Subject:
Title
Approval of a letter request to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for a Section 206 study of the feasibility of an ecosystem restoration project at the 528 Causeway in the Banana River
End
Fiscal Impact:
The first $100,000 of initial investigation is 100% federal
Any additional feasibility study cost requires 50% non-federal match
Project design and construction, if feasible, requires 35% non-federal match
Dept/Office:
Natural Resources
Requested Action:
Recommendation
Approve the Chair to sign a letter request to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers requesting a Section 206 study of the feasibility of an ecosystem restoration project to remove the earthen causeway in the Banana River under Highway 528
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Summary Explanation and Background:
Slow flow and long residence/retention times makes certain segments of the Indian River Lagoon in Brevard County highly vulnerable to nutrient pollution and harmful algal blooms. Several modeling efforts indicate that causeways contribute to compartmentalization and flow restriction. The northernmost segment of the Banana River has experienced intense and prolonged algal blooms contributing to a dramatic loss of seagrass and associated fish and marine life.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has a program to investigate the potential benefits and cost effectiveness of locally sponsored ecosystem restoration projects. Through this program, the Army Corps can investigate the extent to which the causeway supporting Highway 528 across the Banana River contributes to ongoing water quality issues, associated harmful algae blooms, consequential seagrass losses, and whether removal or modification of the causeway could be a significant part of ecosystem restoration for seagrass, fish and marine life.
The attached letter, would request an investigation and express the County's willingness to serve as the study sponsor. The first $100,000 of the initial investigations would be 100% federally funded. Feasibility stu...
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