Page 1

Gulf  Coast  Ecosystem  Restoration  Council    

Public  Meeting  for  Draft  Initial  Funded  Priorities  List  

 

Panama  City,  FL  –  Aug.  27,  2015  

Principals:  

Mimi  A.  Drew,  State  of  Florida    

Justin  Ehrenwerth,  RESTORE  Council  

Jessica  Kondel,  Department  of  Commerce    

Gib  Owen,  U.S.  Army,  Office  of  the  Assistant  Secretary  of  the  Army  for  Civil  Works  

Gareth  Leonard,  Florida  Department  of  Environmental  Protection  (FDEP)  

Under  Secretary  Robert  Bonnie,  U.S.  Department  of  Agriculture    

Karen  Hyun,  Department  of  the  Interior  

Hank  Burch,  State  of  Alabama  

John  Bowie,  Environmental  Protection  Agency  

 

Advisors:  

Kendra  Parson,  RESTORE  Council    

Alyssa  Dausman,  RESTORE  Council    

David  Elliott,  RESTORE  Council  

Lisa  Robertson,  FDEP    

Heather  Thomas,  FDEP    

Kelly  Samek,  Florida  Fish  and  Wildlife  Conservation  Commission  

Debbie  DeVore,  U.S.  Fish  &  Wildlife  Service  

 

The  meeting  started  at  6:31  p.m.  and  lasted  approximately  2hours.  There  were  

approximately  60  people  in  attendance,  not  including  Council  representatives,  staff  and  

support.    

 

Introductory  remarks:    

Mimi  A.  Drew:  Good  evening.  It’s  exciting  to  be  here  and  see  so  many  familiar  faces.  We  

had  a  public  meeting  in  Tampa  last  night  and  we  will  continue  our  meetings  all  the  way  

to  Texas.  There  are  many  distinguished  guests  here  tonight.  We  began  this  process  years  

ago,  we  got  a  lot  of  ideas  and  a  long  list  of  projects,  we  are  made  up  of  five  states  and  

six  federal  agencies,  bucket  2  is  unallocated,  we  must  reach  a  consensus  which  is  a  

significant  effort.  We  hope  to  finalize  the  proposed  list  of  projects  by  the  end  of  the  

year.  We  will  then  come  back  for  more  public  comment.  Please  tell  us  what  you  

thoughts  and  comments  are.  We  are  here  to  listen.  We  will  factor  that  into  our  final  list  

that  will  be  adopted.    

 

The  public  comment  began  at  7:16  p.m.  and  lasted  about  1  hours.  

 

Public  comments  (25  speakers):  

• Mr.  Richard  Bryan,  Lake  Powell  Community  Alliance:  Concerned  about  St.  

Andrews  bay,  it  is  a  unique  and  important  estuary  system.  Encourages  the  

Council  to  do  something  for  it.    

• Mr.  Kent  Wimmer,  Defenders  of  Wildlife:  Happy  that  the  Council  is  paying  

attention  to  habitat  and  resources.  Feels  the  Council  is  on  the  right  track,  making  

a  good  first  step  with  these  projects,  and  encourages  the  Council  to  focus  on  

land  conservation  and  wetlands  restoration.  Should  also  focus  on  larger  projects  

with  gulf-­‐wild  significance.    

• Mr.  John  Lewis,  Retired  Coast  Guard:  Would  like  to  see  projects  in  Callaway  and  

more  focus  on  St.  Andrews  Sound/St.  Andrews  Bay  to  restore  fresh  water  flows.  

•  Mr.  Eric  Draper,  Florida  Audubon  Society:  Feels  the  Council  did  a  good  job.  

Would  like  to  see  water  quality  and  habitat  restoration  with  a  better  balance.  

Excited  about  the  NEP  in  the  panhandle,  and  feels  conservation  easements  are  

needed  to  protect  the  watershed.  

• Mr.  George  Willson,  Self:  Pleased  with  the  Alabama  study.  Would  like  to  see  the  

Suwannee  River  Watershed  Project  and  University  of  Florida  Oyster  Grant  added  

to  the  list.  Feels  that  if  the  Council  only  funds  water  treatment  it  is  funding  a  

symptom  not  the  problem,  which  does  not  make  much  sense.    

• Mr.  Jim  Muller,  Bay  County  RESTORE  Act  Coordinator:  Would  like  the  Council  to  

elevate  its  activities  in  the  public  eye.  Encourages  the  Council  to  pick  projects  

that  will  make  a  difference,  leverage  funds.  Would  like  to  get  funding  for  St.  

