Recommended Action:
Staff respectfully recommends the Board authorize the County Attorney to work
with the SJRWMD staff to develop a cost share agreement for completion of the
re-connection of the SORCA impoundment to the Indian River Lagoon. The draft
agreement will be presented to the Board for consideration and approval.
Conservations Lands Manager Wendy Swindell utilized a PowerPoint
presentation to provide a background on Senate Bill 1954, which ensured a
coordinated approach to Florida’s coastal and inland resiliency with nearly $20
million allocated for projects for FY 2021-2022. Ms. Swindell described the
South Oslo Riverfront Conservation Area (SORCA), consisting of three parcels
totaling approximately 143 acres, acquired between 2000 and 2005. She stated
in January 2021, staff was contacted by the St. Johns River Water Management
District (SJRWMD) Estuaries section to solicit potential projects to meet the
resiliency goals for the stretch of the Indian River Lagoon Estuary Program
(IRLEP) specifically on conservation lands. Consequently, County staff had
identified a SORCA impoundment was no longer part of the Rotational
Impoundment Management (RIM) process, and that removal of this perimeter
dike would restore a natural connection to the IRL. This re-connection would
allow for the open exchange of waters, which would benefit wildlife habitats,
specifically fisheries. The re-connection also increases the resiliency of the system
by reducing the potential for long-term flooding. Ms. Swindell reported that
current funding was $100,000 from the Federal Department of Environmental
Protection (FDEP) and $50,000 from SJRWMD, and additional grant funding
could be pursued toward the construction of the project.
Chairman Earman thanked staff for their hard work and agreed that when the
water cannot move back and forth naturally, it debilitates the resources.
A motion was made by Commissioner Loar, seconded by Commissioner
Flescher, to approve staff's recommendation. The motion carried by the
following vote:
5 -
Aye:
Chairman Earman, Vice Chairman Adams, Commissioner Flescher,
Commissioner Loar, and Commissioner Moss
12.C.2.
Indian River County Environmental Bond - Review Committee Selection Process
Recommended Action:
Staff respectfully recommends that the Board provide a timeline for providing the
five (5) designated district appointees to the ELAP to the County Attorney’s
office. Additionally, it is recommended that the Board initiate the application
process for selection of the (4) “at large” positions on the ELAP. Staff will
assemble the list of applications and present the list at a future BOCC meeting for
consideration. Staff respectfully requests that the BOCC provide direction on the
time frame for approval of the ELAP members.
