A student-led initiative raising awareness about the environmental decline threatening the Indian River Lagoon — one of North America's most biodiverse estuaries, right in our backyard.
Who We Are
Project: Save Our Lagoon is an initiative led by West Shore Jr./Sr. High School students for the Community Problem Solving competition in Future Problem Solving — an international organization that brings K–12 students around the world to participate in challenges designed to empower curious youth to become changemakers.
We were tasked to find an issue our community was facing, and we decided to focus on the environmental decline the Indian River Lagoon has been facing over the years, as we knew the crucial role it played in sustaining the diverse ecosystem, reducing CO₂ in the atmosphere, and supporting the local economy.
The Problem
The Indian River Lagoon (IRL), stretching 156 miles along Florida's Atlantic coast, is one of North America's most biodiverse estuaries, supporting over 5,300 species of plants and animals.
Despite its importance, the lagoon faces severe ecological decline caused primarily by nutrient pollution from fertilizers and stormwater runoff. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, such pollution can cause an overgrowth of algae blooms, blocking sunlight and depleting oxygen for aquatic life. This process has led to the deterioration of seagrass meadows, an essential aspect of the lagoon responsible for filtering water, stabilizing sediments, and supporting marine life.
Moreover, the IRL carries enormous economic significance. A 2016 economic valuation by the Treasure Coast and East Central Florida Regional Planning Councils estimated the lagoon's total value at $7.6 billion — contributing to defense and aerospace, recreation and tourism, real estate, the marine industry, and living resources.
Essential meadows filter water, stabilize sediments, and shelter marine life — destroyed as algae blooms block the sunlight they need to survive.
Fertilizer runoff floods the lagoon with nitrogen and phosphorus, fueling toxic algae blooms that deplete oxygen and cloud the water.
Properties near the IRL are valued approximately $934 million higher because of it — making preservation an economic imperative, not just an environmental one.
Every dollar invested in lagoon restoration returns $33 to the regional economy annually — making action both urgent and undeniably worthwhile.
A Marine Resources Council survey found only 25–30% of the population was aware of the lagoon's environmental struggles and the primary causes of pollution.
"Growing up in Brevard County, we have personally witnessed the decline of the IRL. As children, we spent many hours fishing, boating, and kayaking, building memories and learning to appreciate the outdoors."
Over the past few years, we have noticed these activities becoming less enjoyable as water quality has worsened. Algae blooms have clouded the waters, seagrass meadows have diminished, and fish populations have declined. Seeing the lagoon we once enjoyed deteriorate has been upsetting, highlighting the urgent need for restoration.
Despite the clear issues surrounding pollution in the IRL, we as students have noticed a lack of public awareness and engagement. If citizens are unaware of the issue, they may continue practices that harm the environment rather than making more environmentally friendly decisions.
What We Did
Project: Save Our Lagoon is an initiative led by West Shore Jr./Sr. High School students for the Community Problem Solving competition in Future Problem Solving — an international organization that brings K–12 students around the world to participate in challenges designed to empower curious youth to become changemakers.
We were tasked to find an issue our community was facing. We chose the environmental decline of the Indian River Lagoon, knowing the crucial role it played in sustaining a diverse ecosystem, reducing CO₂, and supporting the local economy. Upon further research, we found that nutrient pollution was the major contributor — so we decided to raise awareness through seminars in local elementary schools and through social media and the internet.
We first gave a presentation introducing the Indian River Lagoon to students, explaining the nutrient pollution happening in the Lagoon and what they could do to help.
We gave the students a short quiz before and after our presentation and activities to measure their improvement in understanding. Students at both schools showed increased proficiency in the topics we covered.
We gave a presentation introducing the Indian River Lagoon to students, explaining the nutrient pollution happening in the Lagoon and what they could do to help.
Students measured nitrogen levels in normal water and water mixed with fertilizer using test strips — demonstrating the high levels of nitrogen that flow into the IRL through runoff.
After the presentation, students made posters to raise awareness about pollution in the Indian River Lagoon using what they had just learned — reinforcing the lesson creatively.
We simulated how fertilizer in soil reaches nearby water bodies using "rain" — showing kids the direct path from a lawn to the Lagoon in real time.
Students completed quizzes before and after our session. Data from both schools showed increased proficiency in nutrient pollution, seagrass loss, and ecosystem health.
We sent newsletters to schools summarizing our findings and activities for classroom use, extending our reach beyond the in-person presentations.
Pre- and post-quiz data from both schools showed measurable, consistent learning gains across all topics — from nutrient pollution to the economic value of the lagoon. Students who had never heard of the IRL left with a real understanding of why it matters and what they can do to help.
Online Outreach
Our Instagram account was created to spread awareness about how nitrogen pollution negatively impacts the health of the flora and fauna living in the IRL. We also encourage citizens to be proactive in recovery efforts.
Through social media, we share lagoon facts, highlight our efforts, and connect with a wider community audience — taking the issue from a classroom presentation to a public conversation.
Follow us on Instagram for lagoon facts, project updates, and ways you can help protect the Indian River Lagoon from nutrient pollution.
