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5. Beach Restoration and Renourishment <br />Background: The Florida Department of Environmental Protection has a Beach Management Funding Assis- <br />tance Program to protect and restore the state's beaches. Erosion leaves miles of beaches, public infrastructure <br />and upland development vulnerable to the next storm event as well as impacting tourism. Currently, beach re - <br />nourishment is funded via documentarystamps along with countless other programs. This leaves beach renour- <br />ishment projects fighting every year for a very small piece of a large pie. <br />Indian River County, like its sister counties to the north and to the south on Florida's east coast, has a natural <br />nearshore hardbottom resource. This resource is classified as an essential fish habitat. It provides foraging and <br />breeding grounds for juvenile fish. Indian River County's beach management plan is specifically customized to <br />maximize the fill while minimizing the impact to the nearshore hardbottom resource. <br />Position: Indian River County BCC SUPPORTS the creation of a newly dedicated and reoccurring statutory <br />funding source for beach restoration and renourishment projects. <br />135 <br />9 <br />