Subject:
Title
Memorandum of Agreement Between East Coast Zoological Society of Florida (Brevard Zoo) and Brevard County for Countywide Oyster Gardening Program
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Fiscal Impact:
FY19-20: Stormwater Fund 1110, $150,000
FY20-21: Stormwater Fund 1110, $150,000, if contract is renewed
Dept/Office:
Natural Resources Management Department (NRM)
Requested Action:
Recommendation
It is requested that the Board of County Commissioners: 1) authorize the Chair to execute a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with Brevard Zoo to continue the County-wide Oyster Gardening Program; 2) authorize the County Manager or designee to execute up to two annual renewals, future amendments and change orders; and 3) authorize budget change requests as required to support the Brevard Zoo's implementation of work under this MOA.
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Summary Explanation and Background:
On October 17, 2013 the Board of County Commissioners launched a local Oyster Gardening program to engage the public in helping to restore the natural filtration by shellfish and thereby improve ecosystem resilience within waters of the Indian River Lagoon (IRL). The Oyster Gardening Program is executed through a partnership with the Brevard Zoo. This MOA would renew the program using funds approved in budget to continue this program.
Background: Oyster Gardening is a citizen-based oyster propagation program where juvenile oysters (spat) are raised under lagoon-front homeowner's docks. These oysters are grown for six to nine months and then used to populate constructed oyster reef sites. Oyster Gardening participants receive spat-on-shell oysters plus all supplies needed to care for their oysters until they are placed at new reef sites in the lagoon. Oyster Gardening workshops are held throughout the county to increase and accommodate public interest, and to provide training and education about oyster gardening, oyster reef living shorelines, and issues facing the lagoon.
To date, over 1,400 waterfront property owners ha...
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