Whereas: Charlotte Harbor was designated as an “estuary of national significance” in 1995 and accepted into the National Estuary Program, one of four in the state of Florida and one of only 28 in the entire United States; and
Whereas: The Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program, a partnership of citizens, elected officials, resource managers and commercial and recreational resource users who are working to improve the ecological integrity of the Greater Charlotte Harbor Watershed, jointly developed and approved a Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan for the Charlotte Harbor watershed in February 2000 that was updated in 2008; and
Whereas: Estuaries are unique environments where rivers meet the sea, are vital components to the world’s ecosystem, serve as nursery grounds for the majority of commercial and recreational fish and shellfish consumed by Americans as well as improve water quality by filtering pollutants, act as buffers to protect shorelines from erosion and flooding, and provide essential food and habitat for birds, fish and other wildlife; and
Whereas: National Estuaries Days is a time to celebrate the importance of estuaries; and
Whereas: Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program will celebrate National Estuaries Days with its program partners offering wading trips, guided walks, paddling events, boat tours, marine exhibits and much more from September to November 2008, with event details posted on the Internet at www.CHNEP.org.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, we do hereby proclaim September 27, 2008, as NATIONAL ESTUARY DAY and urge the general public to recognize the importance of this important natural resource.
Duly Executed in 2008 by the Boards of the County Commissions of Charlotte, Lee, Manatee and Polk counties; Councils of the Cities of Cape Coral, Punta Gorda, Sanibel, and the Boards of the Peace River/Manasota Regional Water Supply Authority, the SWFWMD Peace River Basin Board, Central Florida Regional Planning Council and the Southwest Florida Regional Planning Council.