|
USE YOUR BROWSER BACK BUTTON TO RETURN TO THE PREVIOUS PAGE
WATER QUALITY IN BOOT KEY HARBOR
.... a summary of what the BKH Advisory Committee had to say in
their report (1997)
The final report of this Committee to the County identified the major sources
of pollution for the harbor and near shore waters. Though boats that illegally
dump their sewage overboard are certainly a problem, it is not the majority of
the problem. In fact, an EPA report on Water Quality Protection issues
(available through the Marine Sanctuary) indicates that boats account for only
about 1.5% of the total pollution in Keys waters. We believe that the final City
/ County plan should incorporate the water circulation suggestions, and address
the upland water pollution, in addition to enforcing existing laws regarding
discharge of sewage.
An outline of these water quality issues as listed by the committee is listed
here.
. . . or - - Click here for the complete committee report.
SANITATION:
- Marine Community:
- Encourage pumpout facilities for liveaboards & boats at private
docks and in Marinas
- Develop means to provide pumpout facilities for anchored out boats
- Require marinas on Boot Key Harbor to add pump out facilities
- Reduce the impact to water of toxic spills into bilge areas
- Upland Community
- provide improved sanitation for Vaca Key & the Marathon area
(cesspits & other sources of sewage &
contaminants entering the ground)
POLLUTION SOURCES:
- Minimize impacts of hydrocarbons on the marine environment
- implement programs designed to reduce the toxicity of fuels &
reduce fuel spillage (at marinas)
- Fishing Fleet & Food processors should be made aware of the need to
dispose of by-products properly
- (including local residents disposing of fish parts or bio-degradable
material into canals)
- Reduce pollution potential emanating from boat yard runoff reaching harbor
waters
- Minimize the impact of storm water runoff
- encourage the continued study & correction of this problem
- improve the quality of storm water runoff in shopping area parking
lot
- Other sources of land based pollution should be investigated
- residential and commercial (golf course) fertilizing or cesspools
CIRCULATION
- Improve water circulation in Boot Key Harbor
- creation of cuts or culverts internal to BKH should be considered as
soon as is practical to improve circulation to some areas of poorest
circulation
- Deep canals in the Marathon area should be identified and backfilled
to6-8'.
- Aeration units should be placed in dead end canals to improve water
quality.
| 