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I D7U'i O • 13.B. 1 RESOLUTION 2007-163 A RESOLUTION BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF INDIAN RIVER COUNTY, FLORIDA, IN SUPPORT OF MAINTAINING THE INDIAN RIVER LAGOON BLUEWAY PROJECT ON THE 'A" ACQUISITION LIST UNDER THE FLORIDA FOREVER PROGRAM. WHEREAS, the Indian River Lagoon, a 156 -mile long estuary on Florida's east coast has been designated by the United States Government as an Estuary of National Significance; and WHEREAS, the Indian River Lagoon system contains more species of plants and animals than any other estuary in North America, 36 of which are rare, endangered or threatened; and WHEREAS, the Indian River Lagoon has been documented to generate revenues of more than $730 million annually, including over $338 million in recreational fishing and more than $300 million annually in boat and marine sales; and WHEREAS restoration and protection of the Indian River Lagoon system, including associated estuarine wetlands and undeveloped riverfront upland buffers, are critical to sustain the viability of the Lagoon as a natural and economic resource; and WHEREAS, the Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program, in cooperation with the St. John s River Water Management District, the South Florida Water Management District, and the Florida Counties of Volusia, Brevard, Indian River, St. Lucie and Martin, sponsored the Indian River Lagoon Blueway CARL application in 1997 for State acquisition of estuarine wetlands and undeveloped upland buffers associated with the Indian River Lagoon; and WHEREAS, the State purchase of Indian River Lagoon wetlands and buffers for restoration and protection purposes is in the public interest of the citizens of Indian River County and complements County efforts and objectives to preserve the environmental and economic values of the Indian River Lagoon contained within the Comprehensive Management Plan of Indian River County, the National Estuary Program, and the Surface Water Improvement and Management Program, and WHEREAS, Indian River County has invested millions of dollars into critical land acquisition and management of land to improve water quality with the Indian River Lagoon,