HomeMy WebLinkAbout13-180RESOLUTION NO. 13-180
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS OF ST. LUCIE COUNTY, FLORIDA,
REQUESTING THE GOVERNOR OF FLORIDA, THROUGH
EXECUTIVE ORDER AND/OR OTHER POWERS
AVAILABLE UNDER THE LAW, TO ACTIVATE ALL
AVAILABLE STATE AND LOCAL EMERGENCY AND RELIEF
RESOURCES AND MECHANISMS FOR THE
PROTECTION OF THE INDIAN RIVER LAGOON AND
ST. LUCIE ESTUARY
WHEREAS, the Indian River Lagoon is a diverse, shallow-water estuary
stretching across 40 percent of Florida's east coast; and
WHEREAS, the Lagoon is an important commercial and recreational fishery
and economic resource to the state and region. The total estimated annual economic
value of the lagoon is $3.7 billion, supporting 15,000 full and part-time jobs
and providing recreational opportunities for 11 million people per year; and
WHEREAS, the St. Lucie River and Estuary is an ecological jewel on Florida's
Treasure Coast that is integral to the environmental and economic well-being
of Martin and St. Lucie Counties. The St. Lucie River is part of the larger Indian
River Lagoon system, the most diverse estuarine environment in North America
with more than 4,000 plant and animal species, including manatees, oysters,
dolphins, sea turtles and seahorses; and
WHEREAS, extensive historical modifications to the St. Lucie River and its
watershed have altered the hydrology of the region and as a result, heavy rainfall
can bring large influxes of fresh water into the St. Lucie Estuary from storm water
runoff within the basin, Lake Okeechobee releases or both. The increased freshwater
flows affect salinity levels and water quality in the estuary, potentially causing
environmental harm; and
WHEREAS, this runoff is causing a public health threat as microcystis
aeruginosa, a single-celled blue green alga, or cyanobacterium, has proliferated
in the Lagoon to form dense blooms, which produce multiple toxins, including liver
toxins, as well as, neurotoxins; and
WHEREAS, 47,000 acres of sea grass have been killed to date in the Indian
River Lagoon since 2010, which far exceeds any documented or remembered
events in terms of geographic scale, bloom intensity and duration . It is
alarming because sea grass is an indicator of the lagoon's health, a food source
for manatees and a nursery, refuge and a place of forage for a variety of fish and
other marine life; and
WHEREAS, fresh water discharges are killing sea life - 280 Manatees,
60 Bottlenose Dolphins and 250 Brown Pelicans have died in the Indian River since
2010; and
WHEREAS, the Lagoon is at a turning point. The coming months could
herald a slow recovery of this unique ecosystem or an imminent collapse of the
remaining portion of the estuary that has been sustainable up to this point; and
WHEREAS, this Board requests that the Governor declare an emergency
so that the Counties can proceed to seek direct assistance with any and all
agencies of the State of Florida as may be needed to meet this emergency.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS OF ST. LUCIE COUNTY, FLORIDA, AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. St. Lucie County requests that the Governor of the State of
Florida consider issuing an Executive Order, and/or other powers available under
law, to activate all available State and Local emergency and relief
resources and mechanisms to protect the Indian River Lagoon and the St. Lucie
Estuary.
SECTION 2. The County Administrator shall forward this Resolution to the
Governor of the State of Florida, the County's State and Federal legislative
delegation and the Martin County Administrator.
SECTION 3. This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon adoption.
After motion and second, the vote on this resolution was as follows:
Chairman Tod Mowery AYE
Vice Chair Frannie Hutchinson AYE
Commissioner Chris Dzadovsky AYE
Commissioner Paula A. Lewis AYE
Commissioner Kim Johnson AYE
PASSED AND DULY ADOPTED this 17~' day of September 2013.
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
ST. LUCIE COUNTY, FLORIDA
~~: `fi'g-d .~
~ CHAIRMAN
APPROVED AS TO LEGAL FORM AND
CORR TNESS:
:./
~~"
COUNTY ~`TT RNEY