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ROOK ©-U f'Ar,E Hoc Committee's original plan recommendations, with some modifications. FDNR staff and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Manatee Coordinator have met with Bill Moody, representing water skiing interests, in an effort to accommodate popular water. recreation use areas of the county. The FDNR has also proposed to widen the non -restricted travel corridor of the Intracoastal waterway channel by adding 100 feet to each side of the channel to allow for additional boater maneuvering area for safety considerations. Comparison with the Board's February 6, 1990 Plan and the Sebastian Inlet Tax District's Recommended Plan St. Sebastian River: The FDNR's proposed plan is consistent with the Board's adopted plan for the St. Sebastian River, which calls for a slow speed throughout that portion of the St. Sebastian River in Indian River County. The Sebastian Inlet Tax District's recommended plan would allow for a 20 m.p.h. travel corridor in the St. Sebastian- River, between the U.S. #1 Bridge and the F.E.C. railroad tracks, with the remainder of the St. Sebastian River in Indian River County being slow speed. The travel corridor was proposed to provide river residents a reasonable travel time in accessing the Intracoastal Waterway channel. The District has also recommended that a non- restricted area extend from the U.S. #1 Bridge to the ICW channel. North of Wabasso Bridge: The Board's adopted plan placed no speed restrictions in the Indian River Lagoon north of Wabasso Bridge. The FDNR proposal recommends a slow speed zone from the western shoreline of the Lagoon to the ICW channel in the area of the St. Sebastian River, and a similar area in the vicinity of Duck Point. The remaining lagoon north of Wabasso Bridge is proposed to have a 600 foot slow speed buffer along the lagoon shorelines. The Sebastian Inlet Tax District's plan varies slightly from the FDNR's proposal north of Wabasso in that it would allow for a non- restricted area in the vicinity of islands just south of the St. Sebastian River in the Indian River Lagoon. The islands and surrounding waters are presently used as a water ski area. South of Wabasso Bridge: The Board's adopted plan placed a slow speed zone at the Moorings Development, and a 40 m.p.h. maximum speed/moderate wake in the Jungle Trail Narrows. The FDNR's proposed plan calls for non -restricted areas in the Jungle Trail Narrows, Gifford Cut, and between Prang Island and Porpoise Point. The proposed FDNR plan also would provide a non -restricted area north and south of the Wabasso Causeway. The ICW channel plus 100 foot buffers non -restricted area would apply throughout Indian River County. The remainder of the Indian River Lagoon south of Wabasso Bridge is proposed to be slow speed. It is the FDNR and USFWS' position that the proposed revised plan represents a compromise from the standpoint of manatee protection, taking into consideration popular recreational use areas, and reasonable boat traveling time allowances. The areas proposed for slow speed were arrived at with consideration to water depths, seagrass mapping, manatee siting, and manatee behavior pattern observances. RECOMMENDATIONS: Staff recommends that the Board of County Commissioners adopt the proposed revised Interim Manatee Protection Speed Zone Plan, with the following changes: 26