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