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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07032012NRB2. 3 4 �� �, , �� y �.-.�,, HOME OF PELICAN ISLAND 1225 Main Street, Sebastian, FL 32958 (772)589-5330 Phone NATURALRESOURCES BOARD REGULAR MEETING TUESDAY, JULY 3, 2012 - 6:00 P.M. MINUTES "To improve the quality of life in Sebastian by nurturing the balanced relationship between our citizens and our environment by protecting, preserving and promoting our natural resources" Chairperson Graves called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. ROLL CALL: Present: Robin Graves - Chair Eric Spokas - Vice Chair Ann Lucier Jane Schnee (A) Members Absent and Excused: Hank Kriss Staff Present: Ginny Sieferd, Board Liaison Donna Cyr, Recording Secretary Albert Alvarez Alan Northcott Gilbert Gordian Jr. Pat Casselberry (A) APPROVAL OF MINUTES: June 5, 2012 reqular meetinq MOTION by Ms. Graves and SECOND by Mr. Gordian Jr. to approve the June 5, 2012 minutes as written, was passed. June 9, 2012 field trip meeting MOTION by Ms. Graves and SECOND by Ms. Lucier to approve the June 9, 2012 minutes as written, was passed. June 13, 2012 special meetina MOTION by Ms. Graves and SECOND by Mr. Spokas to approve the June 13, 2012 minutes as written, was passed. 5 ANNOUNCEMENTS: No announcements. Natural Resources Board July 3, 2012 Page Two 6. PRESENTATION: Chairperson Graves introduced and welcomed Mr. Dave Botto, Chairperson of the Fisheries Campaign, Marine Resources Council. Mr. Botto gave his PowerPoint presentation on "Public awareness of nutrient pollution destroying our lagoon fishery" (see attached). Mr. Botto said he has been in the area since 1968 and the lagoon had clear waters, there were acres & acres of sea grass and an abundance of fish back then. This area was also known for its oysters and clams. He said it could be clean again. He said one (1) acre of sea grass can support 5,000 fish. Mr. Botto said the reason the lagoon is deteriorating is because of people. He stated that we, the public, are putting in about 50% more nutrients into the Indian River than is needed. He explained the villains are nitrogen and phosphorus. These nutrients produce algae and it clouds the water and cuts out the sun. He explained Industrial Pollution, which is from sewage treatment plants, is not really a problem anymore. In 1992 legislation was passed that no treatment plants could legally discharge waste into the lagoon. This was 30% of the problem and it has been taken care of. Mr. Botto talked about Agricultural Waste and how it is washed into the river from the canals that were created when the ranchers moved in. The farmers are learning that they don't need the phosphorus in their fertilizers and they are getting better crops with out it and it is costing them less to purchase the fertilizer. Mr. Botto went over the fact that the biggest source of pollution into the river is by home owners using fertilizers with nitrogen and phosphorus. He said the most important fact is that this has a zero cost to fix the problem. All the home owner has to do is not use a fertilizer with phosphorus and use slow release nitrogen. Mr. Botto gave examples of how the Tampa Bay area has cleaned up their waterways by not using phosphorus in their fertilizers. He explained that the pollution can be stopped and the effects can be reversed. The sea grasses will come back, the fish will come back and the waters will be clean again. Once again, Mr. Botto emphasized using zero phosphorus, use 50% slow release nitrogen, don't fertilize within 10 feet of surFace water, don't fertilize during a rain period, apply fertilizer twice a year (spring and fall) and follow the Best Management Practice. He finished his presentation and asked for questions from the board. Mr. Northcott asked if we take care of the yard fertilizer it will take care of the 50% of the problem and Mr. Botto said yes. Mr. Northcott said that he volunteers with the Lagoon Watch and they go out and measure the ph, salinity and clarity of the river. He said they are measuring the effects but not measuring the causes of the nutrients in the water. Mr. Northcott asked if there was any thought to expanding the Lagoon Watch and getting a bigger network for testing. Mr. Botto said that the State and most Counties are testing the water for these problems. Mr. Botto said the Marine Resources Council has been testing for decades but they don't test for phosphorus. They do test for clarity and the appearance of the water. Mr. Northcott feels if they had a larger network for testing it would help to pinpoint where the nutrients are coming from. Natural Resources Board July 3, 2012 Page Three Ms. Casselberry said she would like to see all the positive points highlighted like saving money by not fertilizing or buying different fertilizer; spending less time in the yard if you follow these recommendations. Mr. Botto liked the idea and thinks it's a good approach. Mr. Spokas questioned the slow release nitrogen requirement of 50% slow release. He asked why we couldn't require 100% slow release. Mr. Botto said that the 50% was due to a negotiation with the fertilizer companies and you can buy 100% slow release. Mr. Botto thanked the board for their time. 7. PUBLIC INPUT: No public input. 