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stormwater runoff and septic tank effluent will degrade <br />water quality of the adjacent wildlife refuge over the <br />long term. In addition, the presence of a bulkhead will <br />alter water and sediment transport in the vicinity of <br />the proposed development (to the detriment of the <br />existing conditions within the wildlife refuge). <br />2. Extensive stands of seagrass have recently been <br />documented at the site. <br />Two dominant species include Shoal Grass and Manatee <br />Grass. The ecological importance of seagrass habitats <br />is well documented. The County has recognized the <br />importance of seagrass through the formation of the <br />Seagrass Advisory Committee several years ago and the <br />formation of the Marine Advisory Committee this year. <br />3. The Indian River County Comprehensive Plan contains two <br />policies which run contrary to development of submerged <br />bottomlands in the Indian River Lagoon: <br />a. The County shall not permit activities within <br />or adjacent to the lagoon which threaten to <br />degrade or result in the closing of open <br />shell fishing waters. The County encourages <br />the opening of additional shell fishing areas <br />within Class II waters. <br />F - <br />b. The County -shall require that all water <br />dependent activities (marinas, docks) and <br />infringements (roads, bulkheads) be located <br />landward or spanned on pilings, where such <br />uses are located on submerged bottoms and <br />wetlands. <br />RECOMMENDATION: <br />Staff recommends that the Board of County Commissioners authorize' <br />staff to transmit a letter to the DER that states the County's <br />objection to the above referenced application due to the following <br />factors: _ <br />1. The proposed development will not conform to County <br />policy as contained in ' the Indian River County <br />Comprehensive Land. Use Plan; <br />2. The filling of submerged lands adjacent_ to Pelican <br />Island National Wildlife Refuge will have negative "short <br />term and long term consequences on water quality' within <br />the refuge. <br />3. The submerged bottomlands support a lush stand of <br />seagrass. Filling of the site will irrevocably destroy <br />the seagrass at the site and may degrade water quality <br />and alter .water flow patterns such that seagrass <br />viability may be severely threatened in the vicinity of <br />the project. <br />BOOK 70 P",, <br />9 256 <br />DEC 8 1987 <br />L <br />