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MIAMI RIVER COMMISSION 
c/o Rosenstiel School
4600 Rickenbacker Cswy,
Miami, Fl. 33149
305-361-4850
Fax: 305-361-4755
  e-mail: mrc@rsmas.miami.edu

The (SSC) discussed the draft water quality targets proposed by the Miami-Dade Department of Environmental Resource Management (DERM) during the November 3, 2002 SSC meeting.  Bibeau stated that he received an e-mail from Michael Self, FDEP, stating he was not feeling well and unable to attend the meeting, yet concurred with the water quality targets.  Trish Stone and Rick Alleman, SFWMD provided comments for reformatting to Tim McIntosh, DERM, prior to the meeting.  McIntosh stated a few additional revisions will be made and presented to the SSC during the January 8, 2003 SSC meeting.  Two separate plots will be created, the current technical plot will be an appendix to a simpler version, which will be created for posting on the MRC’s web site.  Jan Rogers, Environmental Protection Agency, asked about monitoring stations north west of the salinity dam.  McIntosh stated that because it is fresh water above the salinity dam, they use different methods of analysis.  Rogers asked if there is any way to consider what is coming from above the salinity dam, which impacts the water quality in the Miami River, beneath the dam, in order not to study the River’s water quality in a vacuum.  McIntosh explained the current plots divide the upper and lower river by Wagner Creek, in order to study the effects the Creek has on the River’s water quality both downstream and upstream of the Creek.  Rogers stated the current background measure being Rickenbacker Causeway area waters are much more pristine than the water quality above the salinity dam, which includes ammonia, nitrates, etc., flowing into the Miami River.  McIntosh stated he would attempt to include a new Miami Canal testing column to consider the contaminants coming from above the salinity dam. 

Bibeau provided the Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department (WASD) SSC representative, Rod Lovette, with a copy of the MRC’s August 12, 2002 correspondence to the WASD regarding making easements into pocket parks.  The MRC proposes that two WASD riverfront easements, located at` SW 5^th Street and NW 2^nd Street, directly adjacent to the County approved Miami River Greenway, be transformed into simple pocket parks.  In addition, Bibeau provided Lovette with a copy of the Miami River Corridor Urban Infill Plan’s recommendations regarding façade improvements for riverfront Pump Station #1.  Lovette stated he would look into the issues and report back to the SSC during the January meeting.

Under new business, Bibeau offered the MRC’s assistance with the Miami-Dade County “Miami River Stormwater Retrofit” legislative allocation request.  Bibeau stated the Chair of the MRC Dredging subcommittee believes DERM’s draft letter to Miami Riverfront property owners, regarding the upcoming dredging project, should be clarified by inserting the fact that the dredging will never occur closer than 10 feet from the shoreline.

The SSC scheduled the next meeting for January 8, 2003, 10 AM, 172-A West Flagler.

The meeting adjourned.

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