9/3/2002 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Jim Egan, director of the Marine Resources Council, advised that the Marine Resources Council along with the Indian River Lagoon Program take care of the National Estuary Program for this area. They hold a series of public workshops four times a year when the public can raise issues of concern in the area. He stressed the MRC is looking for feedback from the County and reported that the Indian River Lagoon North Restudy is a new opportunity to look at some long-term large-scale fixes that could possibly be funded. If the funding does not happen in Indian River County, some other area will avail themselves of it. He suggested thinking be given to stonaiwater problems in Indian River County, as well as the Stormwater Master Plan and some other situations that may exist and be ideal candidates for long-term funding. He believed there is some concern about County parcels in the vicinity of Sebastian. These old groves are often being annexed and are turning into urban lands. The south prong of the St. Sebastian River is a very, very fragile water body and it is now known there are some 6 or 7 species unique to that river. These species were formerly found in the St Lucie River and Taylor Creek but have been nearly eliminated from those waters as a result of stormwater runoff The MRC has been looking to help complement activities the County is already undertaking such as purchases by the County south of the Sebastian Buffer Preserve in the vicinity of CR5 l2 and CR510 and to facilitate public recreation as well as buffering. He agreed with an earlier comment that the MRC was very lax in the past about local issues. As a result of the public workshops the MRC is looking to give support in every county where the Indian River Lagoon flows. He anticipated the MRC could help the County with Lagoon issues in any way possible. September 3, 2002 100 alto 4Y_