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RESOLUTION NO.2013- 0 4,; RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF INDIAN RIVER COUNTY COUNTY, FLORIDA, SUPPORTING MARTIN COUNTY AND ST. LUCIE COUNTY IN THEIR EFFORTS TO REQUEST THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF FLORIDA, THROUGH EXECUTIVE ORDER AND/OR OTHER POWERS AVAILABLE UNDER THE LAW, TO ACTIVATE ALL AVAILABLE STATE AND LOCAL EMERGENCY AND RELIEF RESOURCES AND MECHANISMS FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE INDIAN RIVER LAGOON AND ST. LUCIE ESTUARY WITHIN THEIR COUNTIES. WHEREAS, the Indian River Lagoon is a diverse, shallow -water estuary stretching across 40 percent of Florida's east coast; and WHEREAS, the Lagoon is an important commercial and recreational fishery and economic resource to the state and region. The total estimated annual economic value of the lagoon is $3.7 billion, supporting 15,000 full and part-time jobs and providing recreational opportunities for 11 million people per year; and WHEREAS, the St. Lucie River and Estuary is an ecological jewel on Florida's Treasure Coast that is integral to the environmental and economic well-being of Martin County and St. Lucie County. The St. Lucie River is part of the larger Indian River Lagoon system, the most diverse estuarine environment in North America with more than 4,000 plant and animal species, including manatees, oysters, dolphins, sea turtles and seahorses; and WHEREAS, extensive historical modifications to the St. Lucie River and its water- shed have altered the hydrology of the region and as a result, heavy rainfall can bring large influxes of fresh water into the St. Lucie Estuary from storm water runoff within the basin, Lake Okeechobee releases or bath. The increased freshwater flows affect salinity levels and water quality in the estuary, potentially causing environmental harm; and WHEREAS, this runoff is causing a public health threat as microcystis aeruginosa, a single -celled blue green alga, or cyanobacterium, has proliferated in the Lagoon to form dense blooms, which produce multiple toxins, including liver toxins, as well as neurotoxins; and WHEREAS, 47,000 acres of sea grass have been killed to date in the Indian River Lagoon since 2010, which far exceeds any documented or remembered events in terms of geographic scale, bloom intensity and d u r a t i o n. I t is alarming because sea grass is an indicator of the Lagoon's health, a food source for manatees and a nursery, refuge and a place of forage for a variety of fish and other marine life; and WHEREAS, fresh water discharges are killing sea life - 280 Man atees, 60 Bottle- nose Dolphins and 250 Brawn Pelicans have died in the Indian River since 2010; and F:4lrtwneyll.tndalCiENFRAL1Resnhtlons&OrdinancesVierolutlonslLagoonSuppornng St Lucie andMartln.dacr 1