BE READY TO DODGE SOME AFTERNOON STORMS MONDAY AND MAYBE SATURDAY, SUNDAY AS
WELL.
KRISTI?
WELL. KRISTI? >> PROTECTING BISCAYNE BAY,
IT’S NOT JUST ABOUT WHAT GOES
INTO OUR WATER, IT’S ALSO
ABOUT MONITORING WHAT WE DO
WITH THE LAND SURROUNDING THIS
FRAGILE MARINE ECOSYSTEM.
>> NOW BIG CHANGES ARE
HAPPENING THAT COULD EFFECT
THE FUTURE OF A PROGRAM THAT
PROTECTS THOSE PRECIOUS
PROPERTIES.
FINDING THE RIGHT BALANCE
BETWEEN CONSERVATION AND
DEVELOPMENT IS TONIGHT’S DON’T
TRASH OUR TREASURE.
>> I’VE ACTUALLY BEEN COMING
TO THIS AREA SINCE THE EARLY
70’S.
>> AFTER 31 YEARS OF SERVICE,
11 AS DIRECTOR, LEE IS
RETIRING FROM MIAMI-DADE
COUNTY’S DIVISION OF
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
MANAGEMENT.
BUT BEFORE HE LEAVES, HE
WANTED TO SHOW ME SOMETHING.
>> THIS IS A NATURAL HABITAT
THAT WAS MORE PLENTIFUL BEFORE
DEVELOPMENT OCCURRED.
>> THIS MARSH MADE UP OF A
SALT WATER SAW GRASS, THE LAST
ACRES OF IT REMAINING, A
PARCEL ACQUIRED BY THE
ENVIRONMENT
ENVIRONMENTALLY ENDANGERED
LANDS PROGRAM.
>> NATURE REALLY WORKS FOR US.
IT PROVIDES A PLACE FOR WATER
TO GO.
>> MIAMI-DADE VOTERS GREEN LIT
THE PROGRAM IN THE EARLY 90’S
TO GENERATE TAX DOLLARS AND
HELP THE COUNTY PURCHASE THESE
ENDANGERED LANDS AND PRESERVE
THEM FOREVER.
>> IT’S A TREMENDOUS
INVESTMENT WE’VE MADE IN THE
QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THIS
GENERATION AND OUR CHILDREN
AND THEIR GRANDCHILDREN.
>> THIS CRITICAL ECOSYSTEM IS
COMPRISED OF 78 NATIVE PLANTS
THAT PLAY A VITAL ROLE IN
PROTECTING THE COUNTY’S
RESOURCES.
THIS IS NATURE’S FILTER,
FILTERING OUT DEADLY NUTRIENTS
BEFORE THEY HAVE A CHANCE TO
FLOW INTO THE BAY.
PLUS, IT ACTS AS A NATURAL
BUFFER ZONE TOGETHER WITH THE
MANGROVES THAT LINE THE SHORE,
PROTECTING NEARBY HOMES AND
BUSINESSES, STORM SURGE AND A
RISING SEA.
JANET IS A DIRECTOR OF THE
PROGRAM.
THEY’VE ACQUIRED 18,000 ACRES
ALL PURCHASED FROM PRIVATE
LANDOWNERS WHO WANT TO GIVE
BACK TO NATURE INSTEAD OF
SEEING IT DEVELOPED.
>> WITHOUT THEM AND THEIR
ABILITY TO SELL TO US AND
THEIR WILLINGNESS TO DO SO, WE
WOULD NOT OWN THESE CRITICAL
PIECES.
>> THERE ARE STILL 33,000
ACRES THAT’LL HAS IDENTIFIED
FOR ACQUISITION.
FUNDING TO ENHANCE THE 27
THOUSAND ACRES THEY PRESENTLY
MANAGE.
THE COUNTY MUST STEP UP IF EEL
IS TO CONTINUE.
>>
>> IT IS FUNDAMENTAL IN THE
CONTINUING SUCCESS AND
THRIVING ECOSYSTEMS.
>> FROM DAY ONE AT DETERMINE,
HE’S FOUGHT HARD TO DEFEND
SOUTH FLORIDA’S BACKYARD.
HIS LAST BATTLE WAS TO
PERSUADE THE BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS NOT TO MOVE --
>> THE WATER NEEDS TO GO
SOMEWHERE.
WE NEED TO FIND PLACES TO
RESTORE ITS NATURAL FLOW
THROUGH THESE NATURAL SYSTEMS.
>> A FINAL VOTE IS EXPECTED
NEXT WEEK.
HE LEAVES HIS POSITION WITH A
HEAVY HEART.
>> MIXED EMOTIONS.
HEAVY HEART.
>> MIXED EMOTIONS.
>> LIVING IN PARADISE COMES WITH RESPONSIBILITY. >> HIS LAST DAY WILL BE
FRIDAY.
WE THANK HIM FOR HIS 31 YEARS
OF SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY.
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY COMMISSION
WILL HAVE THE FINAL VOTE ON
WHETHER OR NOT TO MOVE THE
BOUNDARY ON JUNE 1ST, THIS
TIME WITHOUT A PUBLIC HEARING.
CONTACT YOUR COUNTY
COMMISSIONER AND LET THEM KNOW
HOW YOU FEEL.
SCAN THE QR CODE ON YOUR
SCREEN, IT WILL TAKE YOU RIGHT
TO THE DON’T TRASH OUR
TREASURE SECTION ON
Local10.com.
HE’S BEEN A CHAMPION FOR THE
ENVIRONMENT FROM DAY ONE.
>> I LOVE WHAT HE SAID, LIVING
IN PARADISE COMES WITH