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become more permanent in nature. Local governments, however, have an opportunity to revisit the speed zone designations as a part of the CMP adoption process. For a number of years, the Indian River County Manatee Protection and Boating Safety Comprehensive Management Plan has been a work in progress. Due to its size and boater/manatee use conflicts, Indian River County is considered a lower state priority for adopting a CMP compared to others of the thirteen key counties. County staff has now completed a final draft of the plan, having coordinated with staff of the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and with the County Marine Advisory/Narrows Watershed Action Committee (MANWAC). A recent drift of the CMP was considered by the MANWAC at its meeting on June 21, 1999 (see attached minutes). At that time, the draft plan was approved by the MANWAC with minor changes. Those minor changes are reflected in the attached final draft whereby recommended deletions are represented by stmketke and additions are represented by underline. County staff is now presenting the finalized CMP for Board consideration to approve the plan and authorize its transmittal to the State for Governor and Cabinet approval. ANALYSIS The purpose of the CMP is to establish a strategy that equitably balances manatee protection, habitat preservation, and boating safety with commercial and recreational marine interests. The principal focus of this effort is the identification and implementatidn of protection and management practices necessary to ensure the recovery and protection of the Florida manatee's population. The plan is divided into three parts: Existing Conditions, Analysis, and Action Plan. The Existing Conditions section provides data and information regarding manatee habitat and mortality, boating activity, public awareness and education, and boat facilities. The Analysis section reviews the existing speed zone plan and suggests changes based on recent manatee mortality and boat safety issues. A main component of this section is the establishment of Marina Siting Zones. Future marina development will be directed away from sensitive manatee habitat and directed towards areas where marinas are more appropriate. Finally, the Action Plan details objectives and policies that will implement manatee protection and boating safety measures and provides a method by which the county can measure the success or failure, of this plan. -. Minor modifications to existing speed zones have been made based on the MANWAC review comments. In the Gifford Cut, the unregulated zone was increased in size to provide for better boating safety within the existing unregulated zone. In the Jungle Trail Narrows, MANWAC recommended maintaining the current speed zone condition. Finally, within the city limits of Vero Beach it was the recommendation of the MANWAC that the short stretch of the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) north of the Merrill Barber Bridge currently designated as "slow speed" be changed to a "30 mph year-round" zone. This change is consistent with the adjacent portions of the ICW. RECOMMENDATION Staff Recommends that the Board of County Commissioners approve the attached Manatee Protection and Boating Safety Comprehensive Management Plan and direct staff to transmit a copy of the plan to the State for State approval consideration. ATTACHMENTS ■ MANWAC minutes of 06/21/99 ■ Manatee Protection and Boating Safety Comprehensive Management Plan AUGUST 17, 1999 43 BOOK Pt, Or- `�'