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HomeMy WebLinkAboutFebruary 23, 2011 - BOCC, Rep. Rooney, ACE Meeting Between St. Lucie County Representative Thomas J. Rooney U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Colonel Alfred A. Pantano, Jr. Wednesday, February 23, 2011 1:15 pm St. Lucie County Commission Chambers Roger Poitras Administration Annex 2300 Virginia Avenue Ft. Pierce, FL 34982 I. Introductions and Welcome (Commission Chair Craft) II. St. Lucie County/Fort Pierce Beach Projects a. Current physical status of Fort Pierce beach project (SLC - Richard Bouchard) i. Opportunities to secure funding to complete ACOE planning activities in preparation for construction (ACOE) 1. What does Congress and the County need to do? ii. Opportunities to secure funding for construction of the project (ACOE) 1. What does Congress and the County need to do? b. Update on St. Lucie County shoreline feasibility study (SLC - Richard Bouchard) c. Other items III. Fort Pierce Inlet Maintenance Dredging a. Current depth of the inlet (Indian River Terminal) i. Impact to businesses ii. Current activity at the inlet b. Description of the Corps' Navigation Data Center (ACOE) i. Importance of reporting accurate inlet activity ii. Whose responsibility is it to report activity? c. Possibility of obtaining new Federal permits for future Federal dredging (ACOE) d. Other items IV. Everglades Restoration a. Update on Ten-Mile Creek project; Post Authorization Change Report (ACOE) b. Discussion of opportunity for State to purchase remaining 1300 acres needed for C-24 (SLC -Jason Bessey & ACOE) c. Support for Herbert Hoover Dike and C-44 funding (SLC - Commissioners) d. Other items V. Closing Comments / Next Steps Anticipated participants from St. Lucie County Commission Chair Chris Craft Commission Vice Chair Chris Dzadovsky Commissioner Frannie Hutchinson Commissioner Paula Lewis Commissioner Tod Mowery Faye Outlaw, County Administrator Richard Bouchard Jason Bessey Greg Burns Anticipated participants from the Office of Representative Rooney Representative Tom Rooney Hannah Walker, Legislative Director Stephen Leighton, District Director Sherry McCorkle, District Representative Anticipated participants from the Corps of Engineers Colonel AI Pantano Jerry Scarborough, Chief of Programs and Project Management Stu Appelbaum, Chief of Everglades Division Dan Haubner, Project Manager (Fort Pierce Beach) Anticipated participants from the City of Fort Pierce David Recor, City Manager (or his designee) Anticipated participants from the Indian River Terminal Ken Shields Ken Roberts Aerial of Yort ra~e ~ u~ ~ ~ # L`.~ Aerial Image of Port of Fort Pierce ~ r> ,,,ti, 1 . . , * . . Y: . . . ' . . ~ ~ 4..~~{:. ~ . . . . . } Copyright 2001 St. Lucie County http://www.stlucieco.gov/port/maps/aerial_of~ort.htm 2/17/2011 v~.iv cc~YO c A S ET:: C I A T~~ ~7: $ ' FEDERAL ISSUE: Fort Pierce Beach Project and St. Lucie County Feasibility Study BACKGROUND• HOW IT MAY AFFECT ST. LUCIE COUNTY: The Federal government and St. Lucie Counry have long partnered on the Fort Pierce shore protection project and the St. Lucie County shoreline feasibility study. With the earmark ban in Congress, Federal funding for both projects, which in the past generally survived on Congressional earmarks, has become more difficult to obtain. Further complicating matters, Congress has not yet provided the Corps with the flexibility it needs to effectively and efficiently manage the nation's water resource needs. Making matters even more difficult, the erosion situation at Fort Pierce beach has become perilous and action is needed almost immediately to prevent significant damage to both public and private infrastructure. RECOMMENDED POSITION: Support the re-nourishment of the Fort Pierce, FL Federal shore protection project in Fiscal Year 2012 and continued funding of the St. Lucie County feasibility study, which is evaluating erosion along the southern shoreline of the County. More specifically: • Support post-March 4 Fiscal Year 2011 and Fiscal Year 2012 Federal appropriations measures that allow the Corps of Engineers to develop an effective and efficient internal "work plan" that receives the approval of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees (see Exhibit 1) • Support the Corps' internal programming of $350,000 (as provided in the Fiscal Year 2011 Administration budget and both Energy & Water Appropriations bills) after March 4, 2011 for completion of planning activities by the Corps in preparation for future nourishment of the Fort Pierce, FL project • Support the