13th Lagoon Drift Experiment After-Action Report Released

Since 2017, we have been working with partners, volunteers and thousands of citizen scientists across Palm Beach County to study the transport and accumulation of marine debris in regional waterways using eco-friendly wooden drift cards. On April 14, 2025 we deployed cards for our 13th Lake Worth Lagoon Drift Card Study experiment with the help of Friends of Manatee Lagoon, Independence Middle School’s SciQuest Academy, Manatee Lagoon, Palm Beach Day Academy, The Benjamin School and United States Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 5-4, and we are pleased to share the results with you.

April 2025 Experiment

380 citizen scientists involved

280 eco-friendly drift cards deployed

7 inshore deployment locations around Lake Worth Lagoon, the Intracoastal Waterway and Loxahatchee River

Each Lagoon Drift experiment provides further insights into where trash and pollution entering our waterways may go, while engaging our community in conversations about human impacts on the environment.

April 2025 Experimental Results

26% drift cards found and reported

66% of reported drift cards were found inshore, within the Lake Worth Lagoon, Intracoastal Waterway or Loxahatchee River

33% of reported drift cards were found offshore on beaches

Go to the Lagoon Drift webpage to learn more about this citizen science experiment and access the full after-action report.

Thank you to everyone who participated in the creation, decoration, deployment and recovery of the cards, and helped make this another successful experiment! If you find a drift card to report or would like to get involved in future Lagoon Drift experiments, please contact us at [email protected].