9/3/2002 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Y[, ea - • Indian River Lagoon North Restudy - Erwin Wunderlich with the Army Corps of Engineers gave a presentation on the Corps plan to do a restoration feasibility study of the Indian River Lagoon in Volusia, Brevard and Indian River Counties in conjunction with the St. Johns Water Management District and the Indian River Lagoon Program. A similar study has just been completed for the southern lagoon in Martin and St. Lucie Counties. The restudy will build upon efforts that are ongoing. Some possible projects may include muck removal, restoration of wetlands, improved sediment retention, control of runoff, removal of exotic vegetation, improvement of flow past causeways and flood protection. The goal is to improve water quality, fish and wildlife habitat, and help maintain and improve flood protection and water supply. Lost Tree Island - Roland DuBlois of the Indian River County Planning Dept. gave an update on the efforts to purchase Lost Tree Island. The County has set aside $8 million in its environmentally endangered land funds and has been awarded a $ 5.5 million grant from the Florida Communities Trust to help purchase the islands. Lost Tree Island Corporation has not yet agreed to sell. A recent court ruling that the property owned by Lost Tree Village Corp. does not extend to the barrier island would prohibit building a bridge to the island. County Utility Plan for Reverse Osmosis - Gene Rauth from Indian River County Utilities gave a presentation on how the Utility is looking to dispose of its Reverse Osmosis waste water in the most environmentally friendly way. Currently the South County Facility is discharging into the South relief canal and the North County Facility discharges directly into the Indian River Lagoon. As a short term solution they want to move the discharge from the north facility into the North Relief Canal so there would be some mixing. The plan is to have an upper pool and a lower pool for mixing the stormwater with the Reverse Osmosis discharge to lower the salinity to where it could be used to irrigate golfcourses. One community suffering from salt water intrusion is looking to use the stormwater- R.O. mix for irrigation. The Calpine power plant also needs water for its cooling process which evaporates all the fluids leaving an ash byproduct which would be deposited in a landfill. The County has a $4.33 million dollar grant and is moving forward with construction. Indian River County's Stormwater Plan - Indian River County Commissioner Ruth Stanbridge gave a presentation on the County's Plan to reduce the County's stormwater discharges into the Indian River Lagoon. The plan would divert the water west to large retention areas surrounded by parks. Retention would help recharge groundwater while removing harmful nutrients currently being flushed into the lagoon. The conceptual plan was done December 2001. In June 2002, analysis will be completed for projects to reduce stormwater in the North & South relief canals. In July, an evaluation report will be completed and workshops held for public input. The final master plan should be submitted to the County in August. St. Sebastian River Muck Dredging and Inlet Realignment - Ralph Brown from the St. Johns River Water Management District gave a presentation on the proposed muck dredging in the St. Sebastian River and of a shoal behind the inlet. The dredging is required because the natural sump areas in the river which capture the muck before it reaches the lagoon are full. By removing the build-up, these areas will once again capture muck. Other options are also being examined to help control the amount of muck entering the river. The shoal behind the Inlet is being dredged to allow direct access to the Intracoastal waterway channel and avoid boats taking several routes causing widespread seagrass damage. Dr. Grant Gilmore of Dynamac gave a presentation on his concerns about several rare species of fish in the St. Sebastian River which rely on fine sediments for their survival. The concern is that these sediments may be removed along with the muck during the dredging process. He would like for this issue to be investigated as part of the impact assessment of the project. Bob Day from the Indian River Lagoon Program explained that the intent is to remove only the concentrated muck and that large quantities of fine material will remain. Annexation of Parcels on the St. Sebastian River Two Parcels located between State Roads 512 and 510, along the South Prong of the St. Sebastian River are seeking to be annexed to the City of Sebastian. Currently they are outside of the Urban Service Boundary. There is concern that future annexing of parcels by the City will increase development impacts on the Sebastian River and increase water and sewage costs to Indian River County which would likely have to supply these utilities to this area. September 3, 2002 99 r; 3+