Corps' internal programming of $5 million in Fiscal Year 2012 Federal funding for the beach re-riourishment of the Fort Pierce, FL project (see Exhibit 2) • Support the Corps' internal programming of necessary Fiscal Year 2012 Federal funding for the continuation of the St. Lucie County feasibility study NOTES: Van Scoyac Associates Inc. ~ 1 Q1 Constitufiian Ave., NW ~ Washington, DC 20001 T: 202.638.1950 ~ F: 202.638.7714 ~ www.vsadc.com Page 4 VA.N ~CQ,X4C A £5 ~f~. A C: I A ~T 79 Si FEDERAL ISSUE: Water Resources Development Act BACKGROUND: HOW IT MAY AFFECT ST. LUCIE COUNTY: The Water Resources Development Act authorizes the Corps of Engineers to participate in Federal water resource projects such as the Fort Pierce shore protection project. The legislation also modifies Corps' activities on particular projects and sets guidelines for how the Corps operates. Over the years, the County has taken the lead on advancing Federal studies and initiatives on some of its water resource projects in order to expedite their completion. This includes efforts on the Fort Pierce shore protection project related to slowing the rate of erosion south of the Fort Pierce Inlet and also improving the Federal/local cost share of the project due to the impact of the Federal Inlet. RECOMMENDED POSITION: Support passage of a Water Resources Development Act, including: • Provide a$3.3 million credit to the County for costs incurred by the County for the Fort Pierce, FL Federal beach project, including the General and Limited Reevaluation Reports • Allow for the Fort Pierce, FL General Reevaluation Report to be considered suitable for new project authorization, thereby allowing for the future construction of T-groins south of the Fort Pierce Federal Inlet in order to help reduce the frequency of future beach nourishment cycles NOTES: Van Scayoc Associafes Inc. ~ 101 Canstituti~n Ave., NlN ~ Washington, DC 20001 T: 202.638.1950 ~ F: 202.638.7714 ~ www.vsadc.com Page 6 VA N`S C.4'k' U C A S Ei (7 I A T~~~~:..7: S FEDERAL ISSUE: Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan BACKGROUND~ HOW IT MAY AFFECT ST. LUCIE COUNTY: The Federal government and the State of Florida have long partnered on projects to help restore the Everglades, maintain flood protection, and provide a reliable water supply for Floridians. Among the many projects being implemented are several that impact St. Lucie County. RECOMMENDED POSITION: Support the continuing implementation of all facets of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan, including: • Continued Federal and State action on the Ten-Mile Creek project in St. Lucie County, including expedited completion of the Post Authorization Change Report (Exhibit 4) • Full Federal funding for the restoration of the Herbert Hoover Dike (Exhibit 4) • Full Federal funding for the construction of the C-44 Reservoir and associated storm water treatment areas (see Exhibit 4) • The State purchase of the remaining 1300 acres of land needed for the C-24 Reservoir and storm water treatment area so the Corps of Engineers can proceed with construction of the C-23 and C-24 Reservoirs and storm water treatment areas project, which is part of the original Indian River Lagoon-South project. St. Lucie County supports this project through adoption of Resolution 10-158 (see Exhibit 5) NOTES: Van Scoyoc Associates Inc. 01 Constitution Ave., NW ~ Washington, DC 20001 T: 202.638.1950 ~ F: 202.638.7714 ( www.vsadc.com Page 7 V.~.~T S~'+(~XOC n~, a~ ~a r. 't m m FEDERAL ISSUE: Fort Pierce Inlet Maintenance Dredging BACKGROUND• HOW IT MAY AFFECT ST. LUCIE COUNTY: The Fort Pierce harbor was last dredged by the Corps of Engineers in 1998. The inlet channel and interior turning basin are authorized for a depth of 28 feet, but are currently operating at depths as shallow as 18 and 20 feet, which limits the amount of traffic that can use the harbor (see Exhibit 6). The necessary Federal permits that would allow the Corps to dredge the inlet expired in 2003. Federal funding of $500,000 (generally in the form of an earmark) would allow the Corps to obtain the proper permits. The County would then need to seek additional Federal funding for the dredging of the inlet. Currently, the harbor cannot handle the traffic that would like to use the facilities for shipping. According to the Indian River Terminal, ships are turned away because of the low access depths. The port now regularly turns away trade by ships that require 22-25 feet of draft. That means the Port of Fort Pierce loses, under current conditions, $2 to 3 million in trade per year due to the lack