Resolution 405-2015 f
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Mayor Pro Tern Neugent
RESOLUTION NO. 405 -2015
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
REGARDING THE ECOLOGICAL CONDITIONS AND
RESTORATION NEEDS OF EVERGLADES NATIONAL
PARK AND FLORIDA BAY; URGING THE SOUTH
FLORIDA ECOSYSTEM RESTORATION TASK FORCE
AND THE STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS TO
EXPEDITE FULL IMPLEMENTATION OF PLANNED
RESTORATION PROJECTS; REQUESTING RE-
INITIATION OF THE BI-ANNUAL FLORIDA BAY
SCIENCE CONFERENCE; AND INVITING THE SOUTH
FLORIDA WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT TO BRIEF
THE COMMISSION ON ISSUES RELATED TO THE
IMPACTS OF THE CURRENT CRISIS IN FLORIDA BAY
AND TO OUTLINE A PLAN MOVING FORWARD FOR
THE CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION OF CRITICAL
RESTORATION PROJECTS THAT WILL HELP TO
PREVENT SIMILAR CATASTROPHES FROM
OCCURRING IN THE FUTURE.
WHEREAS,the waters of the Florida Keys are connected to and dependent on the
Everglades landscape as the primary source of fresh water that serves as the foundation of the
nearshore estuarine environment; and
WHEREAS, Monroe County's coast line encompasses Florida Bay, the Florida Keys
National Marine Sanctuary and Everglades National Park; and
WHEREAS,Florida Bay is within the vitally important ecosystem located between the
mainland and the Florida Keys, with approximately 20% of Florida Bay within the boundaries of
the FKNMS and approximately 80% of Florida Bay within the boundaries of Everglades
National Park; and
WHEREAS,the ecological health of the coastal and marine resources of Monroe County
is inextricably linked to that of Florida Bay and Everglades National Park; and
WHEREAS,Florida Bay comprises a significant portion of the coastal Everglades
recreational fishing industry worth$880 million annually and commercial shrimp and stone crab
fisheries worth more than$80 million annually; and
WHEREAS,the ecosystem of the Florida Keys including Florida Bay attracts over 4
million visitors and over$4.5 billion in economic activity annually, generating$192 million in
sales tax revenue for the State of Florida each year; and
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Mayor Pro Tern Neugent
WHEREAS,the health of Florida Bay is vital to the multi-billion dollar fishing and
ecotourism industry of South Florida, including commercial and recreational fishing, snorkeling,
diving,boat and equipment rentals, and other related businesses; and
WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County recognizes that the
restoration of America's Everglades is critical to the long-term sustainability of South Florida's
economy, quality of life, and environment; and
WHEREAS, these restoration projects are funded by the federal and state government
with goals of restoring wetlands, ecosystems, national parks and wildlife refuges and protecting
threatened and endangered species; and
WHEREAS, lack of freshwater flow, coupled with unseasonably low rainfall over the
past year, have led to high salinity in Florida Bay which has contributed to resultant mass
seagrass die-offs that may continue to worsen; and
WHEREAS, scientists caution that a harmful algal bloom in Florida Bay is possible as a
result of the widespread sea grass decomposition that could lead to further habitat loss for a
number of species, a disaster from which it would take many years to recover; and
WHEREAS,the dire situation in Florida Bay is a symptom of a larger water crisis
plaguing Florida whereby northern coastal estuaries are being inundated by Lake Okeechobee
discharges while the Everglades National Park and Florida Bay are starved for freshwater due to
lack of infrastructure for treatment and storage of water and restoration of flow; and
WHEREAS, in years past the agencies involved in management of Florida Bay and
Everglades restoration projects held a bi-annual Florida Bay Science Conference, which was a
productive gathering of scientists and managers that synthesized current conditions, science and
management of Florida Bay;
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of County Commissioners of
Monroe County that:
1. The state and federal agency partners that implement South Florida restoration
projects (the South Florida Water Management District, Department of
Environmental Protection and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) are urged to
expedite full implementation of planned restoration projects, and operate them in
a manner designed to maximize restoration goals and ecological benefits to Everglades
National Park and Florida Bay without delay or minimization.
2. The bi-annual Florida Bay Science Conference be reinitiated to promote a deeper
understanding of the current conditions, science, and management of Florida Bay.
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Mayor Pro Tern Neugent
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3. We invite the South Florida Water Management District to attend a Commission
meeting to discuss issues related to the impacts of the current crisis in Florida Bay
and to outline a plan moving forward for the construction and operation of critical
restoration projects that will help to prevent similar catastrophes from occurring in the
future.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County
Florida, at a regular meeting of said Board held on the 9th day of December, 2015.
Mayor Heather Carruthers Yes
Mayor pro tem George Neugent Yes
Commissioner Danny L. Kolhage Yes
Commissioner David Rice Yes
Commissioner Sylvia Murphy Yes
(SEAL)
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MONROE COU , " -O ' DA
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