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RESOLUTION NO. 2016- o85 <br />A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY <br />COMMISSIONERS OF INDIAN RIVER COUNTY, <br />FLORIDA, SUPPORTING SENATOR NEGRON'S <br />INITIATIVE TO CLEAN WATER AND MOVE THE WATER <br />SOUTH OF LAKE OKEECHOBEE. <br />WHEREAS, the Indian River Lagoon system, which stretches across 40 percent <br />of Florida's east coast, is the most diverse estuarine environment in North America with <br />more than 4,000 plant and animal species, including manatees, oysters, dolphins, sea <br />turtles and seahorses; and <br />WHEREAS, the Indian River Lagoon is an important commercial and recreational <br />fishery and economic resource to the state and region. The total estimated annual economic value <br />of the lagoon is $3.7 billion, supporting 15,000 full and part-time jobs and providing <br />recreational opportunities for 11 million people per year; and <br />WHEREAS, over the last decade, Senator Joe Negron has worked diligently to <br />promote and protect the Indian River Lagoon; and <br />WHEREAS, recent brown algae blooms in Brevard County and Indian River <br />County and toxic blue-green algae blooms in St. Lucie County and Martin County <br />demonstrate that although efforts have been made to improve the health of the Indian <br />River Lagoon, more needs to be done; and <br />WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners of Indian River County (the "Board") <br />supports science based solutions to bring the Indian River Lagoon back to health; and <br />WHEREAS, Senator Negron has announced that he plans on working with property <br />owners in the Everglades Agricultural Area to secure voluntary purchases of land and implement <br />water storage projects to reduce harmful discharges into the St. Lucie Estuary; and <br />WHEREAS, Senator Negron's initiative is to store and clean phosphorus -laden water <br />before releasing such water into Everglades National Park; and <br />WHEREAS, permanent storage south of Lake Okeechobee is needed as part of the overall <br />plan to help improve the health of the Indian River Lagoon and the Everglades; and <br />WHEREAS, Senator Negron has been meeting with the agricultural community, <br />scientists, community advocates and others with relevant backgrounds and knowledge, regarding <br />strategies to reduce and eventually eliminate harmful discharges from Lake Okeechobee; and <br />WHEREAS, Senator Negron has identified areas that appear optimum for new water <br />storage; and <br />1 <br />F:\Anomey\tinda\GENERAE\Resolutions & Ordinances\Resolutions\Negron SuvPon lzgwmdo <br />