Resolution 135-1993
Commissioner A. Earl Cheal
RESOLUTION 135-1993
A RESOLUTION BY THE MONROE COUNTY BOARD
OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS REQUESTING THE
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, SECRETARY
OF COMMERCE, SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR,
SECRETARY OF THE ARMY, CHIEF OF THE U. S.
ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS, ADMINISTRATOR
OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY,
SENATORS GRAHAM AND MACK, REPRESENTATIVES
DEUTSCH, GOVERNOR CHILES, SECRETARY OF
DNR/DER, SOUTH FLORIDA WATER MANAGEMENT
DISTRICT GOVERNING BOARD, FLORIDA SENATOR
JONES AND FLORIDA REPRESENTATIVE RON SAmmERS ~
TO HELP BY IMMEDIATELY GIVING HIGH PRIO~TY
TO SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASING LOW NUTRIEN~E" ~
FRESH WATER FLOWS TO FLORIDA BAY AND RESTORING-<
MORE NATURAL FLOW PATTERNS. - J,
-
'1
Pl
.......,
'..-.1
~,
U
N
W
WHEREAS, FLORIDA BAY is in crisis NOW, and
WHEREAS, scientists are almost universally in
agreement that a lack of historical fresh water flows to Florida
Bay has caused super saline conditions which have resulted in
seagrass die offs and the loss of marine life in those waters,
and
WHEREAS, the Monroe County dockside fish landings in 1990
were valued at $48.7 million which resulted in a wholesale value
of $109 million and shellfish accounted for 80% of the landings.
Between 1981 to 1990 there was a 54% reduction in the shellfish
catch, and
WHEREAS, many fishing guides have reported cancelations
resulting from the algae bloom, and
WHEREAS, divers have reported severe impacts on water
clarity and ability to conduct dives as a result of the algae in
the water column, and
WHEREAS, scientists have documented the presence of high
salinity, high temperature waters from Florida Bay on the reef
track, and
WHEREAS, the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary staff
has expressed alarmed concern about the impacts of the algae
bloom on the Sanctuary, and
WHEREAS, the lack of fresh water to Florida Bay was
recognized by the Lower East Coast Regional Water Supply Plan
Advisory Committee in their recommendation to the South Florida
Water Management District Governing Board in which they
recommended that Board immediately take all possible actions to
restore historic fresh water flows to eastern Florida Bay, and
WHEREAS, although the immediate effects have already been
felt by the fishing industry, this crisis will have a ripple
effect on all of the Keys' economy, and
WHEREAS, in many public meetings the public has been
unanimous in their support for restoration of historic fresh
water flows to Florida Bay.
NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved that the Monroe County Board
of County Commissioners hereby URGENTLY requests HELP from The
President of the United States, Secretary of Commerce, Secretary
of the Interior, Secretary of the Army, Chief of the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers, Director of the Environmental Protection
Agency, Senator Bob Graham, Senator Connie Mack, Representative
Peter Deutsch, Governor Lawton Chiles of Florida, Secretary
of DNR/DER, South Florida Water Management District Governing
Board, Florida Senator Daryl Jones and Florida Representative
Ron Saunders.
We request the above named persons help by IMMEDIATELY
giving a very high priority to reestablishing historical fresh
water flows to Florida Bay.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board of County Commissioners of
Monroe County, Florida, at a regular meeting of said Board held
on the 13th day of April , A.D., 1993.
Mayor London
Mayor Pro Tern Cheal
Commissioner Freeman
Commissioner Harvey
Commissioner Reich
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
(SEAL)
OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
OE COUNTY, F
ATTEST: DANNY L. KOLHAGE, CLERK
BY: bJ~J~f/J4tJ
DEP CL
.4,"PROVED ~~:2c FORM
AN({!~~/:ll.
rw
Attorney"s Office