This week, Volusia County has officially granted $3.8 million to help local construction designated for environmental, cultural, historic and outdoor projects as part of its ECHO program.

Among those recipients is the Edgewater-based Riverside Conservancy, which is getting $107,000 for natural restoration efforts.

Kelli McGee serves as the executive director for the organization and spends most of her days near the Indian River Lagoon.

“And we’re heading out in kayaks in search of manatees,” she said.

Although she was born in Virginia, Volusia County is where she spent her summers as a child.

Frequent trips to the surrounding waters ultimately sparked a passion within her, leading to a career as an environmental attorney.

“We like to document if there are any sick and injured manatees, any starving manatees,” she said.

Serving as executive director of Riverside Conservancy is a hat she wears with pride. With it, she takes on the responsibility of helping to make sure Florida maintains healthy water for native animals like dolphins and manatees.

Her commitment is one of the reasons the organization received the grant from Volusia County’s ECHO program.

“It will be a demonstration area,” said McGee. “It’ll be the first of its kind in Volusia County.”

Riverside Conservancy is now building a living shoreline in place of what used to be a run-down sea wall.

They’re taking out the concrete and replacing it with natural vegetation.

On top of the much-needed mangrove trees, the grant will help complete a floating outdoor classroom.

“A year from now, this entire area will be to the proper natural slope, and it’ll be thriving with mangroves and natural vegetation,” McGee said.

Perhaps what she is most excited about is the opportunity to inform her community. 

The conservancy has been around since 2017, and now with this project, they hope to set a positive example on efforts to preserve surrounding habitats.

Along with the restoration efforts, an accessible kayak launch will be available to the public.