*The following letter was mailed to Representative Jim Mooney in regards to overdevelopment concerns prompted by the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners recent ROGO request*
Dear Representative Mooney,
Reef Relief is a non-profit located in Key West, FL. Since our establishment back in 1986, we have fought relentlessly for water quality improvements and to save our rapidly deteriorating coral reef ecosystem. A lot has changed since the 80’s in the Florida Keys, as you are aware. What was once a quiet area where people could escape reality and submerge in the environment, has rapidly changed into a bustling set of islands riddled with traffic challenges, deteriorating infrastructure, and a struggling environment. As the Florida Keys population has grown, so have the challenges impacting this precious area. The Florida Keys have grown so rapidly that we are considered an “Area of Critical State Concern” which was established to “protect resources and public facilities of major statewide significance, within designated geographic areas, from uncontrolled development that would cause substantial deterioration of such resources.”
On behalf of our Board of Directors and membership, we are asking you to honor the Area of Critical State Concern designation as you approach an important decision regarding overdevelopment in the Florida Keys. We are disheartened to see the decisions made at the recent Monroe BOCC meeting and disappointed that the resolution did not pass. To see that they are moving forward, despite your feedback, with requesting 3,500 new allocations is worrisome. Our delicate coral reef is suffering, we are “loving it to death”. Current wastewater practices are failing and leaching either purposefully or unknowingly depending on the location, sewage into the nearshore waters. We know this by observing high levels of sucralose in areas surrounding these facilities. Sucralose, which does not exist naturally, is an artificial sweetener, and an indicator for contamination. Several fish species, including bonefish a prized animal fishing, are found to have a “cocktail of prescription drugs” in their body. Just by looking at the color of the water, which used to be crystal clear blue water any day of the week no matter how close to shore, is now dark green and sometimes brown or milky. Good visibility days are few and far between nowadays. These are just a few examples among dozens of challenges to our water quality.
By adding more development to the Florida Keys, we are losing what little undeveloped land we have left, added run off pollution with construction, as well as putting further pressure on failing infrastructure. More people equal more sewage. But you already know all these things, which is why we are requesting that you hold fast in your decision, despite potential pressure and noise from a few, and do what is best not just for the human residents of Monroe County, but also those that do not have a voice. The organisms that you find nestled in the mangrove forest, hiding in the seagrass beds, and swimming around in the coral reef. The things that molded your childhood and so many others and inspired so many to come to the keys in the first place.
We thank you for your service to Monroe County and appreciate the time you took out of the busy holidays to consider our words.
Sincerely,
Mill McCleary
Reef Relief Executive Director