Item Q1Time Approximate 10:00AM
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY
Meeting Date: December 9.2015 Division: County Administrator
Bulk Item: Yes No XX Staff Contact: Lindsey Ballard/292-4441
AGENDA ITEM WORDING: Request to speak to the County Commissioners to provide an
update in the situation in the Florida Bay — Julie Dick, Esq.
ITEM BACKGROUND:
PREVIOUS RELEVANT BOCC ACTION:
CONTRACT/AGREEMENT CHANGES:
STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
TOTAL COST:
INDIRECT COST: BUDGETED:
COST TO COUNTY: SOURCE OF FUNDS:
REVENUE PRODUCING: AMOUNT PER MONTH Year
APPROVED BY: County Atty _ OMB/Purchasing Risk Management
DOCUMENTATION: Included _ Not Required xx
DISPOSITION: AGENDA ITEM #
Revised 1/09
Ballard -Lindsey
From: Julie Dick <julie@evergladeslaw.org>
Sent: Tuesday, December 01, 2015 9:41 AM
To: Ballard -Lindsey; Gastesi-Roman
Subject: Agenda Item
Hi Lindsey and Roman,
For the December 9th meeting we would like 30 minutes on the agenda at the 10 am time slot to provide an
update on the situation in Florida Bay. The presentation will be given by myself and Dr. Stephen Davis from
the Everglades Foundation.
I hope this isn't too late for your meeting this morning. I can send additional details if needed.
Best regards,
Julie Dick
Staff Attorney
Everglades Law Center
104 Crandon Blvd., Suite 104-B
Key Biscayne, FL 33149
c: 312-399-4057
www.evergladeslaw.orq
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FLORIDA BAY: AN ECOSYSTEM ON THE BRINK
Background
he Florida Bay estuary is located at the southern
edge of the Everglades ecosystem at the tip of the
Florida peninsula. This shallow water body, which
connects to the Gulf of Mexico to the west and hugs the
Florida Keys to the southeast, covers nearly 1,100 square
miles of interconnected mangrove islands, sea grass
meadows and mud flats. Florida Bay has been a
world -class fishing destination for nearly 75 years, with its
robust populations of tarpon, bonefish, snook, and numer-
ous other species attracting fishermen from afar.
This one -of -a -kind ecosystem is nourished by freshwater
flows from the Everglades that mix with saltwater in the
bay to provide important habitat for species, including
American crocodiles, roseate spoonbills, and Caribbean
spiny lobsters.
Florida Bay is an essential part of South Florida's econo-
my, comprising a significant portion of the coastal Ever-
glades recreational fishing industry worth $880 million
annually. The Bay also supports robust commercial shrimp
and stone crab fisheries worth more rr"
than $80 million dollars a year.
Inflows to Florida Bay from Shark River and Taylor
Sloughs. Historic inflows from Taylor Slough in blue,
and current modified flows in red.
PHOTO: North Swell Media
Fishing in the crystal blue waters of Florida Bay.
The Problem
Historically, Florida Bay received its fresh water from
Taylor and Shark River sloughs in what is now Ever-
glades National Park. However, development and man-
made canals have diverted more than 50 percent of
traditional freshwater which is now discharged it to tide,
instead of being sent south into Florida Bay. Thus, the
River of Grass no longer provide freshwater inflows
needed to maintaining healthy salinity levels needed to
support fish, shellfish and other species.
CONTINUED ON OTHER SIDE
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FOUNDATION
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CONTINUED FROM THE FRONT SIDE
Today, Florida Bay is more dependent than ever on
rainfall; and in the face of South Florida's record 2015
drought, scientists are reporting record high salinity
levels and temperatures, resulting in fish kills and sea
grass die -offs —conditions that could lead to cata-
strophic algal blooms not seen since the early 1990s.
LESSONS•
"I am concerned that this is a precursor to the
horrible situation we had in the 80's. The accumu-
lation of neglect and lack of protecting this
resource is putting it on the verge of collapse
beyond anything we've ever seen before." Sandy
Moret, Owner, Florida Keys Outfitters, Nov. 2015.
In 1991, the crystalline turquoise waters of Florida
Bay turned to a murky "pea soup" during a toxic
algae bloom that lasted for years. The incident
triggered by high salinity levels and sea grass die
off that began in 1987 following low rainfall wiped
out populations of sponges, spiny lobster and
diminished sea trout that some scientists believe
still have not recovered. The regional drought and
reduced Everglades inflows created hypersaline
conditions blamed for historic low shrimp
harvests and high unemployment within Florida
fishing industry are nearly identical to conditions
that developed in the summer of 2015.
Close-up showing dead seagrass blades adjacent
to remnant healthy plants. PHOTO: Fwcc-FwRI
What Can Be Done?
Restoring the flow of clean freshwater to Florida Bay can
prevent future algae blooms and ensure a healthy habitat
and viable estuary for future generations. The plan to do
this already exists — the Comprehensive Everglades
Restoration Plan (CERP), authorized by Congress in 2000,
will achieve a more natural flow of water to protect Florida
Bay if political and bureaucratic delays can be overcome.
Dead seagrass floating to the surface in central
Florida Bay, Summer 2015. PHOTO: NPs
Solutions
1 Secure dedicated funding to accelerate priority
CERP projects, including new storage outlined in
Florida's 20-year plan;
2 Fast track authorization and construction of the
Central Everglades Planning Project (CEPP),
which can bring more than 200,000 acre-feet of
water will increase freshwater flows to Florida Bay;
3 Further bridging of Tamiami Trail and operation of
the C-111 N Spreader to deliver promised benefits.