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R9D_Monty_State of Biscayne Bay_28Jun17_Compressed_11Dec17Jamie Monty Miami-Dade County Division of Environmental Resources Management The State of Biscayne Bay: Bay Overview & DERM Projects City of Miami Beach Commission Meeting December 13, 2017 -Thank you, X, for the warm introduction -My name is Jamie Monty, and I oversee non-regulatory monitoring programs for Miami-Dade County’s Division of Environmental Resources Management -After seeing a longer version of this presentation at the BB Marine Health Summit, Commissioner Rosen-Gonzalez requested I provide a condensed version to you, CMB Commission -Thank you all, and especially Commissioner Rosen Gonzalez, for the opportunity 1 Biscayne Bay 35 miles long Between ¼ and 8 miles wide Depths 1-10’ (dredged portions 30-40’) Contains more than 40 islands Borders 14 municipalities Supports 2.7M people -BB is 35 miles long {CLICK} read first 2 bullets {CLICK} read last 3 bullets 2 Estuary Saltwater Exchange Haulover Inlet Haulover Inlet Government Cut Norris Cut Bear Cut Safety Valve Ceasar’s Creek Broad Creek Angelfish Creek Ceasar’s Creek Safety Valve Bear Cut Norris Cut Government Cut Angelfish Creek Broad Creek -BB is an Estuary, one of the most productive coastal habitats, where salt and fresh water meet -receiving tidal exchange through {CLICK} 8 inlets (Government Cut 1905, Haulover Inlet 1925) 3 Estuary Freshwater Exchange Oleta River Miami River -and historical freshwater input through natural {CLICK} rivers, {CLICK} sheet flow, and {CLICK} even freshwater springs, but more recently, through a system of {CLICK} canals (Miami River channelized 1917, most others followed ~1948) -While this dredging and channelization did provide for flood control, as it was designed to do, it turned freshwater in to point source of pollution – delivering more, faster, and without natural treatment along the way -{CLICK} so that looking south from the miami river in 1907, {CLICK} versus today - a very different landscape 4 Biscayne Bay Watershed Evergladesplan.org Biscayne Bay = 428 mi2 Biscayne Bay Watershed = 938 mi2 -BB doesn’t just drain the land within MDC, but an area up to Orlando -The BB watershed and is part of, the Kissimmee/Okeechobee/Everglades watershed -its watershed is more than double the size of the Bay itself 5 North Bay Central/South Bay ~10% of the Bay area ~40% of bottom modified 95+% of shoreline hardened Highest density of commercial, industrial, and residential land use Most affected by urban runoff ~90% of the Bay area ~75-80% of bottom natural ~75-80% of shoreline natural Lower densities of development Most affected by agriculture runoff -although we talk about BB, it is not the same throughout its 428 sq mi North and South Bay differ in their area {CLCIK} natural bottom and shoreline {CLCIK} x2 Surrounding land use {CLCIK} x5 And therefore sources of runoff {CLCIK} x5 {CLICK} As you can see, it is extremely altered and developed versus natural NORTH: ~10% of the Bay area ~40% of bottom modified (dredge) 95+% of shoreline hardened (seawalls) High flushing rates (canal discharge & inlets) Highest density of commercial, industrial, and residential land use Most affected by urban runoff CENTRAL/SOUTH: ~90% of the Bay area ~75-80% of bottom natural ~75-80% of shoreline natural Tidal flushing varies from very high (Central) to very low (Barnes Sound) Lower densities of development Most affected by agriculture runoff 6 Seagrass & Algae Hardbottom Mangrove Coral Reef Bare Homestead Coral Gables Miami Aventura Biscayne Bay Habitats 7 -BB contains a number of ecologically important habitats that provide Food, shelter, and nursery grounds for species that live in and adjacent to the bay -these habitats are what allow for the high species diversity and high ecological productivity in the Bay Including our use of it for food, transportation, for residents and tourists Threatened & Endangered Species Critical Habitat Florida manatee American crocodile Johnson's seagrass Wood stork These critical habitats provide food, shelter, and nursery grounds for many species, including several threatened and endangered, such as {CLICK x 3} 8 Special Protections 1967 National Monument -> 1980 Biscayne National Park 1975 Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserves -> 1982 Outstanding Florida Waters 1980 Crocodile Lake National Wildlife Refuge 1990 Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary 1991 Bill Sadowski Critical Wildlife Area In fact, BB is so special that portions of it has been given several protections over the years, including National Monument/expanded to Park {CLCIK} BBAP, {CLICK} NWR, {CLICK} NMS, (Card and Barnes Sounds) {CLICK} CWA Each with their own goals/objectives and management plans/protections 9 Ecological Importance Providing habitat, shelter & food for fish and wildlife, especially juveniles Protect and improve water quality Store floodwaters & recharge aquifer Stabilize shoreline & prevents erosion Cycle nutrients Sequester carbon (mangrove) Oxygenate the water (seagrass) -And that’s in recognition of the ecological importance of BB, which provides {CLICK} 1st three bullets, {CLCIK} 2nd three bullets, {CLICK} 3rd 3 bullets One out of every three Floridians (8 million people) rely on the Everglades for their water supply 10 75% of all recreationally important and 90% of all commercially important fish live as least part of their life cycle in mangrove habitat Seagrass habitat in Miami-Dade County supported $5M commercial harvest of these crab, shrimp, lobster, and fish species In 2004, Biscayne Bay related uses (shipping, fishing, recreation) generated: $6.3 billion in income $627 million in tax revenues 137,500 jobs Economic Importance Seagrass habitat in Miami-Dade County supported $5M commercial harvest of these crab, shrimp, lobster, and fish species In 2004, Biscayne Bay related uses generated: $6.3 billion in income within the County, $627 million in tax revenues (SFWMD/Hazen Sawyer 2005) 137,500 jobs The most significant ‘Activities’ were: Income Tax Revenue Jobs Recreation $2,100 million $257 million 57,100 POM shipping $3,900 million $331 million 74,000 Miami River ship $ 339 million $ 37 million 6,100 Commercial Fishing $ 17 million $ 2 million 470 TOTALS $6.325 Billion $627 million 137,500 + = And all of these ecological factors translate into actual dollars and cents that support our local economy 75%... {CLICK} bullet 1, {CLCIK} bullet 2 The total economic contribution of the reefs to each county is the contribution of reef-related expenditures to sales, income, and employment. As residents and visitors spend money in the county to participate in reef-related recreation, income and jobs are created within the county as a result. Economic contribution includes the direct, indirect, and induced effects of visitor spending and the direct effects of resident spending. 