A new effort is underway to save the struggling Indian River Lagoon in Brevard County and it involves oysters.
The proactive approach will take those living on the water to make it happen.
It's called the "Brevard Oyster Gardening Project," a partnership between the Brevard Zoo and the county.
The plan is to restore oyster habitats throughout the area. Just one oyster can filter up to 50 gallons of water a day, cleaning and clearing up the local estuaries.
The goal is to put one million of them in the water and that would mean filtering some 18 billion gallons a year.
Oyster gardeners must live on the lagoon, and give their time each week and attend an upcoming training workshop.
The workshops will be held at the following locations:
- Saturday, Feb. 15, 9:30 a.m. to noon, UF/Brevard Extension Office, 3695 Lake Dr., Cocoa.
- Thursday, Feb. 20, 9:30 a.m. to noon, Barrier Island Center, 8385 S. Highway A1A, Melbourne Beach.
- Saturday, Feb. 22, noon to 2:30 p.m., Satellite Beach Recreation Park, 1089 South Patrick Drive.
- Tuesday, Feb. 25, 9:30 a.m. to noon, Trinity Presbyterian Church, 638 S. Patrick Drive, Satellite Beach.
- Saturday, March 1, 9:30 a.m. to noon, Easter State Florida College, 3865 N. Wickham Road, Melbourne.
- Saturday, March 8, 9:30 a.m. to noon, Barrier Island Center, 8385 S. highway A1A, Melbourne Beach.
- Thursday, March 13, 9:30 a.m. to noon, UF/Brevard Extension Office, 3695 Lake Dr., Cocoa.