Press Release Courtesy: FAU / Carin Campbell Smith | Originally Published: July 7, 2016

In the midst of the algae crisis, FAU Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute (HBOI) will release recommendations on better utilizing the important research being conducted on the Indian River Lagoon (IRL). The recommendations will be presented by Dennis Hanisak, Ph.D., HBOI research professor and IRL Observatory director, at the IRL Council Board of Directors on Friday, July 8 at 9:30 a.m. at Sebastian City Hall, 1225 Main St., in Sebastian.

This workshop is the first organized effort to address where IRL data is housed, what types of data are collected, how the data is used and whether or not scientists and agencies can do a better job of collecting, organizing, translating and sharing the data.

“We need to answer these questions,” said Hanisak. “If we do, then we may be able to understand how we can all work better together to share the knowledge and make changes in how we manage the Lagoon in the future.”

The recommendations are based on input from scientists, policymakers, developers and other stakeholders that were given during a recent workshop. All the findings are outlined in the report “Connecting Users to IRL Data,” which is available online at http://www.fau.edu/hboi/irlo/docs/IRLODataInitiativeFinalReport.pdf. Funded by the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute Foundation and the River Branch Foundation, this provides the first formal IRL-wide inventory of organizations and agencies collecting data.

“The release of this report is very timely as the Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program addresses an updated management plan for the IRL and responds to continuing algal

blooms throughout the IRL system,” said Duane De Freese, IRL Council executive director. “We are looking forward to discussing these important recommendations and next steps.”

For more information, contact Carin Smith at 772-242-2230 or carinsmith@fau.edu.