www.sea-technology.com August 2015 / st 27
T
he Indian River Lagoon (IRL)
is a unique, highly diverse,
shallow-water estuary of na-
tional signifcance, stretching
along 156 mi., or 40 percent
of Florida's east coast. The IRL's
economic value to Florida is
estimated to be more than $3.5
billion per year. Urbanization,
excessive freshwater releases, degra-
dation of water quality, contaminant
loading, loss of habitat (e.g., seagrass-
es, mangroves), harmful algal blooms,
decline of fsheries, and emerging dis-
eases in marine mammals and other
biota are increasingly important issues
in the IRL, as they are throughout the
world's estuaries and coastal waters.
The Indian River Lagoon Observato-
ry (IRLO) at Florida Atlantic University's
Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute
(FAU Harbor Branch) in Fort Pierce,
Florida, is investigating the IRL's plants,
animals and environment, and the im-
pact of natural and human-induced
stressors. The goal of IRLO is to acquire
and disseminate data and knowledge
on the IRL critical to ecological function
and its sustainable management. The
key elements of IRLO are: a long-term,
multidisciplinary, ecosystem-based
approach; collaboration among orga-
nizations; and a network of advanced
observing stations. These elements in-
tegrate to serve a diverse array of user
groups, including researchers, resource
managers, educators, and the public.
LOBOs
IRLO research and education ac-
tivities are being enhanced by deploy-
The Indian River
Lagoon Observatory
Real-time Water Quality Data Network for Research, Education, Outreach
By Dr. M. Dennis Hanisak • Kristen S. Davis • Ben Metzger
(Right) Location of the IRLO network of
LOBOs in the Indian River Lagoon and
St. Lucie Estuary. (Top Left) Each LOBO
is an integrated package of sensors that
allow continuous observation of critical
environmental parameters in the estua-
rine environment. (Bottom Left) Instal-
lation of the pilot LP station near FAU
Harbor Branch with the above-water
weather station, solar cell and antenna
for hourly transmission of data from
the submerged LOBO unit.