of maintenance dredging of the channel. Recent proposals to import aggregates that meet new standards for construction materials set by State and Federal agencies cannot be accommodated by the Port because the larger vessels needed for efficient transportation of products require up to 25 feet of draft. At least half a dozen prospects have inquired to use Fort Pierce for this purpose. It is estimated that local service businesses lose $300,000 to $450,000, and special transport and commodity providers such as cranes, heavy duty trucks, and the railroad lose as much as $3 to $4.5 million per year in business. The shipping customers also face losses because other ports impose greater costs and less efficiency than the Fort Pierce harbor. RECOMMENDED POSITION: Support efforts to provide Federal funding for the reacquisition of Federal permits that will allow for the maintenance dredging of the Fort Pierce Inlet. NOTES: Van Scoyoc Associates Inc. ~ 101 Ganstitufiion Ave., NW ~ Washington, DC 2U001 T: 202.638.1950 ~ F: 202.638.7714 ~ www.vsadc.com Page 8 MEMORANDUM TO: Governing Board Members FROM: Kenneth G. Ammon, P.E., Deputy Executive Director Everglades Restoration and Capitai Projects Resource Area DATE: January 14, 2010 SUBJECT: SFWMD's Contribution to Ten Mile Creek Water Preserve Area Project's Remediation Effort Background: The Ten Mile Creek Reservoir and Stormwater Treatment Area (STA) project, formally known as the Ten Mile Creek Water Preserve Area, is an offstream water storage and treatment facility adjacent to Ten Mile Creek, a tributary to the north fork of the St. Lucie River, which discharges to the Indian River Lagoon. At present, the reservoir contains only a nominal depth of water and has not yet been placed into operation. This is due to the discovery of problematic issues such as defects in the soil-cement protective facing on the reservoir's interior and excessive piping under the reservoir's embankment, which would result in an unsafe condition to surrounding properties if the reservoir was filled to operational levels. In June 2009, the SFWMD turned operation and maintenance responsibilities for the project back over to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) until remediation construction was completed to a degree that would allow the project to be safely operated as originally intended. On December 14, 2009, the USACE requested a$1,000,000 contribution towards the project from the SFWMD, in accordance with Article II.D of the Project Cooperation Agreement for the Ten Mile Creek Water Preserve Area Critical Restoration Project, dated January 7, 2000. The purpose of the contribution is to provide SFWMD's share of the estimated $2,000,000 in FY10, which is required for the USACE to complete a Post Authorization Change report identifying options for corrective actions at the site. The Post Authorization Change is the USACE's mechanism for obtaining additional construction funding for a remediation project. The Post Authorization Change report is planned to include 10% design and cost estimates for various remediation alternatives, a 30% design and cost estimate on the Tentatively Selected Plan (TSP), an economic analysis of the alternatives and TSP, as well as quality assurance reviews on the report. The USACE's latest schedule assumes the TSP will be identified in August 2010, the Post Authorization Change report will be submitted to USACE Headquarters for Policy Review in November 2011, and pending approval, authority and funding for Final Design and Construction of the Recommended Plan would be provided in October 2012. Construction would begin in November 2013 and completed in November 2015. How this helps meeting the District's 10-year Strategic Plan: Approval of the $1,000,000 in FY10 funding would help the project move closer towards completion of remediation. This would allow the project, designated a Critical Restoration Project in conjunction with the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP), to become operational. Funding Source: This funding involves a budget transfer in the amount of $1,000,000 of ad valorem funds (Okeechobee Basin Capital Fund) from the Operations and Maintenance Resource Area, Operations and Maintenance Program to the Everglades Restoration and Capital Projects Resource Area, CERP Program. This Board item impacts what areas of the District, both resource areas and geography: Everglades Restoration and Capital Projects, along with Operations and Maintenance resource area staff, would be responsible for reviewing the alternatives contained in the Post