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.
LAMAR LAKE (aka Jimbo's or Shrimper's Lagoon)
This tranquil cove is where you can launch your own kayaks, paddle boards and canoes or rent them from the Virginia Key Outdoor Center launch. Paddlers enjoy the wildlife, scenery and many seasonal manatee sightings. We are seeking to keep this beautiful place safe 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 support Virginia Key Beach in all their efforts to maintain a safe environment on land and water.
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.
LAMAR LAKE (aka Jimbo's or Shrimper's Lagoon)
This tranquil cove is where you can launch your own kayaks, paddle boards and canoes or rent them from the Virginia Key Outdoor Center launch. Paddlers enjoy the wildlife, scenery and many seasonal manatee sightings. We are seeking to keep this beautiful place safe 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 support Virginia Key Beach in all their efforts to maintain a safe environment on land and water.
We started in march 2018 to plan for safety in the basin
VIRGINIA KEY ADVISORY BOARD MEETING, March 27, 2018
Roger Bernstein, Virginia Key Alliance (VKA) member, presented our efforts to return the basin to a safe venue for current and future non-motorized vessel users. Our efforts provided 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 hired, and in collaboration with the City, the following legal solutions were worked on in parallel:
Resolution passed by the Virginia Key Advisory Board
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:
Roger Bernstein, Virginia Key Alliance (VKA) member, presented our efforts to return the basin to a safe venue for current and future non-motorized vessel users. Our efforts provided 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 hired, and in collaboration with the City, the following legal solutions were 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 or the Marina access.
- Buoys would designate the vessel exclusion zone facilitating enforcement.
- Reinstatement of the No-Wake zone - A no-wake zone existed in the basin previously but had to be renewed in 2014 by the City. Their failure to renew it required starting over again to legally establish the much needed no-wake zone.
Resolution passed by the Virginia Key Advisory Board
- To develop an ordinance to proceed with action on the Vessel Exclusion Zone and no-wake 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.
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.
WE DEVELOPED AN ORDINANCE - but road blocks appeared
- Working with City officials and the FWC, along with our attorney to ensure legal correctness, an Ordinance was created and sent to the City Commission for a vote.
- Without explanation, the Ordinance was withdrawn from the October 2019 City Commission Meeting.
- Back to Square One. We had to start all over again - and we did.
2021 - We're working on getting an ordinance passed once again
- Even though 2020 was a "lost year" due to the pandemic, we continued to do research, attend as many virtual meetings as possible and continued to develop strategic relationships.
- May 18, 2021: a Resolution was drafted to send to the City Commission for a vote that "directs the City manager to take any and all necessary steps to create a dedicated rowing lane and motorized vessel exclusion zone, finalize the creation and maintenance of a no-wake zone establish a mooring field of no more than fifty (50) vessels within the Marine Stadium Basin and to present the finalized plan to the City Commission for consideration and further action." A thank-you to Commissioner Ken Russell who sponsored this Resolution.
- The Resolution will be voted on at the June Commission meeting.
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 Alez Diaz de la Portilla (District 4)
adiazdelaportilla@miamigov.com Phone: (305) 250-5420 |
Commissioner Jeffrey Watson (District5)
jwatson@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 Barbara Hernandez Board Member (Director Parks and Recreation) bahernandez@miamigov.co Suzanne Hollander Board Member (Director DREAM) 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 Lamell McMorris Board Member (Mayoral Appointee) Joe Rasco Board Member (MDC Commissioner Dist. 7) jrasco@miamidade.gov Vinson Richter Board Member (Dade Heritage Trust) vrichter@trigragc.com Monty Trainer Board Member At Large Robert Vernon Board Member (Village of Key Biscayne) grandbaymaster@yahoo.com |
