Agenda 01/25/2022 Item #10A (Supporting House Bill 579)01/25/2022
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Recommendation to consider Board support of House Bill 579, filed by Representative Melo, on the
use of nutrient removal technology and mechanical aquatic plant management techniques in the
Lake Okeechobee watershed.
OBJECTIVE: Consideration of Board support of House Bill 579, filed by Representative Melo, on the
use of nutrient removal technology and mechanical aquatic plant management techniques in the Lake
Okeechobee watershed.
CONSIDERATIONS: At the January 11, 2022, meeting of the Board, I requested that the Board
consider supporting House Bill 579, filed by Representative Melo, on the use of nutrient removal
technology and mechanical aquatic plant management techniques in the Lake Okeechobee watershed.
Specifically, the bill directs the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the Institute of Food
and Agricultural Sciences at the University of Florida (IFAS), and the Water School at Florida Gulf Coast
University to implement and study the strategic use of nutrient removal technology and mechanical
aquatic plant management techniques, where ecologically and technically feasible, within the Lake
Okeechobee watershed.
The study will culminate in a report to the Governor and Legislature on February 1, 2023, on the
implementation and study, including any recommendations for statutory changes.
By adoption of a motion during the consideration of the 2022 State and Federal Legislative and
Administrative Priorities, the Chair is authorized to draft letters of support on be half of the Board on
specific issues or general policy positions contained therein. Lake Okeechobee and Everglades
Restoration, including any proposed legislation or administrative action that impacts water storage,
treatment, and reservoir conveyance are to be monitored by the lobbying team.
I am requesting that we consider supporting this legislation, instruct our lobbying team to register our
support at any committee meeting where this or its Senate companion bill (SB 1128) are considered, and
that, on behalf of the Board, the Chair draft a letter of support to Representative Melo for her use in
advancing this implementation and study.
FISCAL IMPACT: None.
GROWTH MANAGEMENT IMPACT: This action will result in no growth management impact.
LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS: This item has been reviewed by the County Attorney, raises no legal
issues and requires majority vote for approval. -JAK
RECOMMENDATION: That the Board consider supporting House Bill 579, filed by Representative
Melo, on the use of nutrient removal technology and mechanical aquatic plant management techniques in
the Lake Okeechobee watershed.
Prepared by: Penny Taylor, District 4
ATTACHMENT(S)
1. HB 579 (PDF)
10.A
Packet Pg. 459
01/25/2022
COLLIER COUNTY
Board of County Commissioners
Item Number: 10.A
Doc ID: 21095
Item Summary: Recommendation to consider Board support of House Bill 579, filed by
Representative Melo, on the use of nutrient removal technology and mechanical aquatic plant
management techniques in the Lake Okeechobee watershed. (Sponsored by Commissioner Taylor)
Meeting Date: 01/25/2022
Prepared by:
Title: – County Manager's Office
Name: John Mullins
01/18/2022 2:36 PM
Submitted by:
Title: – County Manager's Office
Name: John Mullins
01/18/2022 2:36 PM
Approved By:
Review:
Growth Management Department Lissett DeLaRosa Growth Management Department Completed 01/18/2022 4:03 PM
Growth Management Department James C French Growth Management Completed 01/18/2022 4:11 PM
Growth Management Department Trinity Scott Transportation Completed 01/18/2022 5:53 PM
Office of Management and Budget Debra Windsor Level 3 OMB Gatekeeper Review Completed 01/19/2022 8:19 AM
Office of Management and Budget Susan Usher Additional Reviewer Completed 01/19/2022 10:30 AM
County Attorney's Office Jeffrey A. Klatzkow Level 3 County Attorney's Office Review Completed 01/19/2022 1:21 PM
County Manager's Office Amy Patterson Level 4 County Manager Review Completed 01/19/2022 1:53 PM
Board of County Commissioners Geoffrey Willig Meeting Pending 01/25/2022 9:00 AM
10.A
Packet Pg. 460
HB 579 2022
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hb0579-00
Page 1 of 4
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
A bill to be entitled 1
An act relating to aquatic plant management; directing 2
the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, in 3
consultation with the Institute of Food and 4
Agricultural Sciences at the University of Florida and 5
the Water School at Florida Gulf Coast University, to 6
