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City Compiles Regional Water Quality Testing Sites
Sanibel City staff has compiled a regional look at water quality monitoring sites, which will help create a strong big picture perspective of water quality in the area. This overview includes monitoring sites from the following municipalities and agencies:
*City of Cape Coral *Florida Department of Environmental Protection *Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute *South Florida Water Management District *United States Geological Survey *Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation *Lee County *Florida Healthy Beaches program *Florida International University *City of Sanibel *Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program
For more details and a map view of regional water quality monitoring sites, click on the Water Test Sites file under Recent News at the top right corner of this web page.
Algae Study Moving Forward
City Council unanimously passed a Resolution at its March 18th meeting approving an agreement for funding between the City of Sanibel and Lee County for completion of a Red Drift Algae Study. This study will be conducted by Florida Gulf Coast University, with assistance from the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation.
Sanibel and Lee County believe the research is essential because of the effects algae can have on marine life, seagrasses, beaches, and the economy. The study will look for answers regarding what happens to algae once it leaves the ocean floor and how physical processes such as wind, currents, tidal cycles, and river flow affect the distribution and fate of nutrients in the study area.
Vice Mayor Asks that Letters go to Delegates
Sanibel Vice Mayor Carla Brooks Johnston requested that letters be sent to Congressional Delegates asking that the C-43 Reservoir to handle overflows from Lake Okeechobee be included on an electronic database of projects to be considered as priorities for funding consideration.
Another important component of the reservoir is a need for a stormwater treatment area to filter the water before it is released into the Caloosahatchee River.
Lee County to Reconsider Fertilizer Ordinance
The Lee County Fertilizer Ordinance is coming up for consideration soon. Mayor Denham plans to meet with individual Commissioners to share Sanibel's views. Charlotte County is also considering a new Fertilizer Ordinance, which is not as stringent as the City of Sanibel Ordinance, but still would be an improvement.
Mayor Denham said he is concerned that the Fertilizer Bill now in the House and Senate no longer resembles what was recommended by the State Fertilizer Task Force. He asked that other Council members as well as concerned citizens contact local legislators with a message that the current language is not acceptable.
Specifically, the new Bill includes language that would make it difficult for a municipality to develop more stringent Fertilizer Ordinances than the Task Force Ordinance model. This would prevent communities from taking added measures to protect water quality.
The Council discussed the idea of preparing substitute language to present to legislators for consideration.
Northern Everglades Protection Program Discussed
The City of Sanibel will have input as to priority projects to be considered under the Northern Everglades Protection Program. However, the way the criteria are currently set up biases priority projects in favor of those that are further developed. Thus, new projects can slide further down on the list.
Department of Natural Resources Director Dr. Rob Loflin told the City Council that this makes it all the more important that projects important to Sanibel and all of Southwest Florida be pushed along in terms of design and engineering, among others, to help improve funding opportunities.
The City Council discussed formulating a letter in consensus with the Southwest Florida Regional Planning Council and Lee County Commission to help strengthen any priority message.
Council Discusses Importance of Senate Bill 1634
Council talked again about the importance of proposed Senate Bill 1634. The Bill, sponsored by State Sen. Mike Bennett of Bradenton, would extend Florida's Healthy Beaches Program.
State Rep. Gary Aubuchon, of Cape Coral, is sponsoring House Bill 1503, an identical companion Bill.
If approved, it would require that cities and residents are notified if a nearby wastewater plant is out of compliance. The Florida Department of Protection would also be granted the power to investigate the cause and source of any contamination that closed a State beach.
Residents are encouraged to contact Senators and Representatives urging them to support both Bills.
Senators to contact are: * Burt Saunders at saunders.burt.web@flsenate.gov * Mike Bennett at bennett.mike.web@flsenate.gov * Dave Aronberg at aronberg.dave.web@flsenate.gov
Representatives to contact are: * Gary Aubuchon at gary.aubuchon@myfloridahouse.gov * Trudi Williams at trudi.williams@myfloridahouse.gov * Paige Kreegel at paige.kreegel@myfloridahouse.gov * Mike Grant at Michael.grant@myfloridahouse.gov * Nick Thompson at nick.thompson@myfloridahouse.gov
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