11 Biscayne Bay Projects Water Quality Monitoring Program Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (SAV) Monitoring Program Artificial Reef Program Manatee Protection Plan Monitoring Spoil Island Enhancement & Maintenance Program Because of these important resources, MDC DERM has built a strong natural resource management program to help us all better understand the current state of BB 12 Monthly sampling 1979 to present Currently 83 stations Biscayne Bay & canals/tributaries Identifies current status, patterns & trends over time Surface Water Quality Monitoring -improved WQ since program began -Several known impairments for things like Fecal coliform, total nitrogen, working with stormwater and sanitary sewer to improve infrastructure -currently finalizing site evaluation for sea level rise, nuisance flooding to ensure we’re capturing its impact on BB 13 Submerged Aquatic Vegetation Monitoring Annual monitoring 1985 to present 101 polygons random sites & 10 fixed sites Identifies current status, patterns & trends over time -decreases have occurred at the multiple monitoring stations during the late 1990’s, but are now recovering, with two exceptions -Macroalgae bloom off of Coral Gables, and seagrass dieoff JT basin – studying with partners -currently expanding random monitoring into north BB 14 Annual monitoring 1981 to present 7 Bay locations Habitat restoration (dredge holes), fisheries management, diving opportunities Artificial Reef Monitoring -Annual monitoring “and deployments” -Miami-Dade County program is regarded as the largest (in terms of materials deployed) program of its kind in Florida, which leads the nation in number of established artificial reef sites. -fish and benthic species and diversity increase over time as habitat has increased 15 Manatee Monitoring Identifies current status, patterns & trends over time Supports protection activities identified in the Miami-Dade Manatee Protection Plan -our manatee program conducts surveys quarterly to monitor manatee distribution throughout Biscayne Bay and tidal tributaries – noting presence, location, adult/calf, behavior -injury/mortality due to storm drain infrastructure has decreased over time, but vessel related injuries are on the rise 16 Founded in 1981 Enhance habitats, provide educational & recreational opportunities Initial goal of reducing turbidity Spoil Island Enhancement & Maintenance -BB contains more than 30 islands that were created back in the early 1900s as a result of dredging operations to create the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (AIWW) -island enhancement has reduced BB turbidity, increased public access 17 Current State Biscayne Bay has improved historically, but some of the changes for our convenience had unintended consequences. We can still improve upon the current system, especially in light of our ever-increasing population and projected effects of climate change In general, Biscayne Bay Water Quality is stable; there are several impairments (e.g., fecal coliform, total nitrogen) that are in the process of being addressed through stormwater and wastewater improvements Historically, Biscayne Bay Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (SAV) has been stable, but recently there has been an increase in algal blooms and seagrass dieoff events We’ve created and enhanced habitat both above and below the water, with artificial reefs, on spoil islands, by removing sunken vessels, leftover traps, and debris, and hydrologically We’ve significantly decreased the most common cause for manatee mortalities In summary, Biscayne Bay has improved historically (we have wastewater treatment), but some of the changes for our convenience had unintended consequences (faster delivery of freshwater). We can still improve upon the current system, especially in light of our ever-increasing population and projected effects of climate change {CLICK} WQ {CLICK} SG {CLICK} Rest {CLICK} Manatee mortalities – to the point of the species becoming downlisted (from E to T) All cause for celebration 18 Future Outlook Current state - need to continue: Monitoring status & trends Habitat restoration activities Utility retrofits and infrastructure upgrades Improved state - need to do more, better, faster! Biscayne Bay’s watershed is the most densely populated in Florida and is under continuous pressure However, the work is not done BB’s watershed… {CLICK} In order to keep BB in its current state, we all need to continue to do what we’ve been doing…READ {CLICK} And if we want to see improvements in BB, we collectively need to do more -natural resource management is challenging, it takes a village -Note that we frequently partner and communicate with staff from the CMB ENVIRONMENT & SUSTAINABILITY DEPARTMENT on BB and other environmental issues Great baseline background data gives us a point of reference for events like the JT Basin SG dieoff, hurricane Irma Partnering, analyzing data, general consensus, next steps Magnitude, relative severity, recovery 19 Thank You! Photo By: NOAA AOML Jamie Monty Miami-Dade County Division of Environmental Resources Management montyj@miamidade.gov (305) 372-6853 -With that, I’d like to thank you all for your attention, and if you have any questions or would like additional detailed information, I can be reached via the contact info above 20