Brevard County voters will decide Tuesday whether to renew a half-cent sales tax that has helped fund Indian River Lagoon cleanup projects since it was approved in 2016, a decision supporters say could shape the next decade of restoration work.

The tax has generated about $580 million for lagoon cleanup efforts, including dredging and stormwater filtration projects. Supporters said those projects have helped reduce pollution, improve water quality and support the return of seagrass in parts of the lagoon.

Craig Wallace, chairman of the Brevard Indian River Lagoon Coalition, said he has seen major changes since moving to the area about 10 years ago.

“When I moved in 10 years ago, my heart sunk,” Wallace said. “I moved here just to live on the lagoon.”

Wallace said conditions have improved over time, pointing to fewer large algae blooms as one sign of progress.

“We haven’t seen a whole, lagoon-wide algae bloom in at least five years,” he said.

The Indian River Lagoon has faced years of environmental stress, including algae blooms, seagrass loss and water quality problems. The half-cent sales tax was created to help pay for long-term restoration projects in Brevard County.

Some residents said the work is far from finished.

“There is a lot of work here that needs to be done,” Brevard County resident Roger Mondloch said. “I don’t want to ingest the water.”

Mondloch said he is willing to continue paying the tax if it means more work can be done to clean up the lagoon.

Not all voters agree. Some residents said they do not support extending the tax, especially with other items on the ballot, including Amendment 3.

Early voting is underway. Voters with mail-in ballots should make sure they are returned by the election deadline Tuesday, Nov. 3.

If approved, the renewed sales tax would continue funding lagoon cleanup work for another 10 years.