BBEETF DISBURSEMENT OF $650K FOR MOORING BUOY PROGRAM

Board of County Commissioners · 2026-07-21 · resolution

Miami-Dade County Board of County Commissioners adopted Resolution R-658-26 (Legislative Item File Number 260942) authorizing the disbursement of up to $650,000.00 from the Biscayne Bay Environmental Enhancement Trust Fund for the installation, maintenance, and management of mooring buoys through the Miami-Dade County Mooring Buoy Program. The program protects offshore natural and artificial reefs, with buoys located offshore of Commission Districts 4, 5, and 7. The program was established in 2009 and expanded in 2023, with 54 mooring buoys placed at 14 snorkeling/diving sites from Golden Beach south to the northern border of Biscayne National Park. The funds will be used for quarterly maintenance by a contractor, interim inspections by DERM staff, and education/outreach. A previous disbursement of $350,000.00 was authorized in 2018 under Resolution R-1172-18 and has been fully utilized. The unencumbered balance of the trust fund as of December 31, 2025, is $9,908,471.94. The item was introduced on 5/20/2026, forwarded to the Board with a favorable recommendation by the Recreation, Tourism, and Resiliency Committee on 6/9/2026, and adopted on 7/21/2026. The prime sponsor is Commissioner Vicki L. Lopez. The requester is the Department of Environmental Resources Management. The manager of the Restoration & Enhancement Section within DERM, Laura Eldredge, will monitor activities. No public comment or stakeholder sentiment is stated in the document.