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RESOLUTION NO. 2005- 004 A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF INDIAN RIVER COUNTY, FLORIDA, TO SUPPORT 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, thirty-six 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 fisheries, 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. Johns 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 1996 for State acquisition of estuarine wetlands and undeveloped upland buffers associated with the Indian River Lagoon; and WHEREAS, the Acquisition Restoration Council is considering the re- prioritization of projects on the Florida Forever list; and WHEREAS, 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 compliments County efforts and objectives to preserve the environmental and economic values of the Indian River Lagoon, consistent with the goals, objectives and policies of the Indian River County Comprehensive Plan, and in furtherance of the objectives of the National Estuary Program and the Surface Water Improvement and Management Program; and WHEREAS, the Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program (IRLNEP), affiliated with the St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD), the South Florida, Water Management District (SFWMD), and the U.S. Army Corps 1 F:\Public Works\KeithM\Miscellaneous Agenda Items,Resolutions, etc\Resolution Supporting the Indian River Lagoon Blueway Program.doc