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11/7/2016 Environmentalists call Spoonbill Marsh'toxic waste dump' - VeroNews: Vero Beach 32963 Features �Al Environmentalists call Spoonbill Marsh `toxic waste dump' Posted: Thursday, October 6, 2016 5:00 am Spoonbill Marsh — which has been cited for infractions by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection in the past — has again become the target of a torrent of stinging accusations, including suggestions that the county is not reporting truthfully to the FDEP. Since 2010, the $4 million Spoonbill Marsh project has operated as the disposal site for brine left over after drinking water is purified at the county's reverse osmosis treatment plant. The high -salt concentrate is mixed with lagoon water 080916_SpoonbiIIMarsh_DR01J pg and filtered through the manmade marsh to purify it. County Example of poor water quality surrounding reports to the FDEP show that pollutant levels are consistently the mangroves in WIM-02, and flowing lower in the water flowing from Spoonbill into the lagoon than into the lagoon. in the water flowing into the system from the lagoon. But a group of mostly nameless opponents of the project are not buying it. An email, written and widely distributed by local resident Barry Shapiro, contains charges that Spoonbill is, basically, "a liquid toxic waste dump," not built according to its approved design and operating beyond the restrictions of its FDEP permit. Shapiro claims that marsh water is overflowing onto environmentally sensitive land to the north owned by Indian River Land Trust; that outflow into the lagoon is not being monitored with a proper meter; that the operation is not well maintained; and that it is detrimental to fish and wildlife. Utilities Department Director Vincent Burke said that, as a result of Shapiro's email blast, a Florida Department of Environmental Protection representative visited the county to take a look at Spoonbill. So far, that visit has not resulted in any sanctions from the state. Dr. Richard Baker, a longtime local environmentalist, president of Pelican Island Audubon Society and a longtime opponent of the Spoonbill project, echoed Shapiro's concern. "Indian River County was dumping this pollution directly into the lagoon and was told to stop. Now they are still polluting. When will we learn that dilution is not the solution to pollution?" A recent visit to Spoonbill provided a first-hand look at the marsh operation. On the day Vero Beach 32963 visited the site, water was flowing over the north boundary and onto Land Trust property, and the walkway was submerged. This is, unquestionably, a malfunction, and according to an expert who wishes to remain anonymous, the overflow has been occurring for "years" and is harming the Land Trust property. 2, 4, y _ y/;I The north boundary of Spoonbill Marsh is Florida Department of Transportation Ditch 3, which runs under U.S. 1 between 63rd and 57th streets and empties into the lagoon. Although Spoonbill's water level, like the lap-oon's, is influenced by the tide — when lap-oon water is high, the water in Spoonbill is high — the DOT ditch http://www.veronews.com/32963 features/environmentalists-call-spoonbill-marsh-toxic-waste-dump/article 3a5e624a-8be7-1le6-93ff-8bbba782ee55.html?mo.. 1/3