Resolution 2020-183 RESOLUTION NO. 2020 - 18 3
A RESOLUTION OF COLLIER COUNTY, FLORIDA, SUPPORTING
INNOVATIVE PILOT PROJECTS OF EXTRACTION OF NUTRIENT RICH
SEDIMENTS AND MECHANICAL HARVESTING OF INVASIVE PLANT
TECHNOLOGIES ON LAKE OKEECHOBEE AND SURROUNDING WATER
BODIES TO REDUCE NUTRIENT MASS LOADING TO EASTERN LANDS
AND WATERS OF COLLIER COUNTY THAT CONTRIBUTES TO
NEGATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS INCLUDING HARMFUL
ALGAL BLOOMS.
WHEREAS, the health of Lake Okeechobee is intricately connected to the wellbeing of
our State, its residents, wildlife, and our economy; and
WHEREAS, nutrient loads in Lake Okeechobee and the downstream estuaries annually
exceed allowable levels; and
WHEREAS, legacy nutrients derived from chemical spraying of vegetation,
and unconsolidated sludge, contribute to harmful algal blooms and damaging releases to the
coastal estuaries; and
WHEREAS,reducing chemical spraying and removing legacy nutrients will help combat
algal blooms; and
WHEREAS,unless a concerted effort is made to remove nutrients from Lake Okeechobee
and its surrounding water bodies, the benefit of billions of dollars spent in an effort to restore the
Everglades and protect our estuaries will never be realized; and
WHEREAS, innovative pilot projects involving extraction of nutrient rich
sediments/muck and mechanical harvesting technologies have been shown to
remove unconsolidated sludge, blue green algae, and invasive aquatic vegetation mechanically
and create a reused and recycled soil amendment to grow crops that will then be harvested,thereby
permanently removing thousands of pounds of phosphorus and other nutrients from water bodies;
and
WHEREAS, such pilot projects are scalable, versatile, cost effective, and have the
potential to be utilized statewide; and
WHEREAS, innovative pilot projects involving extraction of nutrient rich sediments and
mechanical harvesting technologies need to be identified by Collier County in the interest of our
environment and agriculture; and
WHEREAS, Collier County must also look to partner with the Florida Department of
Environmental Protection, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Florida
Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services,the South Florida Water Management District,
and the United States Army Corps of Engineers to avail ourselves of those agencies' resources and
experience in realizing this innovative technology for the benefit of our County and our region.
NOW, THERFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS OF COLLIER COUNTY FLORIDA THAT:
1. Lake Okeechobee is worth protecting for the benefit of all, and nutrient reduction is the
primary method by which the goal of protecting our waters will be achieved.
2. Reducing chemical spraying and removing legacy nutrients will help combat algal
blooms.
3. Solutions must be implemented that support the billions of dollars Floridians have
invested in restoration of the Everglades, saving the Ten Thousand Islands, and protecting our
estuaries/bays.
4. Innovative pilot projects involving extraction of nutrient rich matter and mechanical
harvesting technologies have demonstrated success in significantly reducing the amount of
undesirable nutrients in Florida's waters.
5. Such pilot projects show promise for future use for waterbodies in our own County.
6. We, the undersigned,join the State and Federal agencies named herein in supporting
the implementation of these types of pilot projects in applicable areas of Lake Okeechobee and its
surrounding water bodies.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this Resolution be recorded in the minutes of this
Board.
THIS RESOLUTION ADOPTED after motion, second and majority vote favoring same
this 13th day of October, 2020.
ATT ST. BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
CRYSTAL K. KINZEL, CLERK COLLI COUN Y, FF RIDA
By: 3_&AA C . By:
Attest •as to C.. . ct uty Clerk Burt L. Saunders, Chairman
sign ture only.
Approve.i • i . .o and legality:
lei
Jeffrey •Ir`6' 1 , County Attorney