Authorization Change report and providing comments back to the USACE. Geographically, the area that would ultimately be affected is the existing Ten Mile Creek Reservoir and STA site, located near the intersection of the Turnpike and Okeechobee Road in St. Lucie County. What concerns could this Board item raise? One concern is the ultimate cost of construction for a remediation project, which may range from $13,000,000 to $93,000,000 based on escalated costs, depending on the alternative selected and level of service achieved. The District has not committed to fund its cost share of these improvements. Why should the Governing Board approve this item? The Governing Board should approve this item in order to help the Ten Mile Creek Reservoir and STA become an operable facility. Attachment - Resolution KGA/jd i South Florida County Coalition Congressional Priorities for Health and Human Safety and Environmental Restoration in South Florida December 28, 2010 The county commissions of Broward, Collier, Glades, Hendry, Highlands, Lee, Martin, Miami- Dade, Monroe, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Polk„and St. Lucie counties urge the Florida Congressional Delegation to support increased funding for construction projects aiding in health and human safety, economic development and environmental restoration in south Florida. Additionally, new restoration projects must be authorized by Congress for implementation of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration project.. The counties served by the South Florida Water Management District have come together to unilaterally support the following initiatives for health, and human safety, economic development and environmental restoration in south Florida`. Congressional appropriation priorities should include: Herbert Hoover Dike Double the annual appropriation for the rehabilitation of fhe Herbert Hoover Dike to $260 million Indian River Lagoon South Increase annual appropriation for construction of this Vita) CERP project to $50 million Picayune Strand Increase annual appropriation for construcfion of the vital CERP project to $50 million Congressional authorization priorities should include: Caloosahatchee River, C-43 West Reservoir Congressional authorization of the Caloosahatchee River, C-43 West Reservoir G111 Spreader Canal, Western Project Congressional authorization of.the C-111 Spreader Canal, Western Project Broward County Water Preserve Areas Project Congressional authorization of the Broward County Water Preserve Areas Project Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetland, Phase 1 Project Congressional authorization of the Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetland, Phase 1 Project County Coalition for Responsible Management of Lake Okeechobee • St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee Estuaries • Lake Worth Lagoon 16 County Ecosystem Restoration Summit Friday, December 10, 2010 Okeechobee County While many people equate Everglades National Park with the Everglades ecosystem, it is actually much bigger than that. The greater Everglades ecosystem, sometimes calle,d the south Florida ecosystem, runs south from Orlando through the Chain of Lakes, the Kissimmee Valley, Lake Okeechobee, the remaining Everglades, and on to the waters of Florida Bay and the coral reefs. Sixteen of Florida's 67 counties contain a portion of this ecosystem. Those counties met in December 2010 at the request of Commissioner poug Smith from Martin County, FAC President-Elect, to discuss whether all of South Florida's counties have a comrriori interest in working together to restore the Everglades. While each county has its own perspective and differirig :eoncerns, they agreed that there are certain priorities that could be shared by:tlie 16 counties, and that pooling resources will make the group as a whole more effective than each county would be working on its own. Historv of Ever~lades Restoration and Current Status - US Army Corps of En~ineers (Corp) South Florida Restoration Pro~ram District Commander Col. Al Patano,'Corp Staff Stu Applebaum, Deputy District Engineer for Everglades Restoration, Corp Staff Stu Applebaum and,Col. A1 Patano ga~e',a presentation detailing the history and current status of Everglades Restoration, including the Central and Southern Florida (C&SF) Project, restoration projects encompassed in the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP), and the Herbert Hooker Dike (HHD) Rehabilitation. C&SF Project The C&SF project was authorized in `1948, in order to provide flood control. Other benefits of the project