Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserves Management Plan Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserves 1277 NE 79th Street Causeway • Miami, FL 33138 305.795.3486 • www.dep.state.fl.us/coastal/sites/biscayne/ Florida Department of Environmental Protection Coastal and Aquatic Managed Areas 3900 Commonwealth Blvd., MS #235, Tallahassee, FL 32399 www.aquaticpreserves.org This publication funded in part through a grant agreement from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Florida Coastal Management Program by a grant provided by the Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management under the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, as amended, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Award No. NA07NOS4190071- CZ823 NA11NOS4190077-CM227. The views, statements, finding, conclusions, and recommendations expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the State of Florida, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or any of its sub-agencies. February 2013 This tiny dwarf seahorse, no bigger than the size of the tip of a finger, is seen here effectively blending into his environment, along a bed of Laurencia sp., a macroalgae, and holding onto a blade of manatee grass. Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserves Management Plan Includes: • Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserve • Biscayne Bay - Cape Florida to Monroe County Line Aquatic Preserve Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserves 1277 NE 79th Street Causeway • Miami, FL 33138 305.795.3486 • www.dep.state.fl.us/coastal/sites/biscayne/ Florida Department of Environmental Protection Coastal and Aquatic Managed Areas 3900 Commonwealth Blvd., MS #235, Tallahassee, FL 32399 www.aquaticpreserves.org The backdrop of the pristine and protected Bill Sadowski Critical Wildlife Area is the downtown Miami skyline. Mission Statement Office of Coastal and Aquatic Managed Areas / The mission of the Office of Coastal and Aquatic Managed Areas in relation to Florida’s 41 aquatic preserves, 3 National Estuarine Research Reserves, National Marine Sanctuary and Coral Reef Conservation Program is to protect Florida’s coastal and aquatic resources. The four long-term goals of the Office of Coastal and Aquatic Managed Areas’ Aquatic Preserve Program are to: 1. protect and enhance the ecological integrity of the aquatic preserves; 2. restore areas to their natural condition; 3. encourage sustainable use and foster active stewardship by engaging local communities in the protection of aquatic preserves; and 4. improve management effectiveness through a process based on sound science, consistent evaluation, and continual reassessment. Cover photogrpah: The Next Generation Thank you to members of the public, agency partners, stakeholders, preserve interns and volunteers and DEP support staff for your time and dedication to protecting and preserving Biscayne Bay for future generations. This photo taken by volunteer, Miguel Hernandez, captures the essence of what we are trying to do, promote the beauty and wilderness of Biscayne Bay, a fragile yet resilient ecosystem, and preserve it for future generations of human and non-human inhabitants alike. Executive Summary Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserves Management Plan Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) Lead Agency: Office of Coastal and Aquatic Managed Areas (CAMA) Common Name of Property: Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserves (BBAP) Location: Miami-Dade and Monroe counties, Florida Acreage Total: 67,000 acres Acreage Breakdown for CAMA Management Units According to Florida Natural Areas Inventory (FNAI) Natural Community Types FNAI Natural Communities Total Acreage according to GIS Beach Dune: 5.5 Coastal Berm: 0.8 Seagrass Bed: 48,255.21 Tidal Marsh: 31.17 Tidal Swamp: 903.77 Total Acreage: 49,196.45 Total acreage of above habitats only accounts for what FNAI has documented within BBAP and does not provide habitat information for all of the area comprised within the BBAP boundaries. Management Agency: DEP’s CAMA Biscayne Bay’s cultural heritage owes its richness to the remnants and reminders of the Tequestas with rock middens and the as yet not fully understood “Miami Circle” bordering the bay. Early settlers along the bay noted the mystery of the natural limestone bridge in today’s North Miami known as “Arch Creek.” Virginia Key is one of the southeast coast’s few remaining natural barrier islands and to the south, BBAP encompasses an offshore parcel of land in the open Atlantic. The southernmost extent of the Unique Features: worldwide distribution of Johnson’s seagrass lies with BBAP’s boundaries. BBAP borders the most populous county in the state of Florida and its natural resources have rebounded tremendously in areas that have been protected after decades of habitat loss and destruction. Biscayne Bay is an international sailing destination that is protected in its entirety by either a national park or state preserve and is part of the Kissimmee-Okeechobee-Everglades ecosystem, historically receiving freshwater from the Everglades. Biscayne Bay’s coastline was used by the native Tequesta Indians as well as the extant Seminole and Miccosukee tribes. Along Biscayne Bay’s coastline there are overtures to the Tequesta including the Miami Circle, a Archaeological/Historical Sites: 2,000 year old site that has been preserved at the immediate edge where the Miami River meets Biscayne Bay. The shoreline of Biscayne Bay is home to numerous sites recognized by the National Register of Historic Places. Management Needs The existing water quality and benthic monitoring networks need to expand and add sites within BBAP’s boundaries to better understand sources of changes in the system such as vegetative composition and algal blooms. Ecosystem Science: Aerial photography needs to be more frequent and more accessible to staff and of a resolution that would allow layers to be digitized and used in GIS mapping efforts. Sewage mains need to be replaces and stormwater issues need to be addressed in a more comprehensive way to reduce nutrient loading into an oligotrophic system like BBAP. The proposed Reserved Allocation Area protection needs to be implemented to prevent consumptive use withdrawals Resource Management: that are inconsistent with restoration or would further impact Biscayne Bay. Unmanaged mooring areas should be evaluated against those that are managed to see if an effort should be made to bring unofficial, unmanaged areas under a less environmentally impactful arrangement. Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserves Management Plan (cont’d) BBAP needs to have a greater presence in Miami-Dade County so that Education and Outreach: citizens are just as cognizant of the fact that there is an aquatic preserve in Biscayne Bay as they are that there is a national park. Low-impact recreational opportunities need to be encouraged and greater access and awareness to the bay by these groups should be supported. Public Use: Businesses and rental concessionaires that offer power boat experiences should be encouraged to have their patrons understand the rules and ecological value of Biscayne Bay before taking to the waterway. One local public meeting, one Acquisition and Restoration Council public Public Involvement: meeting and two advisory committee meetings were held to aid in the development, review and revision of the BBAP management plan. CAMA/BTIITF Approval CAMA approval date: March 20, 2012 BTIITF approval date: ARC approval date: June 15, 2012 Comments: Table of Contents Part One / Basis for Management Chapter 1 / Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 1 1.1 / Management Plan Purpose and Scope ...................................................................................... 2 1.2 / Public Involvement ...................................................................................................................... 4 Chapter 2 / The Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Office of Coastal and Aquatic Managed Areas .................................................................................. 5 2.1 / Introduction .................................................................................................................................. 5 2.2 / Management Authority ................................................................................................................ 6 2.3 / Statutory Authority ....................................................................................................................... 7 2.4 / Administrative Rules .................................................................................................................... 7 Chapter 3 / The Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserves .............................................................................. 9 3.1 / Description of Representative Ecosystem Region ...................................................................... 9 Historical Background ...................................................................................................................... 9 General Description ........................................................................................................................ 13 Resource Description ..................................................................................................................... 16 Economic Values ............................................................................................................................ 43 Citizen Support Organization ........................................................................................................