One Lagoon recently featured Bill DeLuccia and the Space Coast Chapter's Ocean Friendly Gardens program on their podcast, "One Lagoon, One Voice", to talk about how nature-based solutions like buffer zones and bioswales are helping protect clean water in the Indian River Lagoon, and inspiring action across Florida's Space Coast.
Bill DeLuccia leads the chapter's Ocean Friendly Gardens (OFG) program, and has been installing some awesome OFG projects with volunteers at Ballard Park and along the Indiatlantic bike path. The chapter is transforming shallow-rooted turf grass areas along the waterfront and existing drainage ditches into Florida native plant habitat, supercharging their ability to soak up stormwater runoff and reducing nutrient pollution from fertilizers and grass clippings.
These projects not only prevent runoff and sponge up extra water to prevent flooding, but they also turn a water pollution problem into a multi-benefit, nature-based solution. The water and nutrients that flow into these OFGs are utilized by the deeply-rooted and climate-adapted native plants, supporting wildlife habitat and biodiversity.
Bill is joined on the podcast by Tori Wilcock, Buffer Zone Coordinator with Brevard Zoo’s Restore Our Shores, who is working on installing similar projects in local parks. Bill and Tori share their insight on collaborating with different groups to achieve goals, how the chapter's Blue Water Task Force program helped in selecting the sites for some of the gardens, and what they are working on next.
Check out the podcast below to hear this informative, solution-oriented, and inspiring conversation!
Listen to the podcast (40min):