over time have included water conservation and control, prevention of saltwater intrusion, fish and wildlife conservation, water supply to Everglades National Park, and environmental restoration. The project features 46 bridges, 10 locks, 1,000 miles of canals, 720 miles of levees, over 150 water control structures, and 16 pump stations. It is one of the world's most complex water management systems. It continues to be a priority today because the greater Everglades ecosystem is in trouble. There is often either too much or too little water for the south Florida ecosystem. There has been a 50 percent reduction in the spatial extent of the natural system. There has also been a massive reduction in wading bird populations, as well as degradation of water quality, repetitive water shortages and saltwater intrusion. 1 Exotic and invasive plants and animals have altered the ecosystem. The estuary's health is in decline, and 1.7 billion gallons of water per day is wasted to tide. Restoration Projects - CERP CERP was approved in the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2000. It is a progranl for the restoration, preservation and protection of the south Florida ecosystem, while providing for other water- related needs of the region. There are 68 components to the program, including storage projects, stormwater treatment areas (STAs), seepage management projects, as:;well as projects that remove barriers to flow. It has also revised the operations of Everglades Restoration, and will take over 30 years to fully implement. Major ongoing projects were summarized by':Corp staff, including the Kissimmee River Restoration, the Picayune Strand Restoration, and the Indian River Lagoon South (C-44 Reservoir) project, as well as several others. Kissimmee River Restoration This is actually a"foundation project", meaning that it began before the creation of CERP. Four contracts have been awarded for this project, with seven mare to be`awarded in the next three fiscal years. The construction is scheduled to be physically complete in December 2014. This project is restoring the channelized Kissimmee to a more natural flow, which restores wetlands, improves groundwater recharge, and provides a much improved habitat for wildlife, which will restore the vitality of the ecosystem. Picayune Strand This project in Western Collier County will restore sheet flow to Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge. The project includes'83 miles.of canal plugs, 227 miles of road removal, and the addition of three pump stations and spreader swales to reliydrate wetlands in the area. Indian Ri~er_La~oon South: C-4.4 Reservoir Three contracts will be awarded to complete this project. The first construction contract is scheduled to be awarded in May 201 l. The project includes a 3,400 acre (50,600 acre-feet) above-ground reservoir, as well as 6,300 acres of STAs. HHD Rehabilitation The HHD was first authorized in 1930. In includes over 140 miles of dike structure around Lake Okeechobee, which is 720 square miles. The dike was completed in 1962. It is a complex system that includes five gated inlets, five gated outlets, 33 primary and secondary culverts, nine navigation locks, and nine pump stations. It was built using hydraulic dredge and fill methods, and was not built to today's construction standards. It has no overflow capacity. Water can flow into the lake six times faster than it can be released. 2 Several problems with the dike have developed over the years. In the 1970's and 1980's, the lake level was raised for water supply purposes. However, in 1995 and 1998, near failures were experienced due to high water (18.5 feet). In 2005, problems with erosion began to be observed. A high lake level causes uplift pressure, which can cause an internal failure. This is of primary concern after major rain events. Another significant problem is that the structure is aging and needs to be updated. Challenges Going Forward Corp staff also presented their perspective on challenges and issues going forward, including fi.tnding considerations, climate change, changes to CERP, and streamlining processes. Fundin~ The Corps' proposed FY 11 budget includes $180 million for Everglades Restoration and $104.8 million for the HHD rehabilitation. The Corp currently has almost $500 million in construction contracts currently underway for Everglades Restoration (including foundations projects such as the Kissimmee River Restoration, CERP projects, and the HHD rehabilitation). They are scheduled to award $78 million in construction contracts in FY 11. While South Florida