For more information, contact us via email at
miamiriver@bellsouth.net

MIAMI RIVER COMMISSION 
c/o Robert King High
1407 NW 7 St.,  Suite D
Miami, FL  33125

  Phone 305-644-0544
Fax 305-642-1136

The Miami River Commission's (MRC) Stormwater Subcommittee (SSC) met September 5, 2007 , 10 am , at the Miami River Inn, 118 South River Drive , Miami , FL. The sign in sheet is enclosed. Per the request of SSC Chair Ms. Sallye Jude , the SSC continues inviting representatives from the City, County, South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) to rotate in leading attendees through the meeting agenda. Ms. Ashley Chase, MRC Assistant Managing Director, noted it was Mr. Omar Abdelrahman's, Miami-Dade County Department of Environmental Resources Management (DERM), turn to lead this month's SSC meeting, and Mr. Abdelrahman kindly accepted.

I. Presentation of DERM Miami River Basin Water Quality Improvement Plan Quarterly Progress Report – Mr. Omar Abdelrahman, Miami-Dade County Department of Environmental Resources Management (MDC-DERM), presented the Third Quarter “Miami River Basin Water Quality Improvement Report/Action Item Matrix Quarterly Progress Report” (April-June 2007). The report is available online at www.miamirivercommission.org . The following are some of the report's presented items:

•  Monitoring & Research : Miami-Dade DERM has continued to collect monthly water quality samples in the Miami River and its tributaries (including Tamiami Canal and Wager Creek). During the Third Quarter of 2007, samples were collected at each of the ten stations in the River on April 3, May 8 and June 5. Costs for sampling (including salaries and fringe analysis) have been calculated at approximately $320 per station per month

•  No sewage spills were reported on or around the river during the quarter; no trends to report

Mr. Abdelrahman noted the maps showing monthly Total Coliform results from April-June at stations in the Miami River and its vicinity were not available for this report due to technical difficulties. Mr. Abdelrahman added the maps will be forwarded as soon as the problem is resolved. Mr. Abdelrahman presented the results (Charts 1-4) of the water quality monitoring that occurred in the Third Quarter (April-June 2007).

Mr. Abdelrahman reviewed and discussed Table I of the Quarterly Report, which lists the observed total coliform levels in Wagner Creek from April-June 2007. Mr. Rod Lovett, Miami-Dade Water & Sewer Department (WASD), noted the high volumes of total coliform levels reported in May and June. Mr. Abdelrahman noted the high volumes were possibly a result of the rainy season (i.e. coliform “flushing” into storm system).

The SSC thanked Mr. Abdelrahman for presenting DERM's Third Quarter Progress Report.

II. Status of the Wagner Creek and Seybold Canal Dredging Permits and Corrective Action Plan - Mr. Jose Lago , City of Miami Department of Capital Improvements, noted that as previously reported during the July 11, 2007 SSC meeting, the City expects to recommend one firm for Commission approval in the September 2007 Commission agenda for the design and permitting components of the entire length of both Wagner Creek and Seybold Canal. Mr. Lago added that, under this timeline, a Notice to Proceed (NTP) for the design and permitting of both canals is expected to be issued to the selected firm in November 2007. Ms. Ashley Chase, MRC Assistant Managing Director, asked if the City had secured additional funding for the project, aside from the current estimated budget of $4.8 million, and Mr. Lago replied that the city continues to seek additional funding. Mr. Lago noted his department was currently seeking approval to request funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Mr. Lago noted he had forwarded the document Ms. Chase had created in July entitled “Potential Federal Environmental Grants to Fund Pollution Prevention Solutions” to the City of Miami Grants Department. Mr. Lago added he would follow-up with the Grants Department to verify if the city is eligible to apply for any of the following grants:

• Environmental Protection Agency “FY 2007 Request for Proposals for Coordination of Regional Pollution Prevention Information Centers”
• Environmental Protection Agency Office of water “Communities for a Renewed Environment (CARE)
• U.S. Fish & Wildlife “Clean Vessel Act Pumpout Program”

III. Update on the Adoption of the Wagner Creek TMDL – Ms. Diane Waters, City of Miami Public Works Department, stated the Basin Management Action Plan (BMAP), which is a plan to achieve the water quality standards set forth in the TMDL, has not been finalized. Ms. Waters added that a meeting has been scheduled with FDEP to discuss its status. Ms. Chase asked if The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) had posted the final Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for Wagner Creek on their website, and Ms. Waters replied she was not sure.

IV. Status of WASD Smoke Testing of the Wagner Creek Western Sub Basin – Ms. Chase noted Mr. Evan Skornick, South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD), had informed MRC staff that the $15,409 in potential 1998 SWIM funding to continue smoke testing, was no longer available. Ms. Chase therefore suggested removing this item from future agendas. The SSC agreed to replace the “Status of WASD Smoke Testing of the Wagner Creek Western Sub Basin ” agenda item with “Discussion of Alternate Methods of Source Tracking.” Mr. Lovett asked Mr. Abdelrahman had received any updates regarding the potential to conduct DNA testing/source tracking along Wagner Creek, and Mr. Abdelrahman replied no. The SSC discussed the importance of identifying the source point of contamination through utilizing a variety of methods.

Mr. Lovett, WASD, stated the department is moving forward with allowing public parking in their vacant parking lot on North River Drive and NW 3 ST. Mr. Lovett noted he had recently met with Mr. Luis Garcia, Garcia's Seafood Grille, whom had expressed a desire to fund and construct improvements to the shoreline/seawall adjacent to Pump Station #1. Mr. Lovett noted the WASD was pending the receipt of Mr. Garcia's proposed designs/renderings for the area before he may acquire a permit for construction.

V. Discussion of NOAA Marine Debris Program Grant Opportunity - Ms. Chase noted MRC staff is applying to a $100,000 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Community-based Marine Debris Prevention and Removal Project Grant. The deadline is October 31, 2007 . Ms. Chase noted MRC staff will focus on the benefits of the Scavenger 2000, MRC-coordinated and co-funded volunteer beautification events, monthly SSC meetings and Riverday. The SSC expressed their support.

VI. New Business- No new items were addresses/discussed.

The SSC confirmed its next publicly noticed meeting for Wednesday, October 3, 2007 ,
10 am, Miami River Inn, 118 South River Drive .

The meeting adjourned.

     HOME      CALENDAR       ABOUT THE RIVER         ABOUT THE COMMISSION       DREDGING      GREENWAYS    
URBAN INFILL PLAN    STORMWATER RETROFITTING   MINUTES OF MEETINGS      LINKS