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Seaweed Update MBCommission July 17.2019 FINAL 7.20amPage 1 Sargassum (Seaweed) Planning Update No. 2 July 17, 2019 The following Update No. 2 regarding sargassum has been prepared by the Office of Commissioner Eileen Higgins, together with the Miami-Dade Parks, Recreation, and Open Spaces Department (PROS), the Miami-Dade Department of Environmental Resources Management (DERM), and the Department of Health (DOH) in Miami-Dade County. These updates are being prepared in response to the concerns and proposed solutions from City of Miami Beach (City) officials and affected residents regarding sargassum. As you are aware, the County has been working collaboratively with City and State agencies to test air and water quality and identify in-ocean mitigation and/or shoreline management strategies to address sargassum. In addition, the County has been meeting with vendors to identify options for hot spot areas along 15 miles of beach including the area between 26 - 31 streets. As previously advised, beach maintenance is a priority for Mayor Gimenez and his administration. In fact, at the request of Commissioner Higgins, his FY 2019-20 Proposed Budget includes $522,000 in funding for the addition of two beach maintenance crews (11 new positions) establishing a weekend and evening crew to meet the cleanliness demands of beaches maintained by the County. In addition, he committed that the County would continue to evaluate the additional impacts and corresponding best strategies to manage increased amounts of seaweed on the beach with funding available. Seaweed Removal • Status: In Progress PROS obtained a service cost estimate of approximately $2.8 million for 8 months for the removal of seaweed from hot spot areas defined by manmade interventions (jetties and breakwaters). This will entail permitting and logistics for the removal, transporting, and disposal of sargassum along various hot spot areas throughout 15 miles of beach. PROS also is assessing the best possible procurement approaches to secure these contracted services, subject to funding being identified. In the meantime, PROS has performed enhanced blading at the hot spot areas. Federal and State Review of In-Ocean Mitigation Strategies • Status: Completed DERM contacted the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services (US FWS) and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) about in-ocean strategies for seaweed prevention on the shore. US FWS and FWC provided DERM with written statements indicating they do not support strategies for preventing seaweed from washing ashore or picking up seaweed in the water as the sargassum is considered a natural habitat that hosts marine life including endangered sea turtles. The on-water strategies could adversely impact sea turtles, as well as marine mammals and other living organisms in the ocean. The State FWC did not send their position in writing but verbally stated they have identical concerns. Page 2 Federal and State Permit to expedite cleaning 15 miles of beach and Hot Spots Areas • Status: In Progress In response to the letter that Mayor Gimenez and Commissioner Higgins sent to Governor DeSantis, DERM facilitated a call between PROS and the State to request the expedited permitting of heavy equipment use on the beach in order to achieve a quicker response time. The state will only grant a week-to-week permit to clean beaches during turtle hatching season and could not commit to a special exception permit of longer duration for 15 miles of beach but it may consider hot spot areas. DERM Ambient Air Quality Testing • Status: In Progress DERM performed initial air quality monitoring at five discrete locations along Miami Beach, including South Pointe and 29, 30, 32, and 54 streets. Hydrogen sulfide gas was not detected during the monitoring event. DERM will be collecting repeat samples at the three beach locations near the breakwaters, to compare sample results from the initial monitoring event. Protocol for samples includes monitoring hydrogen sulfide gas levels at three different heights for comparison: 1. Surface of the sand and water 2. Right above the sand 3. 6 feet above – breathing level Additional sample collection will be completed by the end of this week on Friday, July 19. The results from the samples collected will be transmitted to the DOH which has advised DERM that the expedited analysis will take 2-3 weeks. DERM Beach Re-nourishment Project • Status: In progress DERM continues to work on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers- funded Beach Re-nourishment project consisting of Miami Beach Hot Spot Project along 26 to 31 streets. This project is intended to smooth out the shoreline south of the breakwaters that may make the area less vulnerable to sargassum accumulation. The project is set to begin by the Fall of 2019. Commissioner Higgins’ continues to work with Congresswomen Donna Shalala to request the project be expedited. Department of Health Outreach & Education and Water Quality Testing • Status: In Progress The Florida DOH has provided a response to questions from State Senator Jason Pizzo, Commissioner Higgins, and residents; see attached. Additionally, DOH has prepared educational materials and frequently asked questions (FAQs) regarding sargassum for distribution as well as general water quality monitoring data. Beach water quality monitoring data and sargassum information are on the following DOH – Beach water quality website (right hand side of the screen): Page 3 http://www.floridahealth.gov/environmental-health/beach-water-quality/index.html Miami-Dade County remains committed to working collaboratively with the City, State and Federal governments and with the public that we serve to develop effective strategies to address this important environmental, health and economic issue. The Commissioner’s office and County administration will continue to keep the City and its residents informed of our on-going efforts to address the new, climate- related phenomenon.