Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutDocumentation_Miscellaneous_Tab 07_7/31/2019_EACAgenda Item #7. Environmental Advisory Committee STAFF MEMO Meeting: Environmental Advisory Committee - Jul 31 2019 Staff Contact: Lori McWilliams, Village Clerk Department: Discuss Resident Communication regarding Garbage in the Loxahatchee River Discuss Resident Communication regarding Garbage in the Loxahatchee River Garbage in the River Page 8 of 12 Agenda Item #7. Lori McWilliams From: Abby Brennan Sent: Saturday, July 27, 2019 11:15 AM To: Lori McWilliams Cc: Gustavo Medina; Jeremy Allen Subject: FW: Garbage in the river Lori..............kindly forward thisf followup email to the Envoronmental Committee. Thank you. Abby Brennan Mayor . Village of Tequesta 345 Tequesta Drive Tequesta, FL 33469 www.teauesta.orLy abrennan"tea uesta.orLi Office: (561) 768-0460 Cell: (561) 339-0740 From: Jim Swistock <jswistock@pen ncara.com> Sent: Saturday, July 27, 2019 11:06 AM To: Abby Brennan <abrennan@tequesta.org> Subject: Re: Garbage in the river Thank you Mayor Brennan. We have a wonderful community full of good neighbors, and shouldn't allow anyone to spoil that. We would welcome more police patrols on the river, and would be pleased to offer the area around our dock and sea wall as an observation and enforcement point. I spent over 40 years owning businesses that required water discharge permits. The permit requirements for levels of suspended solids in the water that we discharged into the receiving streams and rivers were lower and more stringent than those found in the Loxahatchee River after a weekend of water sports activity. If this continues, the marine life will continue to be adversely impacted. Page 9 of 12 Agenda Item #7. Sent from my Whone On Jul 27, 2019, at 10:25 AM, Abby Brennan <abrennanAtequesta._orP-> wrote: <ATT14486 1.j pg> Mr. Swistock, Thank you for contacting me about your concern for both the environmental issues and peaceful enjoyment of our precious Loxahatchee River. I am forwarding your email and photos to our Chief of Police. We have a marine unit that patrols the river but, as you might imagine, it is not deployed every day. Regardless, I am suggesting to Chief Gus Medina that we have an expanded presence on the river. In addition, we have recently formed an Environmental Committee which, among other issues related to our environment, will have a distinct focus on the Loxahatchee River. I will have the Village Clerk forward your email to the members of the committee. The preservation of the Loxahatchee River is of the utmost importance to me. Thank you again for bringing this to my attention. Abby Brennan Mayor Village of Tequesta 345 Tequesta Drive Tequesta, FL 33469 www.tequesta.or9 abrennan@tequesta.org Office: (561) 768-0460 Cell: (561) 339-0740 -----Original Message ----- From: Jim Swistock <jswistock@penncara.com> Sent: Saturday, July 27, 2019 10:05 AM To: Abby Brennan <abrennan@tequesta.org> Subject: Garbage in the river Dear Mayor Brennan, Page 10 of 12 Agenda Item #7. We live in Tequesta along the formerly pristine and peaceful Loxahatchee River. It used to be a truly amazing place, a piece of paradise. Much to our dismay, that has changed. Most weekends, and especially those that fall on a Holiday, the River is taken over by people on jet skis and power boats pulling sleds and water skiers. Violations of the law are not the exception, but the norm. I've given up on collecting beer cans, cardboard 6 and 12 pack boxes, wine bottles, empty water bottles and garbage and litter bags. I can no longer catch fish from our sea wall and dock. The sea grass we used to see is now dead, chocked out by the excessive sediment. We often would see dolphins, manatees, rays, and fish. We haven't seen a dolphin or manatee in two years, which coincides with the onset of this behavior. Many boaters and jet skiers speed recklessly and aggressively past private docks, often failing to maintain a safe distance of separation. This creates huge damaging wakes, and sediment and high levels of suspended solids in the water. I've observed many boats towing sleds ( often two or three at a time), and multiple water skiers, in clear violation of the law. Many lack spotters or wide angle legal size mirrors. Low wake and no wake speed zones are routinely ignored. Due to concerns for our safety, we sold our boat, and no longer use our paddle board or kayak. It's simply not worth the risk. Excessively loud music and vulgar offensive language can be heard almost nonstop. I support the right of all to enjoy the River, provided they do so in a lawful, safe, respectful, and courteous manner. That, unfortunately is not what is happening. This situation is not only dangerous, but unacceptable. What can we do to fix these problems before there is a serious accident? I will send you some images of beer cans and garbage bags in the river along our dock and sea wall. I also have some videos of the behavior I described. Please let me know what you suggest as a solution to these problems. Thank you. James Swistock This email has been scanned for email related threats and delivered safely by Mimecast. For more information please visit http://www.mimecast.com 3 Page 11 of 12