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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08132012NRB Special Minutes2. �� 5����`'T��1V HOME OF PELICAN ISLAND 1225 Main Street, Sebastian, FL 32958 (772)589-5330 Phone NATURALRESOURCES BOARD SPECIAL MEETING TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 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. 3. ROLL CALL: Present: Robin Graves - Chair Eric Spokas - Vice Chair Ann Lucier Members Absent and Excused: Albert Alvarez Jane Schnee(A) Council and Staff Present: Council Member Andrea Coy Ginny Sieferd, Board Liaison Donna Cyr, Recording Secretary � Hank Kriss Alan Northcott Gilbert Gordian, Jr. Pat Casselberry (A) APPROVAL OF MINUTES: July 3, 2012 reqular meetinq MOTION by Ms. Graves and SECOND by Ms. Lucier to approve the July 3, 2012 minutes with correction as noted, was passed. Julv 21, 2012 field trip meeting MOTION by Ms. Graves and SECOND by Ms. Lucier to approve the July 21, 2012 minutes as written, was passed. 5 OLD BUSINESS: A. Fertilizer Education Proqram — Chairperson Graves thanked Council Member Coy for assisting the board with this project. Ms. Coy said that as she was preparing for the meeting she spoke with Dr. Grant Gilmore and asked him to speak to the board about his studies of the Indian River Lagoon. Ms. Coy wanted to let the board know that the members were right when they suggested talking about Stormwater and everything connected to it, as well as Fertilizer. Natural Resources Board August 13, 2012 Page Two Ms. Coy asked the members to introduce themselves and give a little history of their background which they did. Dr. Grant Gilmore, Senior Scientist with Estuarine, Coastal and Ocean Science, Inc., founded ECOS after spending 32 years with Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution and Dynamic Corporation at Kennedy Space Center. Dr. Gilmore thanked the board and gave his power point presentation (see attached). In his discussion the thing that Dr. Gilmore stressed the most was that the sea grass is gone in this area of the Indian River Lagoon and the fish are leaving if not already gone. He said that every house in this area is connected to the Lagoon. Because of this everything we put on our lawns and that runs down the streets flows into the Lagoon. We need to find out what happened to the sea grass and the fish in the Lagoon. Dr. Gilmore said there is little funding from the State so it needs to be up to groups like the Natural Resources Board and regular citizens to make the changes. He suggested using fertilizers in moderation. There is little flow from the Indian River Lagoon out to the ocean which is part of the problem. Council Member Coy asked if there were any questions from the board for Dr. Gilmore. Mr. Gordian asked if there was a comparison study done between ocean water and lagoon water? He also asked if siltation is a partial detriment to the growth of the Johnson sea grass. Dr. Gilmore stated that he did a study on sediment down in St. Lucie after the hurricanes had passed and the grasses recovered right away but other areas didn't and that is still a mystery. Dr. Gilmore said there was a study done in Australia on pesticides and chemical and their effects on sea grass and he is waiting to receive a copy of the report. Ms. Graves asked if a study was done out west in the St. Sebastian River? She stated that she recommends to constituent to contact the Department of Agriculture whenever they see a"brown out" in the sea grass that way the State will send someone out to test the area right away. Dr. Gilmore said it is a very complex problem that there are a lot of different chemicals that residents use as well as farmers and groves. Mr. Spokas asked about the complexity mixtures of chemicals being used right now, if they are causing some of the problems with the sea grass then asked if the salinity in the lagoon had an effect on the fish. Dr. Gilmore said the salinity in the water varies and the fish have adapted. Mr. Northcott asked about the sediment and muck if this is being cause by just the chemicals or is it also from grass clippings breaking down. Dr. Gilmore said that all of this affects the sediment. Mr. Northcott asked if we didn't have the chemicals going into the lagoon would the sediment be as bad from just the grass clippings and other vegetative waste. Dr. Gilmore responded by saying that that he thinks the problem is from something else. The board secretary passed out a pamphlet called "A Citizens Guide to Storm Water" put out by EPA from Ms. Coy. Council Member Coy said it is a simple explanation and guide of what we want people to do. The best thing the board Natural Resources Board August 13, 2012 Page Three and the City can do is educate the public. The problem is already here in Sebastian. Ms. Coy said the first thing to do is create a website. She suggested the members look at Port St. Lucie's website