Resolution 117-1999
Board of County Commissioners
RESOLUTION NO. 117 -1999
A RESOLUTION OF THE MONROE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS SUPPORTING FULL AND EXPEDITIOUS ACQUISITION OF THE
EAST EVERGLADES 8.5 SQUARE MILE AREA AS THE ECOLOGICALLY
SUSTAINABLE AND MOST FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE APPROACH TO
REESTABLISHING NECESSARY, HISTORIC WATER FLOWS, CRITICAL TO THE
RESTORATION OF FLORIDA BAY.
WHEREAS, the ecology of Florida Bay has been drastically altered by the restriction of
fresh water deliveries from the Everglades; and
WHEREAS, water quality and the overall health of Florida Bay are in a critical state of
3: c:' \0."
C) , \0 -
decl d z )::> _ r-
ine; an ::oC"")~ ='6 I"T1
gr."; ::0 0
IT' ;>r---'I'"
WHEREAS, Florida Bay is a vital, natural breeding habitat for the co~~iaIJishies
S ;0. :::L: :::0
..... . C) > ::::0
industry of Monroe County; and ~C"")r :z:: f"T1
.:-f:t: S n
.." :t> .. ,....
r ~ '-'
WHEREAS, the back-country recreational fishing industry in Mon!l'8e rrco~tYE9
dependent upon a healthy Florida Bay; and
WHEREAS, the tourism economy of MC depends on the health of its natural marine
resources; and
WHEREAS, a healthy and productive Florida Bay contributes significant economic and
recreational benefits to citizens of adjacent counties and throughout Florida and the United
States; and
WHEREAS, restoring historic, freshwater flows to Florida Bay and is a key element in the
implementation of the Central & South Florida Restudy; and
WHEREAS, the C&SF Project Restudy, 50% of which is being paid for by all American
taxpayers, has been mandated by Congress to restore the South Florida/Everglades
ecosystem and enhance water supply and flood control benefits to the citizens of South
Florida into the 21 s1 Century; and
WHEREAS, the 8.5 Square Mile Area lies west of the East Coast Protective Levee and is
currently subject to intense flooding during the wet season, flooding which will intensify and
occur for longer annual durations under the Everglades restoration scenario proposed by
the C&SF Project Restudy; and
WHEREAS, it has been determined by the US Army Corps of Engineers and the South
Florida Water Management District that government must provide the approximately 365
homes in the 8.5 Square Mile Area full flood protection or must purchase the area before it
can implement restoration objectives for the Northeast Shark Slough and Florida Bay; and
WHEREAS, providing flood protection to the 8.5 Square Mile Area, which is located on
the edge of Northeast Shark Slough, is considered by the National Park Service to be
fundamentally incompatible with the restoration and future management of a healthy
Slough, and is, in fact, not supported by the National Park Service; and
WHEREAS, full acquisition of the 8.5 Square Mile Area has been determined by the
SFWMD to be the most fiscally responsible and most ecologically sustainable approach to
restoring Northeast Shark Slough and Florida Bay, and was selected on November 12, 1998,
by that agency to be the Locally Preferred Option in its Modified Water Delivery Project; and
WHEREAS, full acquisition of the 8.5 Square Mile Area, as the Water Management
District's Locally Preferred Option, is also supported by several important entities, including
the Governor's Commission for a Sustainable South Florida, The Everglades Coalition, the US
Department of the Interior, the Martin County Board of County Commissioners, US Senator
Bob Graham and US Senator Connie Mack; and
WHEREAS, Monroe County Citizens have made great sacrifices in term of the burdens
of stringent devetopment controls combined with aggressive public land acquisition
programs to protect and restore this unique ecosystem; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MONROE COUNTY,
FLORIDA:
That this Board supports acquisition in its entirety of the area of Miami-Dade County,
Florida commonly called "the 8.5 Square Mile Area" and recommends acquisition proceed
in an expeditious manner consistent with the restoration of Florida Bay, and supports fair and
full compensation for current residents and property owners in the Area, and further
recommends that full acquisition costs be shared by federal, state, and Miami-Dade County
governments.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County,
Florida, at a special meeting of said Board held on the 24th day of March, 1999.
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
By \?~~~~AA~
Deput Ie
. .~
\..U . ~~t.aJ ~ V' ~.
By
Mayor/Chairman
~
jres8,5sqmile