Andrew  Bay,  and  encourages  the  Council  to  pick  an  estuary  location  where  the  

program  will  succeed.  Would  like  the  NEP  to  be  placed  in  Bay  County.    

• Mr.  John  Hosey,  The  Corps  Network:  Supportive  of  the  Conservation  Corp  

proposed  project.    

• Mr.  Joe  Taylor,  Franklin’s  Promise  Coalition,  Conservation  Corps  of  the  Forgotten  

Coast:  Supportive  of  the  Conservation  Corp  proposed  project.    

• Ms.  Caci  Wallace,  Conservation  Core  of  the  Forgotten  Coast:  Works  as  a  

crewmember  and  enjoys  her  work.  It  is  very  positive  work  and  enjoys  

contributing  to  the  community  with  honest  and  purposeful  work.  Supportive  of  

the  Conservation  Corps  proposed  project.    

• Ms.  Kendall  Blake,  Conservation  Corps  of  the  Forgotten  Coast:  The  local  

conservation  corp  program  has  taken  a  positive  effect  on  his  generation  because  

they  can  see  and  feel  the  program,  which  has  completely  changed  his  life.  

Supportive  of  the  Conservation  Corp  proposed  project.    

• Mr.  Holden  Foley,  Conservation  Corps  of  the  Forgotten  Coast:  Supportive  of  the  

Conservation  Corp  proposed  project.  

• Ms.  Susan  Murphy,  Young  American  Conservation  Corps:  Supportive  of  the  

Conservation  Corp  proposed  project.  

• Mr.  Bruce  French,  Gannett  Fleming,  Inc.:  Appreciate  the  Councils  efforts.  Would  

like  to  see  the  draft  FPL  include  an  appendix  with  itemized  damages,  to  help  the  

public  understand.  Concerned  about  the  SAV  projects  where  the  water  quality  

may  not  have  been  resolved.    

• Mr.  Chip  Kirschenfeld,  Escambia  County:  Pleased  to  see  Pensacola  in  the  draft  

FPL.  Pleased  to  see  the  estuary  program  in  Northwest  Florida.  Would  like  the  

NEP  in  the  Escambia  County.    

• Captain  Rich  Waker,  Self:  Would  like  more  projects  in  Bay  County.    

• Mr.  Norman  Capra,  Bay  County  Audubon:  Appreciates  the  gulf-­‐wide  approach.  

• Mr.  Ted  Corcoran,  Ft.  Walton  Beach  Chamber  of  Commerce:  Supportive  of  the  

Northwest  Florida  estuaries  and  watershed  projects.    

•  Mr.  Darryl  Boudreau,  The  Nature  Conservancy:  Appreciates  the  work  done  by  

the  Council.  Supportive  of  the  estuary  program,  and  would  like  to  see  it  in  the  

Panhandle.      

• Mr.  John  Ackerman,  Self:  Would  like  the  Bayou  Chico  changed  to  Grand  Lagoon.  

Feels  the  Apalachicola  project  should  be  applied  in  Bay  County,  as  well  as  all  of  

the  other  proposed  projects.  Would  support  the  estuary  program  in  Bay  County.    

• Ms.  Molly  Allen,  Self:  Would  like  to  see  land  acquisition  in  Bay  County.    

• Mr.  Rick  Hartcher,  Self:  Recommends  the  estuary  program  be  in  Pensacola  Bay.    

• Mr.  Dylan  Shoemaker,  Self:  Appreciates  the  St.  Buffer  Preserve  being  put  on  the  

list.    

• Ms.  Candis  Harbison,  Self:  Would  like  to  see  projects  in  Bay  County.    

• Ms.  Patrice  Coucle,  Bay  County  Watch:  Supportive  of  the  estuary  program.    

 

Summary  of  Comments:  The  meeting  attendees  expressed  the  following  comments  

throughout  the  meeting:    

• The  comments  were  mostly  positive,  and  expressed  an  overall  appreciation  of  

the  work  that  went  into  publishing  the  draft  FPL.  

• Appreciate  the  Council  using  the  watershed  approach  and  focus  on  water  quality  

projects;  as  well  as  support  for  the  Conservation  Corps.  

• Would  like  to  see  more  Gulf  of  Mexico  Estuary  Programs  (GMEP)  in  the  

panhandle.  

• Both  Escambia  and  Bay  counties  would  like  to  host  the  NEP.    

• Would  like  more  watersheds/estuaries  to  be  included  in  future  FPLs.