Resolution 075-2003
Commissioner David Rice
Resolution # 075 -2003
A RESOLUTION OF THE MONROE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
SUPPORTING THE COMPREHENSIVE EVERGLADES RESTORATION PLAN; URGING
CONGRESSIONAL AUTHORIZATION OF THE INDIAN RIVER LAGOON FEASffiILITY
STUDY, THE SOUTHERN GOLDEN GATE ESTATES AND THE WATER PRESERVE
AREAS, INCLUDING THE BIRD DRIVE RECHARGE AREA AND SOUTHERN
COMPARTMENT OF THE HlLLSBORO IMPOUNDMENT; AND SUPPORTING STATE
APPROVAL OF THE INDIAN RIVER LAGOON FEASffiILITY STUDY, THE SOUTHERN
GOLDEN GATE ESTATES AND THE WATER PRESERVE AREAS PROJECT, INCLUDING
THE BIRD DRIVE RECHARGE AREA AND SOUTHERN COMPARTMENT OF THE
HlLLSBORO IMPOUNDMENT.
WHEREAS, the Everglades ecosystem, spanning from the Kissimmee River Valley to Florida Bay, is a
significant national resource and international treasure; and
WHEREAS, Monroe County has long supported Everglades restoration and recognizes it as an
important part of the future economic well being of the region; and
WHEREAS, on December 11 th, 2000, Congress approved the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration
Plan (CERP); and
WHEREAS, Everglades restoration must move forward expeditiously; and
WHEREAS, Everglades restoration requires that Congress approve each restoration project and three
projects were not approved during the 2002 session of Congress; and
WHEREAS, three projects, the Indian River Lagoon Feasibility Study, the Southern Golden Gate
Estates project and the Water Preserve Areas (Bird Drive Recharge Area and the Southern Compartment of the
Hillsboro Impoundment), are immediately necessary because of development pressure, escalating costs of
delay, and impending estuarine ecological collapse; and
WHEREAS, the Southern Compartment of the Hillsboro Impoundment may expand the potential for
enhancing critical water storage; and
WHEREAS, these projects promise to provide large-scale restoration early in the CERP process, thus
demonstrating the worth of the investment the federal, state and local taxpayers are making in this historic
restoration effort; and
WHEREAS, these projects repair previous damage caused by federal and state water control projects;
and
WHEREAS, these projects contain more than half of the total land area in the restoration plan, and, if
approved expeditiously, will provide impressive ecological benefits well before 2010, including:
· 270 square miles (-172,000 acres) of restored and protected wetlands and uplands,
· restored habitat for more than 2,200 species, at least 35 of which are threatened or endangered (including,
manatee, snail kite, wood stork, red-cockaded woodpecker, scrub jay, crested caracara, whooping crane, bald
eagle, indigo snake, eastern loggerhead turtle, Atlantic green turtle, leatherback turtle, Atlantic hawks bill, and
Atlantic Ridley turtle),
· tens of millions of dollars in associated economic and quality of life benefits annually,
· improved water quality for the Everglades, Florida Bay, 10,000 Islands, St. Lucie Estuary, and Lake
Okeechobee; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, MONROE COUNTY,
FLORIDA:
Section 1. Monroe County recognizes the significant value of the Comprehensive Everglades
Restoration Plan (CERP).
Section 2. Monroe County urges Congress to authorize the Indian River Lagoon Feasibility Study,
the Southern Golden Gate Estates Project and the Water Preserve Areas, including the Bird Drive Recharge
Area and the Southern Compartment of the Hillsboro Impoundment, in a Water Resources Development Act or
another legislative vehicle consistent with the assurances provisions ofWRDA 2000.
Section 3. Monroe County urges the State of Florida Department of Environmental Protection to
approve the Indian River Lagoon Feasibility Study, the Southern Golden Gate Estates Project and the Water
Preserve Areas, including the Bird Drive Recharge Area and the Southern Compartment of the Hillsboro
Impoundment.
Section 4. A certified copy of this resolution shall be sent to the Chair of the Committee on
Environment and Public Works, the Secretary of the State of Florida Department of Environmental Protection,
and the President and CEO of Audubon of Florida.
Section 5. EFFECTIVE DATE
This Resolution shall become effective upon adoption.
ADOPTED this 19th day of February, 2003.
Mayor Dixie Spehar
Mayor Pro Tem Murray Nelson
Commissioner Charles "Sonny" McCoy
, Coliittlissioner George Neugent
C6mini$sioner David P. Rice
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Attest:' QANNY L. KOLHAGE, Clerk
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BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
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