PLACEMENT: Requests and Presentations
TITLE:
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UPDATE ON HARBOR BRANCH OCEANOGRAPHICS INSTITUTE (HBOI): FLORIDA CENTER FOR COASTAL AND HUMAN HEALTH AND RELATED ACTIVITIES
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
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Dr. Sullivan will present information on work being performed by the newly established Florida Center for Coastal and Human Health at the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute (HBOI) and related activities at HBOI impacting the region.
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DEPARTMENT: Public Works
PREPARED BY: Name: Kathy FitzPatrick
Title: Coastal Engineer
REQUESTED BY: Commissioners Edward V. Ciampi and Stacey Hetherington
PRESET: 2:30 PM
PROCEDURES: None
BACKGROUND/RELATED STRATEGIC GOAL:
In 2018 Martin County experienced a massive blue-green algae bloom in our waterways, similar to the bloom that occurred in county waterways in 2016. Also in 2018, a highly unusual red tide (Karenia brevis) bloom moved into the Atlantic Ocean along the east coast of Florida, persisting for several weeks. This resulted in warning signs being posted at access points to Martin County's inland waterways and also at the coastal beaches. Threats to human health were suspected but not known. The negative impact to the economy and lifestyle of Martin County was undeniable.
Martin County has benefitted from the expertise of scientists at the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute (HBOI) over the past several years. Workings closely with County staff in matters relating to coral conservation and marine/estuarine water quality, scientists at HBOI have helped County staff understand and respond to issues as they arise. The attached letters of support provide an indication of the types of locally focused projects that have been conducted by HBOI.
The Florida Center for Coastal and Human Health (Center) was created at the HBOI to act as a focal point for a consortium of researchers seeking to better understand the causes and effects of these Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) in the India...
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