The Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserve is 67,000 acres with 48,255 acres of seagrass. If we don't support the 'preserve' status for our Bay it will disappear. Governor Friggin' Scott doesn't care about our Biscayne Bay -- we have to be the advocates.
A formal Public Meeting to receive input regarding the Draft Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserves Management Plan will be held on Wednesday, September 7 at 6:30 p.m. at the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science Auditorium, 4600 Rickenbacker Causeway, FL.
To view the draft plan go to this link.
Put the meeting on your calendar. The squeaky wheel gets the oil. You might read the first comment on this post -- you will see why your participation is important in Biscayne Bay politics.
Here are 2 Management Needs mentioned in the proposed 158 page plan:
Ecosystem Science -
The existing water quality and benthic monitoring networks need to expand and add sites within BBAP’s boundaries to better understand sources of changes in the system such as vegetative composition and algal blooms. Aerial photography needs to be more frequent and more accessible to staff and of a resolution that would allow layers to be digitized and used in GIS mapping efforts.
Resource Management -
Sewage mains need to be replaces and stormwater issues need to be addressed in a more comprehensive way to reduce nutrient loading into an oligotrophic system like BBAP. The proposed Reserved Allocation Area protection needs to be implemented to prevent consumptive use withdrawals that are inconsistent with restoration or would further impact Biscayne Bay. Unmanaged mooring areas should be evaluated against those that are managed to see if an effort should be made to bring unofficial, unmanaged areas under a less environmentally impactful arrangement.
3 comments:
And Hello? The Port of Miami plans to blast, bore, and dredge in the Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserve to make way for its mega expansion - Port Tunnel and deep dredge to accommodate the largest freighters in the world, post-Panamax. How about the 600 - 1000 days of blasting - coral reefs off Miami Beach destroyed, acres of seagrass wiped out. What are the Preserve Managers going to do about that?
Rick Scott has made it known to CAMA and the regulators at FDEP that nothing should stand in the way of the port tunnel and dredging projects. And, believe me, nothing will unless there is plenty of citizen participation and oversight. If folks give a damn about the Bay, which is really the one thing that makes this place liveable, then they need to get involved.
The Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserve has cost us 1000's of Jobs and Billions of Dollars so that self-appointed do-gooders can feel good about themselves.
Between the preserve and Biscayne National Park Zero Bay development is allowed. No Dredging for our multi-million dollar boating industry. No new marinas.
No Fill Islands for development for huge property Tax revenue.
Nothing except a mostly barren, sandy bottom. Yes Barren. I fish and dive the area often. I appreciate the importance of Mangroves but tell that to the 1000's of unemployed that they can't work because we have to protect ever square inch of Mangroves.
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