tHE ISSUES
THE MARINE STADIUM BASIN
In the years since the Virginia Key Master Plans were created, use of the basin waters has boomed. Wildlife has proliferated, with dolphin sightings almost a guarantee. Due to its special attributes, use by passive water sport athletes continues to grow and now number close to 700 enthusiasts. There is no other place like it in Miami - it offers the protected waters needed by boats powered by oars and paddles almost year round. Others have discovered the basin waters as well and have created a safety hazard with high speed racing that creates disruptive wakes that can overturn small boats, as well as disturb the abundant sea life, both flora and fauna.
All of the bay outside Biscayne National Park , which includes the stadium basin, is covered by the Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserve, which also has strict water quality and conservation regulations. We have a state law against damaging seagrass in an Aquatic Preserve which carries a significant fine. How can such disruptive and destructive activities continue to be allowed here? We are hoping to obtain studies and data to support our concerns from experts in the ecological fields.
JIMBO'S LAGOON (aka Shrimper's Lagoon)
This tranquil cove is where kayaks and canoes rented from the Virginia Key Outdoor Center launch. Paddlers enjoy the wildlife, scenery and many seasonal manatee sightings. It was a place to appreciate south Florida's native beauty.....until it was discovered by personal watercraft owners as a great place to race each other. We are seeking to make Jimbo's Lagoon safe again for paddlers and wildlife.
HISTORIC VIRGINIA KEY BEACH PARK
Located off the Rickenbacker Causeway on the north side of Bear Cut, Virginia Key Beach is a family beach, now under the auspices of the Virginia Key Beach Park Trust. As with the Marine Stadium Basin and Jimbo's Lagoon, the beach also is suffering from the safety hazards created by small motorized boats racing, creating hazardous wakes and waves and disruptive noise. We hope to bring back safety and quiet enjoyment to the beach area by establishing no-wake areas.
In the years since the Virginia Key Master Plans were created, use of the basin waters has boomed. Wildlife has proliferated, with dolphin sightings almost a guarantee. Due to its special attributes, use by passive water sport athletes continues to grow and now number close to 700 enthusiasts. There is no other place like it in Miami - it offers the protected waters needed by boats powered by oars and paddles almost year round. Others have discovered the basin waters as well and have created a safety hazard with high speed racing that creates disruptive wakes that can overturn small boats, as well as disturb the abundant sea life, both flora and fauna.
All of the bay outside Biscayne National Park , which includes the stadium basin, is covered by the Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserve, which also has strict water quality and conservation regulations. We have a state law against damaging seagrass in an Aquatic Preserve which carries a significant fine. How can such disruptive and destructive activities continue to be allowed here? We are hoping to obtain studies and data to support our concerns from experts in the ecological fields.
JIMBO'S LAGOON (aka Shrimper's Lagoon)
This tranquil cove is where kayaks and canoes rented from the Virginia Key Outdoor Center launch. Paddlers enjoy the wildlife, scenery and many seasonal manatee sightings. It was a place to appreciate south Florida's native beauty.....until it was discovered by personal watercraft owners as a great place to race each other. We are seeking to make Jimbo's Lagoon safe again for paddlers and wildlife.
HISTORIC VIRGINIA KEY BEACH PARK
Located off the Rickenbacker Causeway on the north side of Bear Cut, Virginia Key Beach is a family beach, now under the auspices of the Virginia Key Beach Park Trust. As with the Marine Stadium Basin and Jimbo's Lagoon, the beach also is suffering from the safety hazards created by small motorized boats racing, creating hazardous wakes and waves and disruptive noise. We hope to bring back safety and quiet enjoyment to the beach area by establishing no-wake areas.
action - march 2018
VIRGINIA KEY ADVISORY BOARD MEETING, March 27th
Roger Bernstein, Virginia Key Alliance (VKA) member, presented our latest efforts to return the basin to a safe venue for current and future non-motorized vessel users. Our efforts provide more successful solutions to the City's contention that a large mooring field was needed to regulate illegal anchoring in the basin. With the help of Byron Flagg, the attorney that the VKA has hired, and in collaboration with the City, the following legal solutions are being worked on in parallel:
Non-legal solutions
Ongoing discussions with City of Miami Marine Patrol has lead to better monitoring of hazardous conditions created by motorized personal watercraft. The Marine Patrol urges all basin users to report any unsafe activity to both the FWCC and the Miami Marine Patrol:
Resolution passed by the Virginia Key Advisory Board
Holistic approach to safety on all Virginia Key waters
Roger Bernstein, Virginia Key Alliance (VKA) member, presented our latest efforts to return the basin to a safe venue for current and future non-motorized vessel users. Our efforts provide more successful solutions to the City's contention that a large mooring field was needed to regulate illegal anchoring in the basin. With the help of Byron Flagg, the attorney that the VKA has hired, and in collaboration with the City, the following legal solutions are being worked on in parallel:
- Legislated Limited Anchoring - This is our ideal solution and would allow the City to control the entire basin and to write a management plan.
