From his patio as well as from his boat, however, Mongioi started noticing that the creek wasn't looking too healthy.

Shoals and islands formed easily. Previously deep-water areas became too shallow for boats. The water always was cloudy.

When, in 2001, the St. Johns Water Management District completed a dredging project that removed years of stormwater deposits and supposedly restored the creek to its former glory, Mongioi was elated.

Turkey Creek had been saved. But not for long.

"We had a lot of rain that summer and I noticed that the creek was becoming shallow again," Mongioi said.

Runoff from the C-1 Canal was again choking the creek, threatening to strangle it with muck and sand.

"That much sediment kills the creek and lagoon," Mongioi said.

Time for action

With sand comes muck with pollutants and fertilizer runoff. Water clarity disappears, as do sea grasses and, eventually, fish.The C-1 Canal system dumps 100 square miles of canal water into Turkey Creek, which eventually flows into the Indian River Lagoon.

It was time for action.

In a model of grass-roots activism, Mongioi and other neighbors of Turkey Creek formed the Friends of Turkey Creek, a volunteer group to influence both politicians and bureaucrats.

Armed with historical photographs of the creek in its heyday, close-up shots of its current condition, and a good dose of polite perseverance, the group approached decision-makers for help.

Persistence wrapped in diplomacy paid off, for the Friends of Turkey were able to persuade state Rep. Mitch Needelman, R-Melbourne, and U.S. Rep. Dave Weldon, R-Indialantic, to back proposals that would improve the creek.

Support from the city of Palm Bay, Army Corps of Engineers, St. Johns River Water Management District, the state Department of Environmental Protection and the Melbourne-Tilllman Water Control District followed.

Maintenance dredging has been in the planning stage for two years. It is scheduled to be completed in the spring.

Final answer

A sediment trap will be installed to capture suspended solids from the canal.But dredging is not the final answer to Turkey Creek's problems.

"Dredging is a very expensive, short-term fix," Mongioi said.

But the Friends of Turkey Creek want a permanent solution. They have assisted in getting approval for funding for the installation of a structure near Minton Road that will divert water west into the St. Johns River, away from Turkey Creek.

It's been a game of hide-and-seek, as funding for the C-1 Rediversion Project, as the endeavor is called, appears one year only to disappear the next.

"We became very active in trying to get the funding back," Mongioi said.

Thanks to Weldon, funds again have been restored for continuation of the project.

When completed, it will play a major role in the future health of Turkey Creek and the Indian River Lagoon.

"We want to restore Turkey Creek to what it once was and we are optimistic about its future," Mongioi said.