Good Morning from Florida's Indian River Lagoon
Good morning from Pelican Landing along Florida's Indian River Lagoon. Today is Thursday September 3, 2026. This will be the last report from Pelican Landing as I'm moving up the river 10 miles and will be reporting from Barefoot Bay for the next 3 months.
Welcome to today's Lagoon Life Report, where we explore the weather, wildlife, waterfront communities, parks, local food, and everyday moments that make life along the Indian River Lagoon so special.
Lagoon Conditions
Time: 9:30 AM
Air Temperature: 80 - high of 87
Humidity: 89%!!!!!!!!!
Wind Direction & Speed: South at 3. A sticky day for moving
Tide Stage: Low at 10 AM and high at 3:30 PM
Moon Phase: Last quarter - rise at midnight and set at 1:30 PM
Water Conditions:
Today's Lagoon Life:
It is still and sticky this morning as I film my last video from Pelican landing. I'm hiding under the boathouse cover to try and not start sweating yet. A few birds around but its quiet in general.
Lagoon Living Tip of the Day:
Make September a Cleanup Month
There's a timely opportunity coming up to turn a Saturday morning into something useful.
On Saturday, September 19, volunteers will spread out along the Indian River Lagoon in Brevard County for a coastal cleanup organized by the GreenSpace Water Alliance. Their previous cleanup brought together 241 volunteers who removed 3,429 pounds of litter and debris from 25 miles of shoreline.
That's more than a ton and a half of stuff that doesn't belong beside our lagoon.
Even if you don't join an organized cleanup, steal the idea: take a bag on your next waterfront walk and pick up whatever shouldn't be there.
Lagoon restoration doesn't always require restoring something. Sometimes it just means removing something. 🧤🌊
Wildlife & Nature
Today was pretty quiet for my grand finale and all I have to report are osprey and pelicans but that's still nice. It's a somber morning as I pack up and depart.
Today's Lagoon Spotlight
Featured Community Do-Gooder: Operation Hope
We've spent a lot of time in Sebastian and Vero Beach with these spotlights, so today we're heading west to Fellsmere.
Operation Hope was founded there in 1997 by Jesse Zermeño after he saw the difficult living conditions faced by migrant farmworkers and their families. The organization collects food, clothing and household necessities and distributes them to families in need.
I particularly like featuring this group because agriculture is such an important but sometimes invisible part of the Indian River Lagoon region.
Drive west from the waterfront and the landscape changes remarkably quickly. The condos, marinas and restaurants give way to citrus country, farms, ranchland and communities whose history is tied closely to agriculture.
And behind that agriculture are people.
Operation Hope exists specifically to help some of the families whose labor has been part of that agricultural economy. Its work is wonderfully uncomplicated: when a family needs food, clothing or basic household necessities, try to help provide them.
💙 How You Can Help
Operation Hope accepts donations and volunteer support from the community. It's located at 12285 County Road 512 in Fellsmere, making this another organization doing its work right here in northern Indian River County.
I like this one for the Dock Report because it widens our lens a little.
The Indian River Lagoon community isn't only the strip of land we can see from the dock. It stretches west into farms, small towns and agricultural communities that are every bit as much a part of this corner of Florida.
Taking care of the lagoon means understanding the whole watershed. Taking care of our community means remembering all the people who live in it. 🌱❤️🌊
Learn More
🌐 Operation Hope
Lagoon Lifestyle & Real Estate
Ask Where the Water Shutoff Is
Here's a question almost nobody asks while buying a house:
Where is the main water shutoff?
Find it before closing, make sure it's accessible, and learn how to operate it. While you're at it, locate the electrical panel and any shutoffs for irrigation, propane or a pool system.
When a washing-machine hose or plumbing connection decides to surrender at 10:30 on a Saturday night, that is not the ideal moment to begin an archaeological expedition through the landscaping.
Knowing how to shut down the basic systems in your house is part of owning it.
Five minutes of orientation can prevent thousands of dollars of damage. 🔧🏡
Thinking About Life Along the Lagoon?
Whether you're planning a visit, considering a move, or simply enjoy following life along Florida's Indian River Lagoon, I hope these daily reports help you experience one of Florida's most beautiful regions.
If you're looking for local insight about waterfront living or real estate anywhere along the lagoon, I'd be happy to help.
Every report is another chapter in the story of life along Florida's Indian River Lagoon. Thanks for following along.
Chris Norris
Broker Associate | Treasure Coast Realty
Serving Florida's Space Coast & Treasure Coast along the Indian River Lagoon
ChrisNorrisRealEstate.com
SebastianLagoonLife.com
YouTube: @ChrisNorrisRealEstate