ProjectH2O

Lagoon Lecture tomorrow at 1:00 PM at the Riverside Conservancy Center.

Megan Gannon, a graduate student at Bethune-Cookman University, will kick off Riverside Conservancy’s 2026 Lagoon Lecture series on Thursday, Jan. 29, at 1 p.m., at Riverside Conservancy.

Studying in BCU’s Department of Integrated Environmental Science, Gannon will discuss current research in her topic, “Estuarine Restoration: From Reproductive Biology to Applied Ecology of Ruppia Maritima.”

Ruppia maritima is a seagrass commonly known as “Widgeon Grass,” which is being used in the Indian River Lagoon to help re-establish other seagrasses following massive seagrass loss in recent years.

Gannon is a first-year master’s student studying Ruppia maritima, one of the seven seagrass species present in the lagoon. She chose this species for her research due to its broad range of habitat tolerances in the lagoon.

Gannon’s research is focused on addressing three key areas: understanding seed banks and the reproductive life cycle of Ruppia maritima; developing and testing restoration strategies using natural materials; and assessing the ecological role of Ruppia maritima.

The January lecture is free and open to the public and will be hosted at Riverside Conservancy, located at 1413 South Riverside Drive in Edgewater.

The Lagoon Lectures will return on Feb. 19, to the Edgewater Public Library, located at 103 West Indian River Road, Edgewater. Admission to all lectures is free and open to the public.

TOMORROW!! Join Fred Cleveland, Mayor of New Smyrna Beach for an EcoNSB Panel Discussion featuring MDC's Executive Director, Chad Truxall, and Kelli McGee of Riverside Conservancy as well as additional guest panelists from 5:30-6:30 p.m. at the Brannon Center at 105 S. Riverside Dr.

The conversation will highlight local conservation efforts, how organizations like MDC protect our coastal ecosystems, and practical steps individuals and communities can take to support the Indian River Lagoon.

Panelists will also discuss how the City of New Smyrna Beach can continue partnering with MDC, Riverside Conservancy, and Canaveral National Seashore to strengthen environmental protection and restoration efforts.

This panel is FREE to attend! RSVP at https://tinyurl.com/4m3t4ed9

Come join us on Thursday (Nov. 20) when Danny Young leads Riverside Conservancy’s concluding Lagoon Lecture series presentation. His talk will be held at 1 p.m., at the Edgewater Public Library.

Owner and lead consultant of Young Bear Environmental Consulting, Young will present on the topic, “By Yards and Waves: An Introduction to Living Shoreline Techniques in Residential Settings.”

The presentation will discuss how homeowners can install native plants to make their property more resilient. As a botanist, Young has more than 30 years of environmental consulting knowledge in native plants, permitting and habitat restoration. He has worked extensively with area property owners redesign and replant sustainable shorelines.

Young has a degree in botany from the University of Central Florida and has been a member of the Florida Native Plant Society’s Pawpaw Chapter since the early 1990s. He has worked as an environmental consultant and as a high school biology teacher.

The library is located at 103 West Indian River Road, Edgewater. Admission is free and open to the public.

Riverside Conservancy We are a fast growing non-profit organization with a passion for conservation. Like the budding mangrove of our logo we are spreading out and taking action to preserve our beloved Florida shoreline.