Blog
We created this blog to document our efforts and post new aspects of the issue as we discover them through further research.
Our high school group chose the Indian River Lagoon for our main project, involving presentations on its environmental decline to elementary students, complete with hands-on activities modeling nutrient pollution. The lagoon stretches along Florida's east coast and ranks among the most biodiverse estuaries in the US.
Excess nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus from sewage leaks, septic tanks, fertilizers, and stormwater drive the lagoon's decline — exactly what we modeled for elementary kids with our jar activities. These nutrients overfeed algae, causing blooms that cloud water and crash ecosystems.
Harmful algae blooms block sunlight and suck oxygen from water when they die, leading to fish kills that stress dolphins and manatees. We planned to demonstrate this process live in our school presentations to help young students grasp the chain reaction.
Seagrass beds, vital for manatee food and fish shelter, have died across huge areas because cloudy algae blocked sunlight. This inspired us to create nutrient modeling activities where kids saw how pollution comes into contact with underwater plants.
Muck — a thick bottom sludge from decayed plants and old pollution — traps nutrients that keep fueling algae even after new inputs stop. It shows why the lagoon needs ongoing, sustained protection, not one-time fixes.
Rain washes oil, fertilizer, pet waste, and yard debris from streets and lawns straight into the lagoon. We used this in our school presentations to teach kids about neighborhood actions — simple changes that matter, shared across all our outreach.
Dolphin, manatee, and pelican die-offs stem from toxins, starvation, and low oxygen linked to algae and seagrass loss. Our presentations brought these stories to life for elementary students, making the human–wildlife connection clear.
The lagoon's narrow shape slows water flushing, letting pollution build instead of washing out. This recovery challenge framed our talks about long-term solutions — we reinforced this through newsletters to explain why sustained effort beats one-time fixes.
The Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program leads habitat restoration and water quality projects, with governments upgrading wastewater and stormwater infrastructure. We highlighted these hopeful steps in our presentations to balance the decline facts for young audiences.
Projects build living shorelines, plant seagrass, restore oyster reefs, and dredge muck to heal damaged spots. Our nutrient demos paralleled these real-world efforts, showing kids how science actively fights back against decades of damage.
Through presentations and activities, we taught dozens of elementary students about nutrient pollution's effects — backed by social media posts and school letters summarizing our work. This hands-on approach made complex science accessible to young learners.
Our core project reached kids directly while social media and letters spread awareness further — all about an ecosystem strained by pollution but ripe for recovery with community help. Protecting the lagoon starts with understanding its decline.
Our Impact
From Brevard County classrooms to the internet, here's the reach of our work so far — and why we're just getting started.
Students at both schools showed measurably improved understanding of nutrient pollution and its effects on the Indian River Lagoon following our presentations and activities.
Brought in-person presentations, nitrogen testing experiments, poster activities, and runoff demonstrations to multiple elementary schools in Brevard County.
An Instagram presence dedicated to spreading awareness about nitrogen pollution, sharing lagoon facts, and encouraging the community to take action in their own neighborhoods.
Actively expanding — we're recruiting high school students from Volusia, Indian River, St. Lucie, Martin, and Palm Beach counties to open new chapters and spread outreach further.
In Action
See our team at work — presenting to real students, running hands-on experiments, and building the next generation of lagoon stewards.
Take Action
The Indian River Lagoon's recovery depends on everyday choices made by people like you. Here's how to make a difference.
Use slow-release or fertilizer-free lawn care products. Never fertilize before rain — it washes straight into the lagoon. Choose native plants that don't need fertilizer at all.
Install rain gardens or raised garden beds to absorb stormwater runoff before it reaches the lagoon. Even a small garden near a driveway or sidewalk makes a real difference.
Follow and share @save_our_lagoon on Instagram. Talk to neighbors, friends, and family about simple changes that protect the lagoon.
Pet waste is a major source of nitrogen in stormwater. Always pick it up and dispose of it properly — it prevents harmful nutrients from washing into the lagoon during rain.
Sweep grass clippings and debris off driveways instead of hosing them into storm drains. Yard waste decomposes and releases nutrients directly into waterways.
Volunteer for shoreline cleanups, advocate for better stormwater policies, and contact your local representatives about lagoon funding and restoration efforts.
Our Partners
We couldn't do this without the support of organizations who share our commitment to educating communities and protecting the Indian River Lagoon.
Labs 4 Learning brings hands-on science experiences to students across Florida. Their support helped us design and deliver our nitrogen testing activities to elementary school classrooms.
labs4learningfl@gmail.comFuture Problem Solving is an international organization that empowers K–12 students to become changemakers. Their Community Problem Solving program gave us the framework to turn our concern for the lagoon into real action.
fpspi.org ↗Connect With Us
Whether you're a student, teacher, or community member — there's a role for you in protecting the Indian River Lagoon. Reach out, follow along, or open a chapter near you.
Youth Advisory Board
Meghana Geddam · Arya Kulkarni
We partner with Labs 4 Learning to bring hands-on science into classrooms. Interested in collaborating?
labs4learningfl@gmail.com
