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RESOLUTION NO. 2013 - 037 <br />A RESOLUTION OF THE INDIAN RIVER COUNTY BOARD <br />OF COMMISSIONERS RECOGNIZING THE NEED FOR <br />ACTION TO ADDRESS THE HEALTH OF THE INDIAN <br />RIVER LAGOON ECOSYSTEM, SUPPORTING THE <br />INDIAN RIVER LAGOON COALITION, AND PLEDGING <br />THE COOPERATION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY <br />COMMISSIONERS IN EFFORTS TO FIND SOLUTIONS <br />FOR RESTORING THE HEALTH OF THE INDIAN RIVER <br />LAGOON; PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. <br />WHEREAS, the Indian River Lagoon is a 156 mile long estuarine ecosystem <br />which contributes $3.7 billion to the coastal economy of Indian River County and four <br />additional Florida counties; and' <br />WHEREAS, high. nutrient inputs to the waters of the Indian River Lagoon result <br />from storm water releases, runoff, seeping septic systems, and sewage treatment plant <br />overflow events along the 156 miles of the ecosystem; and <br />WHEREAS, these pollutants have been and continue to degrade the Indian River <br />Lagoon ecosystem, leading to declining habitat quality for fish and wildlife, including <br />dolphins, sea turtles, manatees, and birds; and <br />WHEREAS, such high nutrient inputs have also detrimentally affected seagrass <br />beds in the Indian River Lagoon, which seagrass beds are the biological foundation of <br />this ecosystem and a prime indicator of the health of the Indian River Lagoon; and <br />WHEREAS, the significant loss of these seagrass beds, as well as mangroves, <br />oyster reefs, and wetlands, affects the viability of both lagoon and ocean fisheries as <br />well as habitat for birds and other wi{dlife; and <br />WHEREAS, the continuing degradation of the Indian River Lagoon ecosystem <br />indicates that past and current efforts to address these effects may not be sufficient; <br />and <br />1 <br />