| Over 100
Last Stand members and other concerned
citizens packed the auditorium of NOAA's Eco-Discovery
Center in Key West for a May 14 information forum on
near-shore water quality. The panel of experts
assembled included representatives of the County, the
City, the National Marine Sanctuary, Reef Relief, and a
knowledgeable private citizen (see below). Each
panelist was given a prearranged topic (within their
realm of expertise) on which to speak for a few minutes,
then questions from the audience were directed to the
various panelists. The public officials spoke
to ongoing water quality monitoring, the city's efforts
to date in cleaning up waters surrounding the Keys
(primarily West West) of sewage, as well as ongoing
efforts and future plans to reduce pollution carried to
waters by rainfall, and the history of rules and
regulations regarding water pollution. Reef
Relief's representative addressed the subject of "No
Discharge Zones", and water quality in general.
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Capacity crowd gives its rapt
attention to the panel discussion |
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The private citizen
panelist gave his historical perspective, in general
terms, of how water quality around and near Key West has
deteriorated over the decades he has been a local,
noting that he hasn't jumped into the waters of Garrison
Bight since 2004, and isn't likely to again any time
soon. The question & answer session was
spirited, with some audience members asking rather
pointed questions to the public officials. Several
past and present public officials were in the audience,
some of them participating in the Q&A session and
ensuing discussion.
Overall, the tenor of the crowd was cordial and
enthusiastic, but it was unmistakable that the audience
was representative of a local population that feels Key
West and the Florida Keys can do better. Reference
was made more than once to communities elsewhere that
have enacted stricter water quality standards than we
have in Florida, the Florida Keys, and Key West. |
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Panelists (L to
R): Bobbi Sleighter (Monroe County Health Department),
David Fernandez (City of Key West), Paul Mitchell
(private citizen), Scott Donahue (FL Keys Natl Marine
Sanctuary), Mike McCleary (Reef Relief)
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| Attendees seemed to go away from the
program feeling that progress has definitely been made,
especially in Key West with regard to sewer
improvements, but that much more remains to be done.
It's noteworthy that this
Last Stand program had the best attendance of
any one-time event held in the Eco-Discovery Center
since its opening. That certainly attests to the
public's keen interest in clean waters.
Last Stand extends a
huge thank-you to the panelists.
Following the program, the crowd enjoyed each
other's company and tasty refreshments in the lobby of
the Eco-Discovery Center.
Last Stand heartily thanks the following:
| Drinks: the local Green
Drinks organization (LINK) |
| Cafe Sole (LINK) |
| Azur (LINK) |
| The Dock Cafe |
| The Good Life |
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Following the program, attendees
mingle and enjoy refreshments |
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