Water is essential to all life and especially to the health and wealth of South Florida residents who enjoy the ecosystem services that Biscayne Bay provides. These include its recreational benefits, tourism draws, and contributions to property values.

The recent fish kill in Biscayne Bay reveals that its health is suffering.  This is symptomatic of multiple decades of decline in water quality and has been in deterioration for decades. In fact, as the attached Miami Herald article indicates, this is an issue that has been at the forefront of environmentalists, scientists, and activists since the 70s,

"Historically, stormwater runoff, sewage spills and septic-tank malfunction have been key parts of the equation, and researchers have been warning against septic tanks (especially in coastal areas) since the 1970s. Back then, Miami-Dade was among the nation’s fastest-growing counties, installing tens of thousands of septic systems, which can leach into ground and bay waters. It was common for outfalls to empty directly into the bay."

In fact, a grand jury 2018 report (attached) highlighted the same issues,

"However, Biscayne Bay is now in a precarious balance. The State of Florida has designated some portions of Biscayne Bay's waterway as 'impaired'. There are three (3) major problems...1.Sewage contamination...2.The presence of excess nutrients...Pollution and littering..."

In addition, the Biscayne Bay Task Force released its report (attached) on August 31, 2020 which captured 60 actions all governmental agencies must take to improve the health of the bay. This included many recommendations made over the years, some going as far back as the 1970s.

Although a regional approach is clearly required, this discussion should focus on the actions of the City of Miami Beach to improve the long-term health of Biscayne Bay.