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4) St. Johns Stormwater Management Area (SJSMA) SJSMA is 6200 acre stormwater management area between Fellsmere Grade and Zig Zag Canal within the boundary of the Fellsmere Water Control District (FWCD). This storage area will receive stormwater discharged from BCSMA, BCMCA, and the agricultural area to the east. The construction of SJSMA will produce a significant recovery of the stormwater from the area within FWCD that is currently being discharged to tidewater via the C-54 Canal. ALTERNATIVES & ANALYSIS: On June 19, 1985 the Ad Hoc Committee To Study The S t . John's River Upper Basin Plan held its first meeting. Since that time, the Committee has held two additional meetings and has attended a public workshop sponsored by the St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD). At its last meeting the Committee prepared a list of comments and recommendations regarding the General Design Memorandum to be sent to the Army Corps of Engineers and the SJRWMD. RECOMMENDATION: The Ad Hoc Committee recommends that the Board of County Commissioners authorize staff to forward the following comments and modifications to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers regarding the General Design Memorandum. 1) The Fellsmere Grade: This Grade has been maintained by Indian River County for public access for over 50 years. The western two miles that lie adjacent to the Osceola County line has been under a County maintenance agreement with Osceola County since the early 1950s. The County also designated this corridor in their Comprehensive Land Use Plan as .-a Historic and Scenic Road. Indian River County and Osceola County built this road in the early 1920's and worked with the old State Road Department in the 1930's to improve it as an east -west corridor. The public has used this road for over 75 years. This road has never been "abandoned" by the public as stated in the G.D.M. The east -west travel was discontinued in the late 1940's, but approximately 8 miles from County Road 507 to the M Canal is used for recreational purposes. The G.D.M. should include the establishment and continued availability of the Fellsmere Grade for a future east -west transportation corridor to serve the residents of 'Indian River County, Brevard County, and Osceola County. Establishment of the Grade for future use will provide not only transportation benefits, but will minimize adverse environmental impacts to the newly restored marsh when an east -west corridor is needed. The Grade will also provide an evacuation route from the urban coastline areas. 2) Water SuDD1 a) The G.D.M. does not address the Main Canal" and the large amounts of fresh water discharges that was to be assumed going into the north fork of the Sebastian River. Dis- cussion with the District indicates a structure being planned to the east of one pump station in the Main Canal. The water flowing into the Main Canal will be diverted westward into the "Stick Marsh", a major component of the Corps's G.D.M. The G.D.M. does not address this structure 37 SEP 4 1985 BOOK 61