The Indian River Lagoon is a place of extraordinary beauty and abundance. Stretching 156 miles up Florida’s east coast, its depths historically nurtured seagrass meadows, thriving oyster reefs and thousands of marine species, making it one of North America’s most biodiverse estuaries.
In its southern reaches, the St. Lucie River and Indian River Lagoon converge, mixing fresh and saltwater. These scenic waterways create an interconnected ecosystem that sustains a way of life, supporting fishing, boating, tourism and local economies that have defined the Treasure Coast for generations.
But the future of this remarkable ecosystem is increasingly uncertain. Over 100 years of channelization has altered the natural flow of water across the Greater Everglades. In the St. Lucie River and southern Indian River Lagoon, high volumes of polluted freshwater discharged from Lake Okeechobee is the single greatest threat. Countless years have been marked by murky water, toxic algae and devastation that have left communities and the environment reeling.
Despite this, there is encouraging news. After more than a year without harmful Lake Okeechobee discharges, the St. Lucie Estuary is showing signs of recovery in 2026. Seagrasses are returning. Water clarity is improving. When given the chance, nature is proving its resilience.
Imagine what true restoration will accomplish.
In the decades since the Everglades were drained and altered, the solution has always been the same — and now it’s more urgent than ever. The state of Florida must buy additional land in the Everglades Agricultural Area to restore the historic flow of clean, fresh water to the Everglades and stop polluting the estuaries. To give these iconic waterways a fighting chance, we must Rescue the River of Grass.
Watch the video to explore the beauty and importance of the St. Lucie River and Indian River Lagoon. Then join thousands of others who believe that enduring recovery is possible by adding your name to our petition to buy the land to send clean water south.
A blazing sunset is reflected in the Indian River Lagoon on June 4, 2026, near House of Refuge. (LEAH VOSS)
Red mangroves line the shore of the Indian River Lagoon on June 4, 2026, near the House of Refuge. Mangroves filter water, are shoreline protectors and provide habitat and food for marine organisms. (LEAH VOSS)
Hundreds of boats shore up along the sandbars of Sailfish Flats, where the Indian River Lagoon and St. Lucie meet, on May 24, 2026. This area and its historically lush seagrass meadows are an important indicator of the health of the lagoon. (LEAH VOSS)
Thousands of species make a home out of the Indian River Lagoon and the surrounding ecosystems, including this Florida native gopher tortoise, seen on April 27, 2026, near the St. Lucie River. (LEAH VOSS)
Housing developments surround the oxbows of the St. Lucie River’s south fork. (LEAH VOSS)
The mangrove forests of the St. Lucie River’s south fork reflect in the water on May 24, 2026. Water quality in this portion of the river is negatively impacted by polluted freshwater releases from Lake Okeechobee that move through the C-44 Canal and into the St. Lucie River. (LEAH VOSS)
Boats from the Treasure Coast Builders Association 40th Annual Fishing Tournament head out of the St. Lucie Inlet from Sandsprit Park on May 23, 2026. Recreational fishing, boating and shoreline activity drive the economic value of the Indian River Lagoon, bringing in an estimated $6.8 billion annually. (LEAH VOSS)
Florida Oceanographic Society (FOS) conducts monthly oyster monitoring in the Indian River Lagoon on April 27, 2026, near Jensen Beach. After a year of no Lake Okeechobee discharges, water conditions are more stable and the oysters at the sites managed by FOS are spawning more spat. (LEAH VOSS)
An underwater view of the Indian River Lagoon shows good visibility on May 14, 2026, between Stuart and Jensen Beach. (LEAH VOSS)
A blooming royal poinciana tree blooms along the Indian River Lagoon in Martin County’s Rocky Point neighborhood on May 23, 2026. (LEAH VOSS)
With the Ernest Lyons Bridge in the distance, the sun shines over the Indian River Lagoon on June 4, 2026. (LEAH VOSS)
