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• • <br />TO: James E. Chandler <br />County Administrator <br />DEPMENT HEAD CONCURRENCE: <br />Rob 'rt M. Keating, AICP <br />Community Development Dire° or <br />FROM: Roland M. DeBlois,r'ICP <br />Chief, Environmental Planning <br />DATE: January 9, 2002 <br />RE• <br />Approval of Revisions to the Indian River County Manatee Protection and Boating <br />Safety Comprehensive Management Plan regarding Marina Water Depth <br />Requirements and Calculation of High Watercraft -Related Manatee Mortality <br />It is requested that the Board of County Commissioners formally consider the following infoi'nation at the <br />Board's regular meeting of January 15, 2002. <br />DESCRIPTION AND CONDITIONS <br />On November 20, 2001, staff advised the Board of proposed revisions to the County's Manatee Protection <br />and Boating Safety Comprehensive Management Plan (MPP) relating to: <br />• Water depth requirements for new or expanded marinas <br />• Calculation of "high watercraft -related manatee mortality" <br />The revisions are to address issues brought to light by a proposal by Tom Collins to expand the Sebastian <br />Inlet Marina in the City of Sebastian. The proposal is a first "test case" for implementation of the MPP. <br />Although the Sebastian Inlet Marina does not fall under the County's regulatory purview, the State requires <br />that marina projects within the ovdall county be consistent with the MPP. <br />Revisions to the MPP are subject to formal adoption by the Board at an advertised public hearing. Revisions <br />are also subject to ratification by the State Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). Since the <br />November Board meeting, county staff has received input from FWC staff (see Attachment 1) and is now <br />proposing that the Board formally adopt the revisions. <br />ANALYSIS <br />Four -Foot Water Depth Requirement <br />As presented to the Board at the November 20, 2001 Board meeting, the MPP currently requires a minimum <br />water depth of four feet in areas of new or expanded marinas. A revision is proposed to allow an applicant <br />the opportunity to either meet the four -foot water depth requirement or comply with a one -foot clearance over <br />submerged bottom and aquatic resources, as applicable (See Attachment 4). The MA\WAC has reviewed <br />this Language and recommends that the Board adopt the revision. FWC staff, in a letter dated December 19, <br />2001 (see Attachment 1), indicates that it finds the proposed water depth revision acceptable. <br />High Manatee Watercraft Mortality Calculation <br />As presented to the Board at the November meeting, the MPP prohibits new marinas or marina expansions <br />in areas of the Indian River Lagoon with both "hieh manatee abundance" and "high watercraft -related <br />January 15, 2002 <br />35 <br />l!r <br />Di\ I f <br />