The Voice for Manatees Since 1981 July 15, 2019 Manatee County Board of County Commissioners 1112 Manatee Avenue West Bradenton, FL 34205 Re: Support Manatee River Designation as a Wild and Scenic River Dear Manatee County Commissioners, Please support the proposal introduced by Hillsborough County Commissioner Stacy White, to seek Wild and Scenic River status for the Little Manatee River. The Little Manatee River is already recognized as an Outstanding Florida Water and considered one of southwest Florida's most pristine blackwater rivers. Pursuit of Wild and Scenic designation will further help safeguard this local treasure while also attracting visitors to the area who wish to experience Wild Florida. The federal Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968 recognizes those rivers with outstanding natural, cultural, and recreational values and preserves their natural flow patterns for the benefit of humanity. Enhancing the status of the Little Manatee River provides benefits to Tampa Bay and the Cockroach Bay Aquatic Preserve, as well as to communities that line those shores. The designation also helps facilitate management across county lines and encourages public involvement in setting conservation and stewardship goals. Adding the Little Manatee River to the Wild and Scenic River system would help preserve aquatic and nearshore habitat value for fish and wildlife species, including protected species such as Florida manatees. Healthy, free-flowing rivers are critically important to the quality of Florida's surface waters. Measures to improve water quality by supporting natural processes should be encouraged. Thank you for considering our comments. Sincerely, Katie Tripp, Ph.D. Director of Science and Conservation 500 N. Maitland Ave. • Maitland, FL 32751 • 407-539-0990 • Fax 407-539-0871 • 800-432-JOIN (5646) • www.savethemanatee.org Printed on recycled paper .