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CT 2 3 1985 62 523 <br />Snyder informed the Board that they have a video film presenta- <br />tion which Steve Bieman will explain as he has spent more time on <br />the property than any of them. <br />Mr. Bieman proceeded to make the T.V. presentation showing 1. <br />the actual condition of the area. Discussion arose re the mech- <br />anism that controls the water flow in and out of this area, and <br />Mr. Bieman advised that there is a water gate with flashboard <br />risers. At times they take the boards out of the risers and pump <br />the water through, which results in a large amount of fresh water <br />coming out through the ditch, which is happening now. There is <br />also a small breach about 1' wide in the side of a flashboard <br />riser; so, the spot where this would completely block the fish <br />off is, in fact, breached, and that apparently is where the fish <br />could be getting in. Mr. Bieman reported that these films were <br />made a year ago and emphasized that the orange grove pumps fresh <br />water through and into the river at times when it can least stand <br />it. It is all fresh water since practically none of the saline <br />water of the river flushes back into the wetlands. <br />Commissioner Bowman asked who controls that flashboard, and <br />Mr. Bieman assumed it is the grove owner. He explained that what <br />they are trying to do is lower the water table in the grove to a <br />point where the roots of the orange trees will not be saturated <br />and rot. When there is a lot of rain, they try to move as much <br />water out of there as fast as they can, and that's when they <br />remove the boards. <br />Mr. Bieman continued to give a detailed description of the <br />land, and Brian Barnett of the Fish & Game Commission made the <br />point that some of the vegetation described by Mr. Bieman is that <br />which grows on high marsh. <br />Further discussion ensued re the environmentally sensitive <br />lands, and Environmental Planner Art Challacombe confirmed that <br />by the definition of our Comprehensive Plan, this is environ- <br />mentally sensitive land, but it is altered and definitely not of <br />a functional quality as shown historically. <br />74 <br />