HomeMy Public PortalAboutLTC 045-2023 - Sargassum update-3-24-23BAL HARBOUR
- V I L LAG E -
OFFICE OF THE VILLAGE MANAGER LETTER TO COUNCIL
NO. 045-2023
To: Mayor Jeffrey P. Freimark and Members of -the Village Council
From: Jorge M. Gonzalez, Village Manag rrJ Q
Date: March 24, 2023
Subject: Update on the 2023 Sargassum eaweed) Season Planned Response
for Bal Harbour Beach
The purpose of this Letter to Council (LTC) is to provide an update regarding the
scheduled efforts to be taken by the Miami Dade County Parks to address the annual
Sargassum (brown algae), accumulation on the northern section of the Bal Harbour Beach
near the Baker's Haulover Inlet Jetty and throughout the beach.
The Bal Harbour Beach sargassum removal effort is managed by the Miami -Dade County
Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department (PROS) through their vendor, Beach
Raker. The State of Florida has the legal jurisdiction of the Beaches, PROS is the primary
organization permit holder charged with Beach cleaning and maintenance. Generally,
Sargassum is present year-round and low volume deposits are addressed daily by the
County staff and contracted vendor, during normal Beach maintenance operations along
the entire County shoreline. Typically, during the months of March to October, these
deposits increase as the summer progresses, with increased sargassum deposits observed
and removed recently.
Depending on the daily conditions, crews may operate daily to collect and dispose as well
as cut and turn the buildup of seaweed on the water line across our Beach. Removals are
performed from the area starting at the South Bakers Haulover Jetty for 800 feet to the
South, which has been identified as a hotspot (area with excessive accumulation). Prior to
operating heavy machinery, a team surveys for sea turtle nests each morning. Once the
survey is complete, beach operations crews proceed to clean the beach until sunset,
regardless of tidal conditions.
While our beach typically remains open during removal efforts, at times the cleanup must
be suspended if there are large numbers of beachgoers present. Excess sargassum that is
removed from the sand is transported to a landfill or to a designated staging area for final
disposition.
Since FY 2020 the Miami Dade County Budget allocation for Beach maintenance, funding
was secured to provide for the enhanced cleaning and seaweed removal efforts currently
conducted by PROS along Bal Harbour Beach. Additionally, the Village included funding
in the Beautification budget of the Resort Tax fund to augment beach cleanliness efforts
and specifically augment (if needed), the efforts of Miami Dade County.
It should also be noted that, while the shoreline of the Beach receives Sargassum seaweed
cleaning, there is no State of Florida action permitted to remove Sargassum while it is
present in the water. Since August 11, 2014, within the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico,
Sargassum has been designated as a critical habitat for the Loggerhead Sea Turtle, by the
National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973.
This habitat designation includes the near shoreline presence of Sargassum. Since
hatchling Sea Turtles are often present within the shoreline Sargassum deposits,
mechanical equipment used to remove Sargassum seaweed within the water at the
shoreline is not permitted by the state of Florida.
As new information becomes available, I will continue to provide updates. If you have, any
questions please feel free to contact myself or John Oldenburg directly.
JO/JMG
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