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-1-t"to the Interim Manatee Protection Plan adopted by the Board in <br />1990. Since the County's Marine Advisory/Narrows Watershed Action <br />Committee (MANWAC) had not developed specific recommendations <br />regarding the state proposal prior to the May 5th meeting, the <br />Board tabled further discussion of the issue until MANWAC could <br />finalize its recommendations. <br />Subsequently, at their meeting on May 11, 1992, MANWAC reviewed the <br />FDNR proposal and voted to make recommendations to the Board <br />regarding comments to transmit to the state. MANWAC's recommended <br />comments to FDNR are as follows: <br />1. Revise the seasonal recreation use areas so that the 35 <br />m.p.h. speed allowance time frame extends from April 15th <br />to October 31st each year. <br />2. Eliminate all slow speed restrictions in the Intracoastal <br />Waterway channel (and adjacent 100' buffers), including <br />the elimination of seasonal slow speed within the channel <br />of the Jungle Trail narrows, EXCEPT FOR recommended slow <br />speed under bridges and between channel markers 137 and <br />143 (Riomar Cut). <br />3. Revise the configuration of the unregulated recreation <br />use area in the south portion of the county, east of <br />channel markers 153-156, so that the unregulated area <br />is 300 yards wide extending from the south tip of Prang <br />Island to Porpoise Point, whereby the eastern boundary of <br />the 300 yard width is the barrier island shoreline. <br />Moreover, revise the unregulated area to include a 100 <br />yard wide access corridor from the Intracoastal Waterway <br />channel to "Martin Cove", along the south side of the <br />existing east -west powerline (near channel marker 153). <br />4. Leave all residential canals (e.g., Vero Shores canals) <br />open to public access, even if at idle speeds. <br />5. [FDNR] dredge the flats at the confluence of the south <br />fork of the St. Sebastian River, to an appropriate depth <br />to allow for safe passage of both manatees and boats. <br />ALTERNATIVES & ANALYSIS <br />MANWAC recommendations were finalized after extensive discussion of <br />the issues associated with the state manatee protection speed zone <br />proposal. Seasoned boaters and fishermen participated in the <br />discussion, as well as water skiers. MANWAC Is recommendations <br />represent a reasonable compromise on the part of river users in the <br />interest of manatee protection. <br />RECOMMENDATION <br />Staff recommends that the Board approve MANWAC's recommended <br />comments, and authorize staff to transmit said comments to FDNR. <br />42 <br />