- The City must designate this a legislative priority for the 2019 session.
- Although legislation for limited anchoring exists on the books in Tallahassee, there is no guarantee that the Marine Stadium Basin will be granted this designation.
- The VKA and our attorney will be involved throughout the process.
- Vessel Exclusion Zone - This solution would limit a portion of the basin to vessels under oar or paddle power, thereby making a "zone" safer for non-motorized boats.
- This requires a City ordinance to be passed; local law is involved instead of state law.
- Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWCC) approval is required.
- The "zone" would be approximately half the basin and would not include the areas by the Marine Stadium, the public boat launch or the Marina access.
- Buoys would designate the vessel exclusion zone facilitating enforcement.
- Boat restriction area or No-Wake zone - Similar to the Vessel Exclusion Zone, the entire basin cannot be designated no-wake according to the FWCC. This solution is the least definitive.
Non-legal solutions
Ongoing discussions with City of Miami Marine Patrol has lead to better monitoring of hazardous conditions created by motorized personal watercraft. The Marine Patrol urges all basin users to report any unsafe activity to both the FWCC and the Miami Marine Patrol:
- FWCC 24 hour complaint line: 888-404-3922
- Marine Patrol: 305-603-6390
- Describe incident, date, approximate time, type of vessel(s). OK if you can't identify the operator. Leave your name and cell phone number.
- Document the incident(s) with photos or videos, if possible.
Resolution passed by the Virginia Key Advisory Board
- To develop an ordinance to proceed with action on the Vessel Exclusion Zone.
- To ask the City Commission to create the bill to go to the legislature for a Limited Anchoring designation for the basin. Our attorney will work with the City on this.
Holistic approach to safety on all Virginia Key waters
- Follow up with similar solutions to water safety hazards in Jimbo's Lagoon and Virginia Key Beach.
- Coordinate efforts with stakeholders.
GET INVOLVED
Attend public meetings of the Miami City Commission and the Virginia Key Advisory Board. You'll learn how you can work side by side with our network of VKA members and volunteers to protect the environment and Virginia Key.
MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD
Pick up the phone and call, or email, your local representatives. Let them know that your access to this area, environmental welfare, clean water, public health and safety are important to you. Contact information may be found below:
Elected officials - city of miami
Mayor Francis Suarez
fsuarez@miamigov.com Phone: (305) 250-5300 |
Commissioner Wilfredo Gort (District 1)
wgort@miamigov.com Phone: (305) 250-5430 |
Commissioner Ken Russell (District 2)
krussell@miamigov.com Phone: (305) 250-5333 |
Commissioner Joe Carollo (District 3)
jcarollo@miamigov.com Phone: (305) 250-5380 |
Commissioner Manolo Reyes (District 4)
mreyes@miamigov.com Phone: (305) 250-5420 |
Commissioner Keon Hardemon (District5)
khardemon@miamigov.com Phone: (305) 250-5390 |
Appointed Members - Virginia Key Advisory Board (VKAB)
|
Esther Alonso-Luft
Board Member (Dist. 2) emluft2@gmail.com Peter Ehrlich Board Member (Urban Environmental League) petersobe@aol.com Guy Forchion Board Member (Virginia Key Beach Park Trust) developamerica1964@gmail.com Lynn Lewis Board Member (Nat'l Trust for Historic Pres.) lynnlewis@lblpa.com Steven Leidner Board Member (Sierra Club) stevenleidner@att.net |
Gary Milano
Board Member (Tropical Audubon) biscayn@gmail.com Joe Rasco Board Member (MDC Commissioner Dist. 7) jrasco@miamidade.gov Vinson Richter Board Member (Dade Heritage Trust) vrichter@trigragc.com Frankie Ruiz Board Member (Citizen, Work or Own Real Property) FRuiz2@lifetimefitness.com Robert Vernon Board Member (Village of Key Biscayne) grandbaymaster@yahoo.com |
