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Bob Solari Chairman District 5 Susan Adams Vice Chairman District 1 July 10, 2019 Robert Salonen, MPA, CEcD Director, Government Affairs & Strategic Partnerships 150 W. University Blvd. Melbourne, FL 32901 RE: Restore Lagoon Inflow Research project Dear Mr. Salonen, Joseph E. Flescher District 2 Tim Zorc District 3 Peter D. O'Bryan District 4 As you are aware, the Florida Institute of Technology was awarded $800,000 during the last legislative session for a Restore Lagoon Inflow Research project. The goal of this project is to gauge the potential impacts of controlled reintroduction of ocean seawater into the Indian River Lagoon as a contributing solution to restoration efforts. As the Florida Institute of Technology explores locations for implementing this project, the Indian River County Board of County Commissioners wishes for you to consider Bethel Creek in Vero Beach as a potential site. As noted in the application for this funding, the service area for this project includes both Brevard County and Indian River County. The Board recognizes the fact that the Bethel Creek area was the location of a natural inlet in the past. This project would continue the history of cooperation between Indian River County and the Florida Institute of Technology. For years, the Florida Institute of Technology maintained a tracking station adjacent to Indian River County's Tracking Station Park. Additionally, when Indian River County installed the Prefabricated Erosion Prevention (PEP) reefs along the beaches of Vero Beach, it was the Florida Institute of Technology that performed the important initial engineering and biological studies of the project. We know that you may be considering other worthy sites for this project. The Indian River County Board of County Commissioners, asks that you seriously consider Bethel Creek as a potential location for this work. Sincerely, //Original Signed// Bbb Solari Chairman 4