Utilizing Citizen Science as a Tool for Muck Mapping in the Indian River Lagoon

AbstractMuck thickness measurements are necessary for guiding muck dredging projects within the Indian River Lagoon (IRL), a coastal estuary that covers one third of Florida's east coast. Marine Resources Council, Florida Institute of Technology, and Brevard County Natural Resources Management successfully engaged Brevard County citizens in the Muck Finders program, a muck research initiative that was designed to help quantify and prioritize muck management actions in the IRL. This program utilizes citizen science as a cost-effective means to expedite the collection of scientifically valid data. Volunteer citizen scientists are given the education, training, and equipment needed to collect scientifically valid data to verify the presence and depth of muck at various locations within the IRL. In 2017, citizen scientists of this program contributed over 300 volunteer hours, collecting muck thickness data at over 750 individual sites. A statistical comparison of muck thickness measurements to duplicate measurements collected by volunteer citizen scientists has confirmed method reliability. Muck thickness maps created from this scientifically valid data aid regulatory agencies to identifying areas where muck dredging will have the most impact.