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PLAN The Hutchinson Island_ Resource Management Plan, itself, applies to the study area delineated by the Governor and interpreted by the committee. Comprising that part of the barrier island extending from the Sebastian Inlet in Indian River County to the St. Lucie Inlet in Martin County, the study area includes the three counties and four municipalities having jurisdiction over that part of the barrier island. The study area- also includes the Indian River to the mean high water line on the mainland. The Plan addresses four principal areas of concern within the study area. These are: (1) environmentally sensitive re- sources; (2) potable water/wastewater; (3) capital improvements programming; and (4) transportation. For each of these areas of concern, the Plan includes a statement of findings, an identification of issues and problems, and a set of policies. The policies applicable to each of these areas of concern constitute the management plan for the study area. It is this set of policies which must be taken by the local governments within the study area and incorporated within their respective sets of development regulations. ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE RESOURCES In relation to environmentally sensitive resources, the Plan addresses three major systems. These are the Indian River estuary system, the marine turtles nesting habitat system, and the Atlantic Beach and Dune system. Within these systems, the environmentally sensitive resources identified and addressed by the Plan are as follows: wetlands, mangroves, deepwater habitats, reefs, grassbeds, beaches, the dune preservation zone, manatee and sea turtle nesting habitats, and Outstanding Florida Waters as well as Class II and III Waters. The Plan addresses these resources and -identifies a number of issues and problems relating to them. The major issues identified by the Plan in relation to environ- mentally sensitive resources include: elimination of mangrove and marsh areas, bulkheading of the river, damage to dunes and dune vegetation, impacts on water quality, reduced public beach access, inconsistent wetland definitions, impacts to marine turtle nesting areas, inadequate design and construction standards for coastal construction, and damage to worm reefs. To address these issues and problems, the Plan has established two general policies as well as a number of specific policies. The first policy states that no activity shall be allowed that results in the alteration, degradation or destruction of environmentally sensitive resources. Several exemptions to this policy are included. The second policy states that restoration or mitigation programs will be required where unavoidable damage occurs in environmentally sensitive areas. ISC 5 r, r- �N0V 211983 6C4K rAi��h� `