Algae blooms are back along the Indian River Lagoon, creating a stinky situation for central Brevard County residents that could get worse before it gets better.

  • Algae blooms a problem on Indian River Lagoon in the summer
  • Fertilizer, septic runoff contributing factors
  • Brevard County looking at sales tax hike to help lagoon

Ray Phelps has been fishing in the lagoon for decades. And of late, the smell is almost unbearable.

"It's rotten. I don't know how these people here stand it," he said.

The cause of the smell, according to officials, is an algae bloom, not unlike what the area has seen -- or smelled -- for quite some time.

You can see the particles floating in the water.

Experts say the nutrient rich blooms are more frequent in the hot, wet summer months, but not usually on the magnitude the area is experiencing now.

"The reason for the magnitude is that we have been delivering way too many nutrients not just this year, but for decades," said Virginia Barker with Brevard County Natural Resources.

The problems are lawn fertilizer and septic tank pollution filtering into the water, the excess bi-product builds up into the system.

"All of that is more than the system can handle," said Barker. "Yes, we will likely see more fish kills in the coming years, but it doesn't mean we aren't making progress."

County commissioners voted to put a lagoon restoration plan referendum on the November ballot.

As of this week, 13 of 16 Brevard cities are on board with the plan as part of an inter-local agreement. Phelps is voting for it.

"If they get the money maybe they can do something," he said.

The 1/2 cent sales tax referendum would raise $340 million over a 10-year period