implement and study certain nutrient removal 7
technologies and mechanical aquatic plant management 8
techniques within the Lake Okeechobee watershed; 9
providing st udy requirements; authorizing the 10
commission to consult and contract with entities for 11
such implementation and study; directing the 12
commission to submit a report to the Governor and 13
Legislature by a specified date; providing report 14
requirements; providing an appropriation; providing an 15
effective date. 16
17
WHEREAS, the health of the state's waterbodies is 18
intricately connected to the wellbeing of our state, its 19
residents, wildlife, and economy, and 20
WHEREAS, legacy nutrients derived from the treatment of 21
invasive vegetation and unconsolidated biomass can contribute to 22
degraded water quality, and 23
WHEREAS, removing legacy nutrients by physically removing 24
invasive plants and biomass will improve water quality and help 25
10.A.a
Packet Pg. 461 Attachment: HB 579 (21095 : Support of HB 579 - Nutrient Removal Technology)
HB 579 2022
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hb0579-00
Page 2 of 4
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
combat algal blooms, and 26
WHEREAS, innova tive pilot projects involving extraction of 27
nutrient rich matter and biomass harvesting technologies have 28
demonstrated success in significantly reducing the amount of 29
undesirable nutrients in the state's waters, and 30
WHEREAS, physically removing unwanted vegetation and the 31
nutrients contained therein will improve the health and ecology 32
of the state's waters, benefit anglers and other fishing 33
enthusiasts, and encourage tourism, and 34
WHEREAS, repurposing legacy nutrients trapped in our 35
waterways will improve local economies by allowing for a new, 36
natural, and local source of soil amendments or compost for 37
agricultural purposes that will also give way to innovation and 38
job creation in the state, NOW, THEREFORE, 39
40
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State o f Florida: 41
42
Section 1. (1) The Fish and Wildlife Conservation 43
Commission, in consultation with the Institute of Food and 44
Agricultural Sciences at the University of Florida and the Water 45
School at Florida Gulf Coast University, shall implement and 46
stud y the strategic use of innovative biomass nutrient removal 47
technologies and mechanical aquatic plant management techniques 48
where ecologically and technically feasible within the Lake 49
Okeechobee watershed. 50
10.A.a
Packet Pg. 462 Attachment: HB 579 (21095 : Support of HB 579 - Nutrient Removal Technology)
HB 579 2022
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hb0579-00
Page 3 of 4
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
(2) At a minimum, the study must: 51
(a) Document the reduction in chemical control for each 52
aquatic plant acre mechanically harvested on an acre -for-acre 53
basis. 54
(b) If hay has been applied, analyze the harvested hay to 55
provide data on nutrient content and soil nutrient content. 56
(c) Provide traceabili ty and accountability for total 57
nutrient removal. 58
(d) Determine the feasibility and sustainability of 59
increased scalability of biomass nutrient removal technologies 60
and mechanical aquatic plant management techniques statewide. 61
(3) The commission may consult and contract with entities 62
for the implementation and study of the strategic use of 63
innovative biomass nutrient removal technologies and mechanical 64
aquatic plant management techniques. 65
(4) The commission shall submit to the Governor, President 66
of the Senate, and Speaker of the House of Representatives by 67
February 1, 2023, a report on the implementation and study of 68
the strategic use of innovative biomass nutrient removal 69
technologies and mechanical aquatic plant management techniques, 70
including re commendations for statutory changes. 71
Section 2. For the 2022-2023 fiscal year, the sum of 72
$500,000 in nonrecurring funds from the General Revenue Fund is 73
appropriated to the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to 74
implement and study the strategic use of innovative biomass 75
10.A.a
Packet Pg. 463 Attachment: HB 579 (21095 : Support of HB 579 - Nutrient Removal Technology)
HB 579 2022
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb0579-00
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
nutrient removal technologies and mechanical aquatic plant 76
management techniques pursuant to this act. 77
Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2022 . 78
10.A.a
Packet Pg. 464 Attachment: HB 579 (21095 : Support of HB 579 - Nutrient Removal Technology)