By Emily Dark, IRLAP
The Indian River Lagoon Aquatic Preserves and the Friends of the Spoil Islands are conducting a pilot project on the spoil islands with human waste bags (RESTOPS2 bags). The purpose of the project is to investigate the usage of the bags and to increase awareness of the need to use them on the islands.
Many of the spoil islands offer primitive camping amenities such as fire rings and picnic tables and now six islands (two in Brevard County BC45 & 47, Indian River IR13 & 43 and St. Lucie County SL2 & 6) have waste bag dispensers. The, made in the USA, waste bags are top rated environmentally responsible travel bags that can fit in glove compartments, tackle boxes or back packs and are great to just keep in the boat. They even include toilette paper and anti-microbial wipes. These bags are landfill friendly and are part of a larger Leave No Trace initiative that aims to increase awareness on responsible outdoor recreation/camping techniques.
The Indian River Lagoon Aquatic Preserves, including the spoil islands, have been nominated as a 2017 Leave No Trace Hot Spot. The Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainers will be on hand to offer fun interactive and educational events, clean-ups and other events through the IRL Hot Spot week (Feb 27-March 6). Leave No Trace selected the Indian River Lagoon Aquatic Preserves because they are suffering from impacts due to popularity including litter, invasive species, habituated wildlife, dog waste, trail and campsite erosion, water pollution, human waste, filthy campfire rings and more.
For more information, contact the Indian River Lagoon Aquatic Preserves office (772) 429-2995 or Friends of the Spoil Islands (FOSI) (www.Friendsofspoilislands.org).
