Florida Waterways Reborn by Community Action

Restoration at scale: clams, mangroves and measurable gains

More than 81 million clams have been seeded and tens of thousands of mangroves planted across Brevard County and the Indian River Lagoon as part of coordinated habitat restoration efforts led by Cory Redwine and partners through 2026. These interventions target nutrient loading, shoreline erosion, and seagrass loss by using living organisms and coastal vegetation as natural infrastructure to improve water quality and stabilize shorelines.

Key partners, scope and recent events

The restoration initiatives are organized under Project SeaSafe and supported by Star brite, academic collaborators such as Dr. Todd Osborne from the University of Florida Whitney Lab, and practitioners like Blair Wiggins of the Indian River Lagoon Clam Restoration Project. The 5th annual Project SeaSafe 2026 Clean Water Collective convened April 22–26, 2026 at the Old Fish House Bar & Grill in Grant, Florida, bringing anglers, scientists and volunteers together for hands-on planting and clam releases.

Practical outcomes for waterways and communities

Seeding clams and replanting mangroves create immediate ecosystem services: clams act as biological filters removing excess nutrients and improving water clarity, while mangroves reduce coastal erosion, buffer storm surge and provide habitat for juvenile fish and crustaceans. Local fisheries, recreational boating, and marinas stand to benefit from improved seagrass recovery and increased biodiversity, which in turn supports fishing and boating activities.

How the programs operate: logistics and volunteer workflows

Restoration projects coordinate supply chains for seedlings, clam seed stock and transport logistics to planting sites. Donations of buckets and supplies from Star brite enabled nursery scaling for mangrove seedlings, while partnerships with aquaculture and lab facilities provide clam seed. Field operations typically follow this workflow:

• Nursery cultivation and clam rearing
• Site selection and environmental assessment
• Volunteer training and safety briefings
• Transport and staged planting or release
• Monitoring and data collection for survival and water quality

Volunteer roles and required equipment

Volunteers and partners perform a range of roles from planting to monitoring. Typical equipment and skills include:

• Buckets, gloves and planting tools supplied by donors
• Basic navigation and small-boat handling for coastal sites
• Simple water-quality monitoring kits and data logging
• On-water safety gear and coordination with local marinas or launch points

Restoration methods explained: why clams and mangroves work together

Mangroves create a living shoreline that dissipates wave energy and traps sediments, which helps seagrass and benthic organisms recover. Clams filter phytoplankton and particulates, reducing turbidity and counteracting nutrient-driven algal blooms. Combined, these approaches accelerate habitat recovery and support a return of finfish and invertebrate communities important to recreational and commercial fisheries.

Measured ecological impacts

Monitoring from collaborative teams indicates:

1. Improved water clarity in replanted zones supporting seagrass regrowth.
2. Increased presence of juvenile fish and crustaceans in mangrove-root habitats.
3. Reduction in localized algal buildups where clam densities reach functional thresholds.

Historical perspective and evolution of the movement

Community-driven coastal restoration around the Indian River Lagoon evolved over the past two decades. Cory Redwine began experimenting with mangrove propagation more than 20 years ago, refining nursery and outplanting techniques through trial and error. In 2021 she founded the nonprofit Sea Redwine Preservation / Team Do Gooder to acquire and protect parcels for science, aquaculture and long-term habitat resilience.

Partnerships with industry (Star brite), academia (Whitney Lab) and regional restoration projects gradually scaled operations from small volunteer plantings to the multi-million clam releases and large mangrove nursery networks seen today. The model emphasizes local stewardship combined with technical guidance and private-sector logistics support.

Scaling lessons for other regions

Key lessons from the Florida projects that can inform replication elsewhere include:

• Early engagement of local businesses to supply materials and logistical support.
• Structured volunteer programs that build skills and foster long-term stewardship.
• Robust monitoring to validate ecological outcomes and guide adaptive management.

Outlook: what this means for tourism, boating and coastal economies

The restoration of the Indian River Lagoon and adjacent shorelines has direct implications for coastal tourism and marine recreation. Healthier waterways support clearer water, more resilient seagrass beds, and better fisheries—factors that attract boaters, anglers and beachgoers. Marinas and charter operations benefit from improved ecosystems that underpin recreational fishing, dolphin and wildlife viewing, and safe, scenic anchorages.

For the yachting and boating community, living shorelines and increased biodiversity can enhance the value of destinations: cleaner beaches and clearer channels improve the guest experience for day charters, private yacht owners and captains seeking quality destinations. Over time, restored habitats can also stabilize real-estate values and reduce maintenance dredging needs in some sensitive channels.

How to get involved: practical steps for volunteers and boaters

Those interested in participating can engage through organized events or by supporting local nurseries and nonprofits. Ways to help include:

• Joining organized planting days and clam release events
• Supporting land acquisition and preservation funds
• Adopting best practices for on-water trash collection and responsible anchoring
• Educating fellow boaters and anglers about reducing nutrient runoff

The restoration story in Brevard County demonstrates a scalable mix of community action, scientific collaboration and logistics support that yields measurable ecological returns. For sailors, captains, charter operators and owners of boats and yachts, healthier waters mean better fishing, clearer anchorage, more attractive beaches and improved boating activities across destinations like the gulf, sea and ocean-exposed coasts.

In summary, coordinated efforts led by Cory Redwine and partners have delivered large-scale gains—over 81 million clams seeded, thousands of mangroves planted, and a replicable model of community-led conservation. The program’s logistics, volunteer networks and institutional partnerships offer a practical template for restoring coastal systems while enhancing local tourism and boating opportunities. For visitors and local marinas, these improvements translate into cleaner water, restored seagrass, healthier fisheries and better experiences for fishing, sailing and yachting. For the best options to charter, rent or explore local boats and yachts that can take you to these recovering destinations—whether for a day of fishing, a coastal cruise, or a superyacht outing—consider the international marketplace for rentals at GetBoat.com as a resource to find the right boat, captain or charter to match your plans and budget.