HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-002RESOLUTION NO. 2009-002
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS OF INDIAN RIVER COUNTY, FLORIDA, IN
SUPPORT OF THE HYDRAULIC AND APPLICABLE PHYSICAL
RECONNECTION OF THE CENTRAL AND SOUTH FLORIDA
FLOOD CONTROL PROJECT, AS REPRESENTED PRESENTLY
BY THE SOUTH FLORIDA WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT
AND THE ST. JOHNS RIVER WATER MANAGEMENT
DISTRICT, THROUGH A SERIES OF INTERCONNECTED
RESERVOIRS, STORMWATER TREATMENT AREAS AND
CANALS WITHIN THE FORT DRUM MARSH AREA.
WHEREAS, the United States of America in partnership with the
State of Florida passed Congressional legislation through the Flood
Control Acts of 1948 and 1954, titled the Central and South Florida Flood
Control Project and provided for the construction and operations and
maintenance of the developed project through a partnership of the United
States Army Corps of Engineers and an Agency of the State of Florida, the
Central and South Florida Flood Control District; and
WHEREAS, in the 1970s, through the enactment of Chapter 373, the
State of Florida, legislatively created the Five (5) Water Management
Districts of the State of Florida, of which two of those legislatively created
water management districts, are the South Florida Water Management
District and the St. Johns River Water Management Districts; and
WHEREAS, the South Florida Water Management District and the St.
Johns River Water Management District were previously represented by
one jurisdictional agency of the State of Florida, the Central and South
Florida Flood Control District headquartered in West Palm Beach, Palm
Beach County, Florida; and
WHEREAS, through this singular jurisdictional agency of the State of
Florida, the Central and South Florida Flood Control District, as established
by the United States of Congress, constructed, operated and maintained a
regional surface water system consisting of a series of canals, levees,
pump stations and other facilities throughout the State of Florida and
specific to this resolution in Indian River and St. Lucie Counties; and
RESOLUTION NO. 2009- 002
WHEREAS, through this legislative creation of the Water
Management Districts of the State of Florida, the surface water system of
the Fort Drum Marsh lies in western Indian River and St. Lucie and eastern
Okeechobee Counties, which was previously connected, are now
physically disconnected, and previous Flood Control Act project designs
and associated stormwater routing are now hindered from functioning as
an effective regional system, thus limiting the options available for more
effective surface water management for the multi -faceted benefits of
environmental water quality and discharges, water supply, ground water
recharge and flood control; and
WHEREAS, in recognition of the potential benefits associated with
this reconnection project, both the St. Johns River Water Management
District and the South Florida Water Management District, contracted
jointly for an engineering study to determine the feasibility and associated
benefits with this reconnection project; and
WHEREAS, the engineer's report on behalf of both the Water
Management Districts concluded the proposed reconnection project and
associated structural components would (i) be beneficial through the
reduction of fresh water — stormwater discharges into the Indian River
Lagoon, a protected national estuary; (ii) improve surface water storage
and flood water routing; (iii) create positive ground water recharge; (iv) and
provide a related decrease in ground water withdrawals; and
WHEREAS, in consideration of the potential dynamics associated
with climate changes in Florida as witnessed most recently by flooding
associated with Tropical Storm Fay, and the multi -faceted benefits
associated with improved surface water management through the
construction and operations of a project as proposed,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS OF INDIAN RIVER COUNTY, FLORIDA, that:
1. The Board supports the efforts of the St. Johns and South
Florida Water Management Districts and other interested parties to move
this regional water management project forward to a successful
conclusion.
2. The Board supports the physical reconnection of the St. Johns
and South Florida Water Management Districts through the construction of
a series of interconnected reservoirs, stormwater treatment areas, and
canal systems within the Fort Drum Marsh Area to provide the multi-
faceted benefits of improved water quality, water quality/flood control,
reduced discharges into the Indian River Lagoon and improved regional
ground water recharges.
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RESOLUTION NO. 2009- 002
This Resolution was moved for adoption by Commissioner
0' Bryan , and the motion was seconded by Commissioner
Flescher , and, upon being put to a vote, the vote was as follows:
Chairman Wesley S. Davis AYE
Vice Chairman Joseph E. Flescher _AYE
—
Commissioner Gary C. Wheeler AYE_
Commissioner Peter D. O'Bryan AYF
Commissioner Bob Solari_
DULY PASSED AND ADOPTED this 6th day of January, 2009.
INDIAN RIVER COUNTY
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
BY:
ATTEST: J.K. Barton, Clerk esley S. Davis, Chairrnan
Deputy Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM
AND LEGAL SUFFICIENCY
BY
WILLIAM G. COLLINS II
COUNTY ATTORNEY
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