8. OLD BUSINESS: A. Fertilizer Education Program — Ms. Graves said both she and Mr. Spokas received copies of a DVD from the EPA on the Reduced Runoff Educational Program. Ms. Graves wanted to leave one copy for the City to play on channel 25 and the other copy for any board member that wanted to view it. Ms. Graves also received a pamphlet from the EPA that has a lot of useful information that Council Member Coy could use in our PowerPoint presentation. Ms. Graves asked if Ms. Coy would be attending the meeting and Ms. Cyr said she could not make it but was excited by all the information that the board had provided to her and she was working on the project. T�There was •-� discussion from the members that the information on the DVD would be ��road and not specific to our area. Both Mr. Spokas and Ms. Graves said the DVD contained very useful information and should be fine for our area. Mr. Botto said Sarasota County has a very mature education program already in place and he thinks if someone contacted the director of their Natural Resources group they would be happy to share their information with Sebastian. Ms. Schnee asked if any of the members had a chance to view any of the links to videos that she emailed and Ms. Casselberry said she watched part of one. Ms. Graves answered Ms. Schnee that Ms. Coy was working on the presentation and pamphlets and any questions needed to be directed to her. Ms. Graves said she feels there is so much good information available that we should be utilizing that instead of reinventing the wheel. Ms. Graves brought up the Facebook page again after Mr. Spokas suggested that any agreed upon videos could be linked on our page. Ms. Schnee brought up that she remembers that we should be only focusing on fertilizer and she feels if we put out too many videos that people will get confused. She thinks we should focus on one information sheet for the website and channel 25. Ms. Graves thinks we should utilize channel 25 to get the word out and show appropriate videos. Ms. Sieferd said we need to educate the public by talking to individual people. She said she was talking to a new homeowner about the particular fertilizer he purchased. She told him it wasn't the right one for this area and he took the fertilizer back to the store. Even the store worker didn't know that this wasn't the right fertilizer for this area. She feels these are the people that we need to reach and educate by word of mouth. Mr. Natural Resources Board July 3, 2012 Page Four Spokas said if the board could agree on two or three handouts and videos that would be good to take to a Home Owners Association. Mr. Northcott asked about going and making sure the retailer is educated on the right fertilizers to sell. Ms. Graves said one of the things that the board will be doing is to make a handout that Home Depot and other retailers can have available for customers. Ms. Lucier said she understands Ms. Schnee's concern about the fertilizer information getting lost but Stormwater runoff is very important also. Ms. Lucier offered that we could put the Stormwater information on the Facebook page but she said we do need to keep it simple. We need to be right to the point with our education. Ms. Graves agreed and said it was up to Ms. Coy and Council on what we are allowed to do and who we can talk to and we need to find out legally what we can put out there. Ms. Schnee asked about the Natural Resources Board logo that was mentioned at the Special meeting and members remembered it as Ms. Coy saying she would handle it. Ms. Schnee said she was concerned that because we had to cancel out August meeting we wouldn't get anything started until September. 9. NEW BUSINESS: Ms. Sieferd mentioned to the members that the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute is conducting a study of individuals on mercury exposure to humans in the IR Lagoon. She passed out a flyer for any members that were interested in being part of the study. (see attached) 10. MEMBER MATTERS: Mr. Gordian asked if Ms. Cyr would contact Ms. Coy to check on the status of the Fertilizer Education Program and to see if she needed any more help from the board. Ms. Casselberry asked when the next fertilizing season was because it would be good to have some information out there before it starts. In response to Ms. Graves' question, Ms. Cyr will find out the status of the request for the NRB to have a Facebook page for informational purposes. Ms. Lucier reminded the board about the TC Waterway Cleanup on Saturday, July 21 st, at 8:00 am. Ms. Sieferd will ask for the use of the City boat. Ms. Cyr will ask that a flyer be placed on the website and channel 25 to advertise the event. 11. STAFF MATTERS: Ms. Cyr said the date was set for Saturday, April 20th, 2013 for the annual Earth Day event and the sound system was a go but the stage was not available. Ms. Cyr asked the members to start looking for speakers for the upcoming months because no one has been confirmed for the fall. 12. 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