Environmental Advisory Committee Report of Meeting June 2, 2000, Storch Room, District Headquarters Resolutions/Votes DRAFT proposed by e-mail 6/5/00 on Strategic Plan item; Final Vote 7/7/00 The first stated goal and objective of the programmatic Environmental Impact Statement on Everglades restoration was to increase the total spatial extent of natural areas. The Strategic Plan draft of July 1, 2000 has rearranged the originally stated goals of the PEIS and diminished emphasis on the first stated goal. Therefore we urge another draft of the Strategic Plan that will: 1. Reestablish emphasis on increase of total spatial extent. 2. Support other greater Everglades ecosystem performance goals stated in the PEIS and provide the following tools for making decisions and checking government performance and results: A. Baseline (define) the state of the current ecosystem; develop a composite natural resources infrastructure map, and establish a base map of existing publicly-owned natural areas. B. From the above, establish goals and objectives or targets. C. Assess the feasibility of meeting such targets using cost-effectiveness and cost-benefit analysis, and periodically compare actual results. Support of Agriculture Advisory Committee (AAC) WRDA Concerns John Marshall distributed a paper entitled, "Florida Agriculture's Concern with the Administration's WRDA Proposal Relating to Everglades Restoration." and asked members if they agreed with its content. Members, with one abstention, voted to notify the AAC of its support of the document. (AAC was notified following the meeting). Advisory Committee Charter Revision Chairman John Marshall opened the meeting at 10:40 a.m. announcing that District Executive Director Frank Finch had told him he would visit the committee with an update on the District's ideas on revised advisory committees. Mr. Finch is on vacation and will be asked to visit the next meeting July 7. The EAC agreed to extend the next meeting to draft a revised charter. The revision will be taken up after lunch. Lake Okeechobee Releases Scientist Karl Havens spoke on the recession operation, noting that the lake is now at 12.6 feet, that 20 sites are being sampled, that plants have not returned to the condition of last year, that the water is clearer but is taking longer than hoped for. The next step might be transplanting. He added that ecological effects of water flowing south into the Everglades were minimal. Estuary Monitoring Peter Doering reported that releases to the St. Lucie River have stopped, but some water is still going into the Caloosahatchee. Water quality sampling, ordinarily done monthly, is being done every two weeks in the Indian River Lagoon, the St. Lucie River and at eight sites in the Caloosatchee River, four of which are in San Carlos Bay. Salinity is coming back into the system, and sea grasses are being monitored in the Caloosahatchee and in the Bay. Peter explained that oyster bags, each containing 30 to 35 oysters, were placed in four locations in the St. Lucie River to determine effects on them. All those in the South Fork died while all others were okay since salinity stayed high. Fran Stallings and Mike Simonik said that decaying algae had been seen off Naples and Fort Myers, and wondered if this were the result of the releases. Peter responded this is possible but that at this time of year sea grass loses some of its blades. Max Quackenbos asked about turbidity caused by releases to the St. Lucie, adding that it had disappeared within four days of the end of releases from Lake Okeechobee. Peter said turbidity is affected by the releases, winds and scouring off the bottom. Committee members thanked the scientists for their time and the valuable information. Strategic Plan John Marshall reviewed this plan of the South Florida Ecosystem Restoration Task Force Working Group. He said the Marshall Foundation and the Spatial Extent Committee of the Everglades Coalition had looked at the plan and found that it had its goals changed, that it does not give a comprehensive picture, that it is scheduled to go to Congress by July 31, but that Congress would not understand it and that it doesn't relate spatial extent to the concept of ten parts per billion (ppb) of phosphorus. In short, the he plan falls short of being a plan, and is an extension of the concept study, or re-study to which it is correctly referred. John also said that although NAPA requires a review, it doesn't have teeth to force govt to receive citizens' input, thus WRDA 2000 language has been suggested (ADDITION: …"after opportunity for pubic comment" add "with due consideration thereof"…) Post facto discussion over e-mail resulted in the proposed DRAFT resolution noted above, to be voted on 7/7/00 at the next meeting. East Coast Issues Rosa Durando reported on a May 30 educational meeting of environmental groups which was attended by university students and interns at the Loxahatchee Nature Center. Rosa also suggested the committee needs more information on events surrounding the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) among Wellington, the District and the Audubon Society. She said phosphorus discharging from Wellington to the Loxahatchee Refuge is 165 ppb and eventually will be much higher; noted that the District is considering an in-house application to develop Peacock Pond, decried the labeling of 20,000 acres of land as agricultural when it is urban development, asked who would share the cost of the land involved and asked for the subject to be placed on next meeting's agenda. Max Quackenbos announced the formation of a coalition of Martin, St. Lucie, Okeechobee and possibly Lee Counties to pass on resolutions regarding the St. Lucie River to the Corps of Engineers and the District whose main functions are water supply and flood control. He thought other counties to the south would not be part of the group as their main complaint is with the sugar industry, although he would like to see them get involved. Under normal conditions, Max said, what helps the lake also helps the tributaries, but previously the two have been pitted against each other. Max presented a paper entitled, "Rescue of Our Rivers and Lake Okeechobee" by the St. Lucie River Initiative. He said Martin County recommends Run 22 for Lake Okeechobee and will present a plan to the District within the next month or two. West Coast Issues Fran Stallings noted that the Lee County Commission's suit to stop releases from Lake Okeechobee had been dismissed. He said a sixty-day letter indicating intent to file suit had been sent to the District claiming harm from the Lake Okeechobee releases and charging violations of the Endangered Species Act. Plaintiffs are Save the Manatee Club, the Responsible Growth Management Coalition and the Environmental Confederation of Southwest Florida. Fran added that the aim is to force the District to operate a balanced management scheme. Mark Behar commented that the District should require the Everglades Agricultural Area to set aside its own water reservoirs. Fran also related that officials are talking permanent water restrictions which are not supposed to be put in place unless there is a one-in-ten-year drought. Alternative Water Supply Committee Michael Simonik said he is now serving on the committee which will have its first meeting June 7 to rank 16 projects. Correction to Minutes John Marshall relayed a message from Mary Dengler who said that she distributed cards advertising certain websites at the request of Bob Mooney. Next Meeting & Adjournment Members set the next meeting for Friday, July 7, at 10:30 a.m. in Conference Room 3B, third floor, District Headquarters. John Marshall adjourned the meeting at 1:30 p.m. Attending Members SFWMD Staff Mark Behar Peter Doering Greg Braun Karl Havens Lloyd Brumfield Woodie Van Voorhees Rosas Durando John Marshall, Chairman Max Quackenbos Michael SimonikFran Stallings EAC Staff Chair: John Marshall Co-chair: Max Quackenbos Chair pro-tem: Fran Stallings SFWMD Coordinator: Woodie Van Voorhees East Coast Issues Contact: Rosa Durando West Coast Issues Contact: Fran Stallings For additional information, call Woodie Van Voorhees (561) 682-6332 John Marshall, Chair, EAC