and Sarasota's as examples. The board members will pull together information for the web page. The NRB web page will be part of the City of Sebastian's web page. The possible Facebook page will come later. Council Member Coy gave her power point presentation of what she has pulled together (see attached). Once completed, this power point presentation can be linked on the web page as well as used to take to local area groups. There was discussion regarding the issues surrounding a Facebook page and the web page. Ms. Cyr will invite a staff member from the MIS Department to attend the September 4th NRB meeting. Mr. Kriss mentioned that the Friends of the Sebastian Inlet State Park were approached by the Marine Resource Council about giving a presentation at their brown bag lunch meeting. He thinks we as a board can take the finished presentation to area groups. Ms. Coy said she would contact the EPA and see if we could use their pamphlet and video. Ms. Coy asked if Mr. Gordian would get her some additional photos for the presentation and he said he would. Mr. Spokas would like to give the presentation to his Home Owners Associations at the end of the month or at least pass out the sheet from the EPA. Sal Neglia said he would like to pass out the EPA sheet to the Sebastian Property Owners Association (SPOA) at their September meeting. Mr. Neglia also gave a copy of a study on phosphorus to Council Member Coy. The study was done by Oregon State University and it had a lot of good information in it. Mr. Neglia confirmed that the sea grass is gone and the fish are gone. Ms. Graves said her son found the same thing to be true. Dr. Gilmore told the members about an experience he witness in the lagoon near the Sebastian Mulligan's. He said that there were about four or five adolescent dolphins playing around looking for food near the restaurant and some people were throwing food into the lagoon. Dr. Gilmore said this is very unusual and shouldn't be happening if their food supply was available. He said that dolphin are disappearing from this area because their food source is gone. Ms. Sieferd asked if the dolphin were just looking for food elsewhere or were they dying. Dr. Gilmore said they hadn't noticed any large number of dead dolphins but they are disappearing. He also stated that dolphin usually stay in one area and rarely travel around. Dr. Richard Baker, Sebastian, spoke regarding the Sebastian Inlet, that he feels part of the problem is that the inlet is not flushing the system out. Everything that flows into the lagoon in Sebastian stays in the lagoon. In Vero Beach the lagoon flushes out of the Fort Pierce Inlet to the ocean. Natural Resources Board August 13, 2012 Page Four Sal Neglia said they should widen the inlet. Mr. Neglia asked why isn't the Government doing anything about this problem. Mr. Gordian said that creating another inlet would be a solution to the problem but there just isn't any money. Dr. Gilmore said the best way to tackle the problem is to take care of the chemical runoff. Chairperson Graves thanked everyone and said the board had a lot of work ahead of them. 6. PUBLIC INPUT: None. 7. Being no further business, Chairperson Graves adjourned the meeting at 7:44 p.m. �.-. . , , Natu al esources Chairperson Signature Date When It Rains .. It brains Stormwater Pollution Solutions An Education Program Brought to you by... The City of Sebastian NATURAL RESOURCES BOARD L� EIS- lUdl_I- LP' P Vill +.x x J� r y F: 1 � *]f141i�1" 17�'I � ik iu�A f T P"ip� mmi W,S) Y. Vo ;ok Gets a little bit sicker. It's time to admit and it's that we are responsible for causing this situation up to us to save the lagoon and river for future generations. If we do nothing... We will have nothing to enjoy tomorrow. The river and lagoon will die completely. Sources of Residential Pollution 1.Improper lawn care. Z.Improper use and disposal of chemicals. 3.Leaking and poorly maintained septic systems. 4.Improper auto care. 5.Improper landscaping and impermeable surfaces. 6.Pet waste. 7. Litter. i�Y�•� s�-1! M1:i �:.�., �5,�,-1'/ai��f � -. e� � � ^'I�.,�w iH�ato �',. '", /� q WHAT CAN I DO? Stormwater Pollution Solutions Problem: Excess fertilizers and pesticides applied to to lawns and gardens wash off and pollute the waterways. When it rains ... It drains right into the lagoon. • SOLUTION: Don't overwater your lawn. Consider using a soaker hose instead of a sprinkler. Use pesticides and fertilizers sparingly. Read the labels carefully. Know how to read the fertilizer label. Phosphorus application should be limited to Florida soils that have been tissue tested. Problem: Yard clippings and leaves can wash into storm drains and contribute nutrients and organic matter to waterways. • SOLUTION: Compost or mulch yard waste and debris. Don't leave it in the street or sweep it into storm drains or streams. Cover piles of dirt or mulch being used in landscaping projects.