The Florida Keys are part of a unique ecosystem of mangrove islands, tropical hammocks, coral reefs, and shallow flats. This beautiful region is being destroyed by water pollution and destruction of natural habitats.
    The Florida Keys (Monroe County) have been an Area of Critical State Concern since 1974. Under this designation, the State has oversight of the county's progress on four critical needs: water quality improvement, habitat protection, affordable housing, and hurricane evacuation. In exchange, the county has access to special financial resources to help these improvements.
    In the thirty years since the Keys were designated as a critical area, little significant progress has been made; in fact today the water is more polluted and there is even less habitat than in 1974.
    Now the Florida Legislature is considering bills--HB 1299 and SB 2098–that propose to take away these important state protections. It does so while requiring only minimal safeguards and progress on water quality and habitat protection.  

As a result, without state oversight, even more development will be allowed in the Florida Keys.  Control of growth will be in the hands of a county commission that is notoriously pro-development and hostile to the environment.

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

I am writing to request that you oppose proposals to remove the Florida Keys' designation as an Area of Critical State Concern. The Florida Keys were designated an Area of Critical State Concern (ACSC) in 1974, giving the State oversight of Monroe County's management of population and development pressure in this world-class ecosystem. In exchange, the county is provided with special financial resources to effect these improvements. In the thirty years since designation, little significant progress has been made on these issues. Water quality, loss of habitat, and lack of affordable housing are more serious than ever. Now the famously blue waters around the Keys grow murky green with algae, threatening the very lifestyle and economy upon which the Keys have been built. Current law, amended in 1999, details clear conditions for removal of the designation based on a decision by the Governor and Cabinet sitting as the Administration Commission and places a burden on Monroe County to meet those conditions. SB 2098 and HB 1299 by Sen. Mike Bennett and Rep. Ken Sorensen would remove this designation prematurely. Only three of Monroe County's five commissioners support this proposed legislation in recent action, while two municipalities have refused to take action supporting it. Additionally, 82% of respondents indicated they oppose removing the Keys' ACSC designation in a recent survey of Keys residents by nationally recognized Lake Research Partners. Thank you for your consideration of this important issue. I hope you will defend the ecology, economy, and way of life of the Florida Keys by opposing these bills.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
March 28, 2006

March 27, 2006

The Florida Senate
Senate Office Building
404 South Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1100

Dear Members of the Florida Senate,

      We, the environmental community of Florida and citizen groups of the Florida Keys, are requesting that you oppose proposals to remove the Florida Keys' designation as an Area of Critical State Concern.

     The Florida Keys were designated an Area of Critical State Concern (ACSC) in 1974. The designation gave the State oversight of Monroe County's management of population and development pressure in this world-class ecosystem. In exchange, the county is provided with special financial resources to effect these improvements. In the thirty years since designation, little significant progress has been made on these issues. Water quality, loss of habitat and lack of affordable housing are more serious than ever. Now the famously blue waters around the Keys grow murky green with algae, threatening the very lifestyle and economy upon which the Keys have been built.

   Current law, amended in 1999, details clear conditions for removal of the designation based on a decision by the Governor and Cabinet sitting as the Administration Commission and places a burden on Monroe County to meet those conditions. SB 2098 and HB 1299 by Sen. Mike Bennett and Rep. Ken Sorensen would remove this designation prematurely.

The Florida Keys are a unique place visited by millions of people from around the world and meriting special state oversight.  They include:
      ∙  The Keys' economic engine: three national parks, four national wildlife refuges,
         and several of Florida's award-winning state parks 
      ∙  The world's third largest coral reef, home to a vibrant diving industry
      ∙  The last remaining fragments of tropical hardwood hammock in Florida, crucial 
         to migratory songbirds and the Keys' signature striped tree snails
      ∙  Incomparable Keys sportfishing, a pillar in Florida's status as Fishing Capital of
         the World
      ∙  Mangrove bays and nearshore waters, nurseries to Florida's famous populations
         of wading birds and the commercial fisheries of the Gulf of Mexico.

    Only three of Monroe County's five commissioners support this proposed legislation in recent action, while two municipalities have refused to take action supporting it. Additionally, 82% of respondents indicated they oppose removing the Keys' ACSC designation in a recent survey of Keys residents by nationally recognized Lake Research Partners. The Keys, a nationally-significant resource with a small population base, deserve additional state protection for water quality, terrestrial habitat, affordable housing and hurricane safety. It is premature to remove the oversight that has been the only legal incentive thus far for local efforts to deal with near-shore pollution and development pressure.

    Recognizing the significance of the marine environment to the residents and visitors of the state of Florida, the legislature passed Public Law 99-395, requiring all wastewater systems to be connected to advanced wastewater treatment by July 1, 2010.  Monroe County has achieved less than 10% of the wastewater compliance required in state law with only four years remaining in the schedule. Until this challenging task has been completed, it is premature to consider de-designation of the Area of Critical State Concern status for the Florida Keys.

   Thank you for your consideration of this important issue. We hope you will agree that defending the health of the Florida Keys would be a proud legacy for your tenure in the Legislature.

Respectfully yours,

Charles Pattison, Executive Director                        Capt. Ed Davidson, President
1000 Friends of Florida                                            Florida Keys Citizens Coalition

David Anderson, Executive Director                         Manley Fuller, President
Audubon of Florida                                                  Florida Wildlife Federation

Kathy Aterno, Program Director                               Dennis Henize, President
Clean Water Action                                                 Last Stand

Alan Keller, Conservation Chair                               David J. White, Esq., Regional Director
Collier County Audubon Society                              The Ocean Conservancy

Andrew McElwaine, President                                  Susan Caplowe
Conservancy of Southwest Florida                            Sierra Club

Richard Grosso, Executive Director                           Cynthia Guerra, Executive Director
Environmental and Land Use Law Center                 Tropical Audubon Society

Sen. Bob Smith, President                                       Debra S. Harrison, Director, South Florida Program
Everglades Foundation                                             World Wildlife Fund

Thom Rumberger, Esq., Chairman                           Juanita Greene, Conservation Chair
Everglades Trust                                                       Friends of the Everglades

DeeVon Quirolo, Executive Director                         John Murphy, President
Reef Relief                                                               Big Pine Key Civic Association

Jill Patterson, BOD                                                  Joan Barrow, BOD
Upper Keys Citizens Association                              Florida Keys Chapter of the Izaak Walton League

Sylvia Murphy, President                                         Mark Ferrulo, Director
Tavernier Community Association                           Florida PIRG

Rich Grathwohl, Director
Marathon Fishing Guides Association