HomeMy WebLinkAbout16-107RESOLUTION NO. 16-107
A RESOLUTION REQUESTING EMERGENCY ACTION REGARDING
NUTRIENT OVERENRICHMENT IN AND AROUND THE INDIAN RIVER
LAGOON AND OTHER AFFECTED WATER BODIES, LAGOONS AND
ESTUARIES, RESULTING IN TOXIC ALGAL BLOOMS THAT ENDANGER
PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY, FISH AND WILDLIFE POPULATIONS, AND
SENSITIVE SEAGRASS AND WETLANDS AREAS CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL
ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECONOMIC IMPACTS THE RESPONSE TO WHICH
IS BEYOND THE CAPABILITIES OF THE STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
SUCH THAT FEDERAL ASSISTANCE IS NECESSARY.
WHEREAS, the Indian River Lagoon is North America's more diverse estuary, with more than 2100
species of plants and 2200 animals, including 35 species listed as threatened or endangered; and
WHEREAS, over the course of Florida's history, human activity has caused the runoff of nutrients
into the Indian River Lagoon and other affected watersheds from a number of sources; and
WHEREAS, Lake Okeechobee is the largest freshwater lake in Florida and the second largest
freshwater lake contained entirely within the contiguous 48 states; and
WHEREAS, in order to prevent a breach in Lake Okeechobee's Herbert Hoover Dike, the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers releases nutrient -rich freshwater east and west through the St. Lucie River and the
Caloosahatchee River; and
WHEREAS, due to historic high rainfall during the dry season, the Army Corps of Engineers has
been discharging nutrient -rich water into the St. Lucie River at a rate of hundreds of millions of gallons
every day; and
WHEREAS, this nutrient -rich discharge flows into the St. Lucie Estuary, the Indian River Lagoon and
other affected water bodies, estuaries, wetlands, tidal waters and lagoons including the Lake Worth
Lagoon, contributing to toxic algal blooms which adversely affect public health and safety, and marine plant
and animal life; and
WHEREAS, these conditions have also caused the cessation and/or significant reduction of
recreational activities and local business operations, impacting Florida's economy and job market; and
WHEREAS, because the Atlantic Hurricane Season officially began on June 1, 2016, and will end on
November 30, 2016, the likelihood of these discharges increases dramatically; and
WHEREAS, past and current efforts to address these impacts have been insufficient, resulting in
the continuing degradation of the ecosystem and an immediate crisis; and
WHEREAS, success in reversing this devastating trend will require the support and cooperation of
the state and federal government; and
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WHEREAS, Section 501 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 42
U.S.C. State Statute 5121-5191, authorizes the Governor to request a federal declaration of emergency by
the President based upon a finding that the situation is of such severity and magnitude that effective
response is beyond the capabilities of State and local governments; and
NOW THEREFORE, be it resolved that the Board of County Commissioners of St. Lucie County,
Florida respectfully request that Governor Scott:
1. Request an immediate Emergency Disaster Declaration from the President on the affected
water bodies — to be accompanied by assistance from FEMA and USDA, in addition to the
announcement of emergency SBA loans.
2. Request an immediate review of the current Lake Okeechobee Regulation Schedule (LOBS)
which was last revised in 2008.
3. Request a 10 -day temporary suspension of the releases from Lake Okeechobee to allow
estuaries to flush with the natural flow of salt water. The suspension of releases to the St.
Lucie River eastward should not be offset by releases to the Caloosahatchee River westward,
although any temporary suspension would be subject to exigent flood safety measures
required before and during active storm events.
4. Request emergency funding to accelerate Herbert Hoover Dike repairs.
5. Request Everglades restoration funding and the fast tracking of high impact Everglades
projects in both construction and planning phases.
5. Support use of Amendment 1 funds for design of 507,000 acre-feet of additional storage,
treatment, and conveyance south of Lake Okeechobee, and for the associated purchase of
identified land for said storage to redirect water that would otherwise be discharged into the
estuaries, away from the estuaries, as recommended in the 2015 independent Technical
Review by the University of Florida Water Caloosahatchee Estuaries and Move More Water
from Lake Okeechobee to the Southern Everglades.
7. Support completion of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP).
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of County Commissioners of St. Lucie County,
Florida, that:
After a motion and second, the vote on this resolution was as follows:
Chairman Kim Johnson
AYE
Vice Chairman Chris Dzadovsky
AYE
Commissioner Tod Mowery
AYE
Commissioner Paula A. Lewis
AYE
Commissioner Frannie Hutchinson
AYE
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PASSED AND DULY ADOPTED this 15 day of
__: 2016.
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BOARDOF C NTY C 15510NER5
5T. LUCIE1C NTY, O IDA
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APPROVED S TO FORM
CORRECTNE $n %J /./
BY:
County Attorn