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BOOK 108 PAGE 770 mucked Crane Creek and presently de -mucking Turkey Creek. There is an effort underway to put the St. Sebastian River next on the agenda. Now that everyone has seen how successful Crane Creek is, everyone wants their river de -mucked. Commissioner Adams credited Messrs. Koraly and Maltby for bringing this problem to the forefront. They have spent an incredible number of hours sounding the waterways to see how deep the muck is and calculating the amount of muck coming out of the river. The interesting part is they understand what they are doing and by their estimates, de -mucking should not be as expensive as originally estimated. Their findings have caused them to feel there is a significant responsibility on the Army Corps of Engineers, who designed and built the C54 Canal; the way the gates open, the muck is allowed in. She thought that the Commission ought to be very supportive of the de -mucking effort. Commissioner Stanbridge is the new representative of the Commission on the National Estuary Program which ought to be supported in moving it through SJRWMD to provide for the de -mucking Chairman Macht thought it extremely important to be aware that the smell along the river in Brevard County or north St. Lucie County at certain times of the year is caused by the muck, not anything else. The odor is caused by decaying organic matter. Commissioner Stanbridge commented that fortunately SJRWMD has dis-allowed plugs of fresh water out of the canal. As a result the muck has settled, so hopefully, when the money is obtained to do the cleanup, we will not have the problem recurring. We have had historical problems since the teens when the old Fellsmere Sugar Canal went in which were later compounded by the C54 Canal. She thought the Board should support all these efforts, especially the environmental community that encourages volunteers to participate. MOTION WAS MADE by Commissioner Adams, SECONDED BY Commissioner Ginn , to direct staff to draw up a resolution of support to move the St. Sebastian River de -mucking project forward and try to coordinate some funding efforts, if necessary. Mr. Maltby thanked the Commission for their support. MARCH 23, 1999 36 • •