ORCA will have to pull most Kilroys
Water monitors could soon be pulled out of the Indian River lagoon because of a lack of money. Fort Pierce based Ocean Research and Conservation Association, or ORCA, uses a series of monitors called Kilroys to track and study water conditions throughout the lagoon. They currently have 25 of the remote controlled Kilroys in use. Around two-thirds of them could be removed. The state legislature is only allocating $250-thousand for the Kilroys. It costs $30-thousand a year to maintain a single Kilroy. That means ORCA will only be able to maintain 8 kilroys with their current funding.
The Martin County Commission have discussed the idea of paying for two of the Kilroys, one in Willoughby Creek and the other in the Manatee Pocket. Unfortunately, that money won’t be guaranteed until the budget is approved in July.
ORCA says they plan to talk with other counties and cities to see if they are able to sponsor a Kilroy. Any individuals or organizations who wish to help can contact ORCA at 772-467-1600.