has done well in terms of funding, the state of the economy means that more states are competing for less money. Since the Corps, is proliibited from lobbying, it will take a well- coordinated effort by Florida's stakeholders to ensure continuedfunding for the HHD and other important proj ects. Climate Chan~e Global climate change, whatever the cause, is resulting in sea-level rise, warmer temperatures, changing in precipitation patterns and. quantities, _and changes in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, including cyclonic events. Sixty percent of Everglades National Park is less than three feet aUove sea level. An analysis of the effects of climate change on the South Florida Ecosystem is currently undenvay. Revisin~ CERP CERP was not meant to be a static plan. Changes may need to be considexed to update targets relating to flow and other issues. There are also additional water quality needs that must be considered. Streamlining; Processes The Corp is working on streamlining its processes. For example, it typically takes 4.5 years to complete the Project Implementation Report (PIR) phase of a given project, and another 4.5 years to complete the design phase. The Corp is currently revising its guidance to simplify the PIR process, and has made 3 . improvements in its coordination and review processes, particular in the preliminary and intermediate design stages. Historyo uf Ever~lades Restoration and Current Status - SFWMD and Local Restoration Projects Carol Wehle, Executive Director, SFWMD Tom Teets, Assistant Deputy Executive Director, SFWMD Tom Teets and Carol Wehle gave a presentation summarizing regional and local restoration projects, and gave their perspective on challenges and issues for restoration in the future. Everglades Construction Project Investment Since 1994, more than 45,000 acres of STAs have been constructed, representing an investment of $1.8 billion. An additional 11,470 acres of treatment wetlands are under construction, and are scheduled to be completed in December 2010. This component of:the,project represents a$350' million investment. In 2010, over 1,400,000 acre-feet of water was treated. This reduced phosphorus loads, for the year by 76%. Combined with best management practices (BMPs), this lias prevented more than 3,SOQ metric tons of phosphorus from entering the Everglades to date. SFWMD staff also detailed the progress of'three regional projects: the Gl 11 Spreader Canal Western Project, Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands, and:the Lakeside Ranch STA: G111 Spreader Cana1 Western Project This project includes a 590 acre Frog Pond detention area and a pump station. This will create a mound of groundwater:to the south and west;,by pre~enting groundwater seepage to the east and improving water deliveries (including quantity, tirriing; and distribution), to.Eastern Florida Bay. It also includes a second pump station to increase the water level in the Aerojet Canal, to further prevent groundwater seepage to the east. Bisca n~ay Coastal Wetlands The proposed project will replace lost flow and prevent groundwater seepage by redistributing, through a spreader system, available surfaee water entering the area from regional canals. The goal of this project is to improve the ecological health'of Biscayne Bay, including its wetlands, tidal creeks, and habitat, by adjusting the quantity, quality, timing, and distribution of freshwater entering the area. Redistribution of flow and wetlands restoration will improve habitat. Improving salinity distribution can help to re-establish productive nursery habitat for shrimp and shellfish, including oyster reef communities. The project includes pump stations, spreader swales, STAs, flowways, levees, culverts, and backfilling canals located in southeast Miami-Dade County and covers 13,600 acres. The project will capture, treat, and redistribute freshwater runoff from the watershed going into Biscayne Bay, creating more natural 4 ~ water deliveries and expanding the spatial extent and connectivity of coastal wetlands. The project will also improve recreational opportunities in the area. Lakeside Ranch STA This project is part of the Northern Everglades Initiative, enacted by the Florida Legislature in 2007. The project involves the construction of 2,700 acres of wetlands, adjacent to Lake Okeechobee in Western Martin County. It will provide approximately nine to 19 metric tons of phosphorus reduction, improving the water quality of the lake. SFWMD staff also discussed several local projects, including hybrid wetlands treatment technology