All About Roots, Rocks and Reggae

The focus of this article is the shore of the Indian River Lagoon in Brevard County, Florida. The lagoon ecosystem is not just a body of water but includes the surrounding land for miles inland. Osprey, eagles, shore birds, land birds, otters, raccoons, armadillos, deer, small mammals, snakes, gators, other reptiles, bears, bobcats and (maybe even) panthers depend on the health of this environment. It is the nursery for almost every sea creature.

At the turn of the twentieth century enterprising residents of Brevard County began advertising campaigns to attract visitors to the area. They featured the visual aesthetic of the flora, fauna and unique coquina rock formations along the banks of the Indian and Banana Rivers as a draw for tourists. Since the success of the travel journals of Mark Twain, the American tourist has sought adventures to indulge in new and unusual experiences of the senses. The term “sightseers” was coined to describe them. Although their approach may seem naive today, they were sophisticated in their appreciation of the sensual experience provided by the exotic destination of central Florida.

For the most part, the Americans who established residence in the area did well to preserve the original banks of the lagoon. They paid tribute to the natural beauty that was ascribed to divine creation. They built accommodations with access to the water for visitors who came to fish, hunt and otherwise enjoy the area. They took time to incorporate craftsmanship and clever building techniques. Many examples of their handiwork still survive. Due to an ignorant notion that the bounty of lagoon was endless, they didn’t always practice appropriate conservation. Still, there was a sense of responsibility to maintain the natural characteristics of the lagoon as a heritage.

Times have changed. The great depression altered the American psyche, WWII pushed the economy off of the farm and into industrial cities. The boom of the 1950’s prompted creative real estate developers to invent the concept of the “American Dream” as an advertising ploy. The “dream” was achieved by ownership of of a ranch house in the suburbs, a new car, and a TV to be enjoyed by a content family and their pets. Growth became the most important entree on the table of Florida legislators and their success has been profound. Now, millions have a piece of the pie.

The “dream” has expanded into an impressive house with a panoramic view of the water. There is a boat secured to a private dock just past the pool. It must have a meticulously landscaped yard where guests are entertained. Who can deny that the realization of such a dream is a blessing?

Dreams turned to nightmares during the hurricane season of 2004. The yard vanished! After the initial clean-up the theme became restoration. This stage revealed much . . . resiliency . . . quality of neighbors . . . government support . . . trauma resulting in neurotic reactions. I have been amazed at what many have done in attempt to solve the problem of property erosion. Hastily constructed seawalls of off-beat materials like railroad ties, cinder blocks and even cement still in the bag have appeared as concrete proof of “hurricaneurosis’.

One of the most appalling “solutions” is the dumping of quarried coquina rocks directly atop the fantastically sculptured natural coquina that early visitors found so appealing. I was broken hearted to find one of my favorite stretches of shoreline completely buried under tons of gaudy boulders. There was only one hold-out with the original shoreline still intact. The yards behind the exclusive houses were at least 10’ higher than the last time I’d been fishing there. I wondered if it was legal. I was especially appalled when I noticed the technique had been practiced on county and municipal shoreline property.

This is a prime example of tension between rights and freedom. Do property owners have the right to make unilateral decisions to alter the existing shoreline? Will future generations have freedom to enjoy the Indian River Lagoon in its natural state? I believe owners (including government) have a responsibility to preserve or restore. If I had my way, they would be forced to remove the contrived boulders. I would even agree to subsidizing their efforts and personally lend a hand to clean up after the ridiculous rocks haI don’t resent the property owners as much as I want to. Professional landscapers extol this practice as the best possible solution and tout it as “natural” since it is coquina. The operations responsible for the injury are far more concerned with profit than preservation. I know some personally and have a hard time understanding their “golf course” mind set. They could do as well (or better) financially by taking a more natural approach.

I was asked to visit an acquaintance during the design stage of their refurbishment. When I suggested mangroves along a shallow section of the bank the landscaper retorted, “What would you put mangroves in for? They are ugly and aren’t good for anything!”

He snarled when I said, ”In ten years you will have twenty more feet of water front property, a better view, more birds and better fishing.”

Journalists of early travel logs were fascinated by mangroves. They went to great lengths to accurately describe the peculiar plant and recognized its role in “land-making”. From an 1871 issue of Harpers Monthly, “The trunk does not reach below the spreading roots but is supported by them above the water. Here is a network of rootlets wherein the debris of the estuary is entangled, and within which dead leaves and fragments of shell collect to form the meager soil . . . Some of the fruit , instead of dropping to form independent trees grow downward until they reach the water, still remaining attached to the parent, root in the mud, throw out leaves and assume the part of offshoots. Even these offshoots throw off others, which bend over from the knees, and in this way multiply to an indefinite extent.”

These observations demonstrate a deep appreciation that could stand a revival today. In spite of efforts by the enlightened to educate the public, a grave oblivion to the bizarre beauty and intrinsic value of mangroves still exists. Everyone should know that there are strict regulations limiting the cutting or removal of mangroves. By law, only certified contractors are allowed to even trim mangroves. Due to a lack of public awareness many developers and landscapers are getting away with murder. I have heard one developer brag that he figures mangrove fines into his overhead.

I am encouraged by advancements that will improve the situation if embraced by the public. There are native plant nurseries that are experiencing some success. Many of the traditional nurseries and landscapers are happy to accommodate those who want to go more natural. I know some young men who grew up in Satellite Beach who are parlaying a love of their natural heritage and local knowledge into a business specializing in trimming mangroves, shoreline design and natural restoration. It is a trend for the future.

More often than not, the Florida backyard entertainment experience is accompanied by mellow refrains of reggae music. In the minds of most, it is associated with Florida and can be heard around every tiki bar in the state. Like the stock of the landscaping industry it is not indigenous. People accept the bogus association of both with the “Florida lifestyle” because they have been conditioned to.

Reggae is the offshoot of the root expression of the “Rasta Man”. The Rasta is a natural man . . . the seed of Adam . . . he desires a return to life in a spiritual Eden and is not one to accept the corruption of spiritual Babylon as expressed in modern culture. He sees the creation as holy ground. He consciously rejects the greed, decadence and spiritual ignorance that drives the machine that is destroying the enviroment and the souls of men. At the same time . . . he won’t turn down a gig. We all have to eat and support our families. I pray we find a reasonable balance.

We need to be educated about the value of what we have in the way of true natural resources. They are better left alone than altered for profit. I have hope that we will preserve the natural heritage of the lagoon and relieve tension between rights and freedom. We all might need to turn down a gig or two in order to accomplish this.

Note that there are two younger males loitering in the vacinity. You get a rare glimpse of their shoulders protruding from the pressure of their flippers pushing on the bottom. The female ended up in the shallow water near shore in a vain attempt to out distance the determined males. Her ploy worked. The posse of males were only tired out and discouraged in the "skinny water". Later, when the younger males gave up and went on, she swam quietly away with the the large bull to a more secluded rendezvous.