HomeMy WebLinkAbout20-238 RESOLUTION NO. 2020-238
A RESOLUTION OF ST. LUCIE COUNTY, FLORIDA, SUPPORTING INNOVATIVE PILOT
PROJECTS ON LAKE OKEECHOBEE TO MECHANICALLY REMOVE INVASIVE AQUATIC
VEGETATION TO BETTER UNDERSTAND EFFECTIVE METHODS TO REDUCE
NUTRIENT POLLUTION.
WHEREAS: The health of Lake Okeechobee is intricately connected to the wellbeing of our state,
its residents, wildlife, and our economy, and nutrient loads in Lake Okeechobee;
WHEREAS: Legacy nutrients and other excess nutrient sources can contribute to algal blooms;
WHEREAS: Unless a concerted effort is made to remove nutrients from Lake Okeechobee, billions
of dollars in efforts to restore the Everglades and protect our estuaries will never be realized;
WHEREAS: Pilot projects, such as the Aguaculture project, propose mechanical removal of algae
and invasive aquatic vegetation to create a soil amendment beneficial to agriculture;
WHEREAS:The Florida Department of Environmental Protection should support scalable, versatile,
cost effective solutions that provide economic benefit and potential to be utilized statewide;
WHEREAS: Innovative methods that demonstrate an overall nutrient removal from the watershed
should be credited activities, or Best Management Practices (BMPs) that can be incorporated into
Basin Management Action Plans (BMAPs) for stakeholder nutrient reduction credits;
WHEREAS: Aguaculture has identified agriculture interests in the region to partner with, has
applied for a DEP Innovative Technology grant with FWC as a sponsor and is pursuing similar grants
and funding opportunities; additionally the Army Corps of Engineers, FDACS and SFWMD have
committed their resources to realizing this initiative and they are asking for support from St. Lucie
County.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY ST. LUCIE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
OF FLORIDA THAT:
1. Lake Okeechobee is worth protecting for the benefit of all and nutrient reduction is a primary
goal to protect our waters.
2. Reducing nutrient loading and removing legacy nutrients will help combat algal blooms.
3. Solutions must be implemented that support the billions of dollars Floridians have invested in
saving the Everglades and our estuaries. This project also shows promise for future use for
waterbodies in our own county due to its flexible nature.
4. We the undersigned join our State and Federal agencies in support of pilot projects moving
forward which will result in nutrient reduction within our watershed.
After motion and second, the vote on this resolution was as follows:
Chair Cathy Townsend AYE
Vice Chair Chris Dzadovsky AYE
Commissioner Linda Bartz AYE
Commissioner Sean Mitchell AYE
Commissioner Frannie Hutchinson AYE
PASSED AND DULY ADOPTED this 20th day of October 2020.
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
ST. LUCIE COUNTY, FLORIDA
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