North of Lake Okeechobee, watershed agricultural BMPs for Lake';Okeechobee, Billy's Creek Preserve, Manatee Pocket dredging, Platt's Creek wetlands restoration project, Wellington Environmental Preserve, C&B tailwater recovery, Lake Trafford in Collier County, the Town of South West Ranches stormwater improvements, and the Bel Aire Sub-Basin 8 stormwater project. Results of Discussion A few key issues were identified for further discussion going forward. Streamlining Processes Because the Corp and the SFWMD-have different regulations and procedures in place, projects typically take a significant amount of time to wind their way through the process. To the extent those processes can be streamlined going forward, it will, help the overall effort. SFWMD noted that local governments can also affect the time it takes to_complete a project, since there are often land use and environmental regulations that must be met at the'local level. Some local governments treat these restoration projects just as they would a proposed development, which can':sometimes cause a delay in getting projects approved at the local level. Revising CERP Some Coalition members indicated that the group may want to discuss revisions to CERP going forward. Funding Priorities and Coordinating a Federal Lobbying Effort Due to the severity of the dike's condition and resulting public safety concerns, the 16 County Coalition voted to make funding for the HHD a priority of the group. The Coalition agreed to coordinate its lobbying effort over the next few months. The group will meet by teleconference at the end of January to hear recommendations on other potential priorities from South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) and Corps staf£ There was also some discussion of coordinating meetings in Washington DC in February. While the Corp is prohibited from lobbying, SFWMD indicated that they could help the counties coordinate this effort. 5 Public Comment There were five members of the public who spoke to the group following the presentations and group discussion. John Marshall - Arthur R. Marshall Foundation Mr. Marshall reiterated the importance of restoring sheet flow to the south Florida ecosystem and connecting Lake Okeechobee to the rest of the system. He distributed, a handout explaining the Foundation's concerns in more detail, which is attached. Paul Grav - Audubon of Florida Mr. Gray expressed concern regarding the Lake Okeechobee Protection P1an 2011 Update Recomrnendations. He discussed the fact that legacy phosphorus is still a problem in the Lake, and that phosphorus in the Lake continues to increase. He argued that the inflow of new`pliosphorus into the Lake should be stopped, and that dumping of solid wastes should be stopped. He distributed a letter from Audubon to SFWMD, which is attached. Barron Moody - Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) Mr. Moody urged the Coalition not to forget about the economic benefif that Florida receives from providing recreational opportunities for its citizens:and visitors. He stated that FWC can work with the counties to create new recreational opportunities and provide an everi greater benefit to Florida's economy. Jeff Koons - former Palm Beach County Commissioner Mr. Koons reiterated the need to focus on environmental restoration in the south Florida ecosystem and encouraged the`counties to create,as much consensus as possible and speak with one voice so that they will be stronger than if they were acting separately. Martha Mus~rove - Arthur F. Marshall Foundation Ms. Musgrove expressed concern that the water in Lake Okeechobee is not drinkable and that there needs to be a continued focus on the water quality of the Lake. 6 ror~ rian tirea rage i oi i ~ ~ ~ . ~ Port Planning Area Click on numbered areas for close-ups Part Pt~irtg ,A~ea r . ~ . i . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ~ _ ~ v . . . . . ~ . . . ~ . . ..e~.. . . . . ~ . ~ 6.17 ~ . ~t - ~ ~atieR~~i~~'~...~~ 'C~~r'~as~ ~+astCiuara SY~ti~n ~ Le end ~ 9 f~.r Roaas ~x~ i ~2~ f^.~° l~ailway ti~ .=,r~ ~ ~7 Ft Pferco Aroa - Study Area ~ ~ +Nater ~ : - ~ I ~ ~ . ~ . : : _ _1~.: ~ - ~ , , . , ti~,,,, . < . , Copyright2001 St. Lucie County http://www.stlucieco.gov/port/maps/port_of_ft_pierce_area.htm 2/17/2011 xevisea rt. rierce rort rian Area rage i or i Close Window M,p?,~ ~F I~C~I~,~' t~F ~C~I~T F~~~R~~ ~'L~4~1~JIN~ AND ~7PER~TIC~~I~ AF~EA~ ~1 Parcels M~[ ~ ~ p~ . ~ ~ . ~ . ~ ~ . ~ - ~S:Li . . ~ . . ~ ~ Parb . . ~ Pianning Araa ? Port. Q Qp6retion9 AreH ~ ~ P~ . . ~ . 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