Resolution 084-1993
- , -C;-i nE.COPD
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, 93 FEB 22 Af'J 10 35
RESOLUTION NO. 084 D.-..1,Q93 K:'"': .,f, .='
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(;lK. CIR. CT.
WHEREAS, Florida Bay, a critical liriidJ<ie:=i.flO~h~',',marine, ecosystem
of the Florida Keys, is undergoing ecological deterioration
of catastrophic proportions, and
WHEREAS, the seagrass die-off in Florida Bay is an ecological
disaster unprecedented in Florida and the nation, and
WHEREAS, a wide array of scientists have reached an unprecedented
consensus that the ecological collapse of Florida Bay is the
result of cutting off more than 90% of the freshwater that
historically flowed into Florida Bay from the Everglades,
WHEREAS, this cut-off of freshwater is changing Florida Bay from
an estuary into a hypersaline lagoon, and'
WHEREAS, as an estuary, Florida Bay is the vital nursery area for
pink shrimp, lobster, stone crab and many species of finfish
that are the basis of commercial and sport fisheries, and
WHEREAS, these valuable species of marine life are suffering
major declines as a result of the cut-off of freshwater and
the resulting changes in Florida Bay, and
WHEREAS, there is a strong consensus among scientists that the
ecological collapse of Florida Bay is a major threat to the
coral reefs, sport fisheries, commercial fisheries and
marine waters of the Florida Keys, due to declining water
quality, vastly reduced water clarity, and loss of the
estuary, and
WHEREAS, the multimillion dollar tourist economy of the Florida
Keys depends upon clean marine waters, healthy reefs for
diving and snorkeling, and productive fishing for sportsmen,
and
WHEREAS, the commercial fishing industry of the Florida Keys,
which is second only to tourism, depends upon productive
fisheries, and
WHEREAS, the economy of the Florida Keys is seriously threatened
by the ecological collapse of Florida Bay, and
WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners recognizes the
critical importance of water quality, and has taken steps on
their own, such as providing research funding and developing
a draft Comprehensive Plan to reduce water pollution from
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local sources, and
WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County
desires that the South Florida Water Management District
schedule public hearings, in the Keys, of the Lower East
Coast Regional Water Supply Plan Advisory Committee, in
order for the Committee to hear about these concerns from
the citizens and taxpayers of the Florida Keys, and
WHEREAS, these public hearings need to be at times and locations
that allow the working taxpayers of the Florida Keys to
attend and express their concerns,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of County Commissioners of
Monroe County, Florida:
1~ That the Governing Board of the South Florida Water
Management District is hereby requested to schedule two
public hearings of the Lower East Coast Regional Water
Supply Plan Advisory Committee, for the following times and
locations:
--Upper Keys, 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. on April 7, 1993
--Key West, 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. on April 8, 1993
2. That the Governing Board of the South Florida Water
Management District is hereby requested to immediately begin
actions which will restore the historical quantity, quality
and timing of freshwater flows into Florida Bay, and to
inform the County Commissioners and taxpayers of Monroe
County of their actions at the aforementioned public
hearings.
3. That the County Clerk is hereby requested to transmit
copies of this resolution to the Governor of Florida, and
the members of the Governing Board of the South Florida
Water Management District.
PASSED AND ADOPTED THIS 18 DAY OF February 19 93
,
Mayor London Yes
Mayor Pro Tem Cheal Yes
Commissioner Harvey Yes
Commissioner Freeman Yes
Commissioner Reich Yes
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(Seal)
Attest: DANNY L. KOLHAGE, CLERK
By ~~C. L!Jv~
Deputy Cler~
By
APP~DJl]~ .J - .... ,
AND/L~~~__.________
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13 :NIP" t3
Date
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