The Indian River Lagoon spoil islands are a national treasure and a unique resource for promoting environmental education and conservation. Friends of the Spoil Islands, Inc. (FOSI) was created by concerned citizens to help promote, support, protect, restore and enhance these islands and the lagoon itself as habitats and natural resources. FOSI is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit and state sanctioned Citizen Support Corporation and has contracted with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to assist with existing efforts to encourage spoil island conservation and education and to promote the islands as a destination.
Spoil Island cleanup by volunteers from Temple Beth Shalom
Here is a report sent in from Ezra Appel who spent the day with a group from Temple Beth Shalom: We had a good day on the island last Saturday cutting up fallen trees and debris from hurricane Matthew. About twelve people from Temple Beth Shalom in Vero came out and worked. The weather was beautiful, and even though the place still looks pretty beat up, I can see some progress:
Cleaned out the fire pit and made it slightly smaller.
Extended the rock wall around the sea grapes and flower bed.
Cleared and opened up the walking trail from trees that had blocked the path.
The hurricane definitely eroded a great deal of the sand on the eastern shoreline. At high tide, the water was goes past the 4×6 posts for the Kiosk. I’m going to assume that the “lake” in the middle of the island is due to the extreme high tide event last week, and will eventually dry up.
For more information on Friends of the Spoil Islands.
