lourdes Mederos, <a href="mailto:rodriguezl@ufl.edu">rodriguezl@ufl.edu</a>
ABOUT UF/IFAS 
The mission of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is to develop knowledge relevant to agricultural, human and natural resources and to make that knowledge available to sustain and enhance the quality of human life. With more than a dozen research facilities, 67 county Extension offices, and award-winning students and faculty in the UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, UF/IFAS brings science-based solutions to the state’s agricultural and natural resources industries, and all Florida residents. 
<a href="http://www.ifas.ufl.edu">ifas.ufl.edu</a>  |  <a href="https://twitter.com/UF_IFAS">@UF_IFAS</a>
 
ABOUT FLORIDA SEA GRANT
The Florida Sea Grant program, hosted at UF/IFAS, is a university-based program that supports research, education and Extension to conserve coastal resources and enhance economic opportunities for the people of Florida. In addition to UF/IFAS, the program is a partnership between Florida universities, the <a href="https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.noaa.gov%2F&amp;data=05%7C01%7Ctorymoore%40ufl.edu%7C5059361f69bd4470d65908daad2d94fe%7C0d4da0f84a314d76ace60a62331e1b84%7C0%7C0%7C638012708565515659%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=5EEyj7SPrBzBVgb%2BtGjD3fIp2O9e900lcUy7yRhbBS4%3D&amp;reserved=0">National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration</a> 
and county governments.
<a href="https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.flseagrant.org%2F&amp;data=05%7C01%7Ctorymoore%40ufl.edu%7C5059361f69bd4470d65908daad2d94fe%7C0d4da0f84a314d76ace60a62331e1b84%7C0%7C0%7C638012708565515659%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=8Ex2Og9OC2B4e02lNxgiwmx2bPgr8lCe7onsCM1hhes%3D&amp;reserved=0">flseagrant.org</a>  |  <a href="https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2FFloridaSeaGrant&amp;data=05%7C01%7Ctorymoore%40ufl.edu%7C5059361f69bd4470d65908daad2d94fe%7C0d4da0f84a314d76ace60a62331e1b84%7C0%7C0%7C638012708565515659%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=3YV9%2BBUAsSAD9gjZ7kyOjd%2FBzf3MrzWv9kQFMsAYhfM%3D&amp;reserved=0">@FloridaSeaGrant</a>

Scientists surveying seagrass beds off the coast of Florida. UF IFAS Photo by Tyler Jones.
Do you spend time out on the Indian River Lagoon? Whether you enjoy boating, canoeing, fishing, kayaking, snorkeling or just soaking up the sun in these critical estuaries, Florida Sea Grant is calling on volunteers for the Eyes on Seagrass Blitz.
From Nov. 1 to Nov. 15, the blitz will rely on residents to report seagrass using the Seagrass Spotter App. Participants will fill out the online volunteer form, take photos, use the identification guides to determine species and upload their findings to the designated app. More information is available from this Florida Sea Grant website.
This data will help identify areas and the types of monitoring needed for future monitoring and surveys. Participants are asked to report both the presence and absence of seagrass across the lagoon.
This community-driven seagrass monitoring event takes place along the entire Indian River Lagoon region, including Mosquito Lagoon and the Banana River in Volusia, Brevard, Indian River, St. Lucie and Martin counties. With this large-scale citizen-science effort, volunteers will contribute valuable data on seagrass health, crucial to restoring the Lagoon’s fragile ecosystems.
“Since seagrasses thrive in healthy waters, their presence is an indicator of good water quality in the lagoon,” said Lisa Krimsky, regional water resources agent with Florida Sea Grant. “Knowing where seagrass is absent is just as important as understanding where it is present. Monitoring overall seagrass distribution and composition is essential for understanding overall ecosystem health.”
This event builds on the success of the Eyes on Seagrass program in Charlotte and Escambia Counties, and anyone in the Indian River Lagoon can now be a part of the collective effort to safeguard the lagoon’s health.
 The Indian River Lagoon is home to a vibrant ecosystem featuring lush seagrass beds that provide critical habitats and nurseries for marine species like manatees, sea turtles and various fish and invertebrates. Seagrass plays a vital role in enhancing water quality by stabilizing sediments, removing nutrients, producing oxygen and sequestering carbon dioxide.
 
ABOUT UF/IFAS
The mission of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is to develop knowledge relevant to agricultural, human and natural resources and to make that knowledge available to sustain and enhance the quality of human life. With more than a dozen research facilities, 67 county Extension offices, and award-winning students and faculty in the UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, UF/IFAS brings science-based solutions to the state’s agricultural and natural resources industries, and all Florida residents. 
ifas.ufl.edu  |  @UF_IFAS
 
ABOUT FLORIDA SEA GRANT
The Florida Sea Grant program, hosted at UF/IFAS, is a university-based program that supports research, education and Extension to conserve coastal resources and enhance economic opportunities for the people of Florida. In addition to UF/IFAS, the program is a partnership between Florida universities, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
and county governments.
flseagrant.org  |  @FloridaSeaGrant
##
by Lourdes Mederos, rodriguezl@ufl.edu
ABOUT UF/IFAS
The mission of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is to develop knowledge relevant to agricultural, human and natural resources and to make that knowledge available to sustain and enhance the quality of human life. With more than a dozen research facilities, 67 county Extension offices, and award-winning students and faculty in the UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, UF/IFAS brings science-based solutions to the state’s agricultural and natural resources industries, and all Florida residents. 
ifas.ufl.edu  |  @UF_IFAS
 
ABOUT FLORIDA SEA GRANT
The Florida Sea Grant program, hosted at UF/IFAS, is a university-based program that supports research, education and Extension to conserve coastal resources and enhance economic opportunities for the people of Florida. In addition to UF/IFAS, the program is a partnership between Florida universities, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
and county governments.
flseagrant.org  |  @FloridaSeaGrant

Do you spend time out on the Indian River Lagoon? Whether you enjoy boating, canoeing, fishing, kayaking, snorkeling or just soaking up the sun in these critical estuaries, Florida Sea Grant is calling on volunteers for the Eyes on Seagrass Blitz. From Nov. 1 to Nov. 15, the blitz will rely on residents to report […]

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