On the right, MRC volunteers Mary Bowman and Floyd Bryan, along with MRC staff Roland Verduyn and Dan Blucker, plant a 10 feet tall white mangrove along the shoreline in Palm Bay at the future site of the Lagoon House. It is the first time mature nursery- grown mangroves have been used to recreate a mangrove shoreline. Forty 6 - 12 feet mangroves were planted creating a full grown mangrove fringe, that will eliminate the erosion of almost a foot of shoreline every year from the site.

   Mangroves reduce erosion by breaking wave and wind energy and build shoreline by trapping sediment and leaf litter. Their branches are great bird habitat, their roots extend into the water, providing shelter for juvenile fish.

   In the past 3 months, MRC volunteers have eradicated invasive species of lagoon shoreline over 554,000 square feet in Brevard. 1,520 native shoreline plants were planted to create habitat, reduce erosion and filter pollutants from stormwater.

   MRC would like to thank all the dedicated volunteers who offered their time and energy to restore the shoreline of the Lagoon. A special thanks to Lisa Allgeyer, John Baker, Mary Bowman, Floyd Bryan, Jack Dearhammer, Phil Morisson, and Richard Powell. A big thanks also to Mike Dugan, Chris Brown and Jimmy Herald of Brevard County Road & Bridge for their valuable assistance during the Pepper Busting events.