Page 8 - Abacoa Community News - October '19

Page 8, Abacoa
Commissioner’s Update

Post-Dorian Thoughts nests. Prior to Hurricane Dorian, approximately two-thirds the Jupiter Inlet and along the beaches. This is due to local
of those nests had already hatched. Waves disturbed some of basin runoff (storm water) that is flowing out the inlet during
By Commissioner the remaining nests but the overall impact to the population outgoing tide. This is typical after large rain events. The color
Hal Valeche is minimal. The eggs seen on the beach are no longer viable difference can be dramatic and appear as a distinct line in
I could almost hear a and may be the remaining shells from nests that hatched prior the water just off the beach. While many of the coastal areas
huge, collective sigh of to the storm. have dried out since Dorian, wetlands in the western areas
relief when Palm Beach PBC’s Environment Resources Management (ERM) of the basin are still holding a lot of water, which eventually
County missed a direct hit by informs us that sea turtles have adapted to storms through drains into the Loxahatchee River and out the inlet.
Hurricane Dorian. With so various strategies. Each female lays six to eight nests during Many factors can influence the color of water along
much uncertainty of the path a single season, which means she is laying 500 to 900 eggs. the beach. Within the Loxahatchee River, a big factor is
of the storm, our emergency They also place their nests at various locations on the beach. the tannins that leach into the water as vegetation decays,
managers and county staff Those laid closer to the water are more prone to washing making it appear as a dark color resembling tea. The same
mobilized expertly to full out in storms while those laid closer to the dune are more effect shows up as brown stains on the hull of boats that
activation at the Emergency vulnerable to predators. By laying eggs in various locations frequently use those waterways. During high flows of
Operations Center, opened and staffed shelters, and issued and laying multiple nests per year, the mama turtles ensure storm water following heavy rain events, elevated levels of
evacuation orders where recommended by national hurricane hatchling survival against natural events. nutrients and bacteria entering the system compromise water
forecasters. Seeing the results of this ferocious storm on the If eggs are found exposed or in the surf, the only thing quality. The Department of Health monitors the water quality
Bahamas, we are reminded more than ever of how important to do is to leave them alone as they are no longer viable. along the beaches through the Healthy Beaches Program and
preparation is during hurricane season. Relocation of nests ahead of a storm is prohibited as it could issues advisories when bacterial concentrations exceed the
I wanted to mention some of the post-storm issues raised endanger the eggs. If you find a turtle in distress, you can microbiological standards.
that may be of interest to you: call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Another contributing factor to the current water clarity
• Disturbed Sea Turtle Nests And Turtle Eggs Visible (FWC) at (800) 404-3922. is turbidity, which is the suspension of fine sediments
On County Beaches • Yard Vegetation along the beaches. According to ERM officials, wave
Palm Beach County has had a record-breaking sea turtle At the risk of sounding like a broken record … my staff energy from Hurricane Dorian eroded approximately 1M
nesting season with year-end counts likely to top 50,000 and I have observed many properties conducting extensive cubic yards of sand from Palm Beach County beaches. The
yard trimming and pruning of trees and shrubs. That is fine coarser sand falls out of suspension quickly and deposits
within a sandbar just off the beach. The fine material
as long as it occurs outside of any major impending weather
Town Of events. If you are located in unincorporated Palm Beach remains suspended in the water column for a longer period
and creates the chalky opaque appearance versus the clear
County, you know that the Solid Waste Authority requires
Jupiter News you to limit curbside vegetation to six cubic yards, which blue water we usually see.
is roughly the size of two refrigerators. If you reside in a

We have a very dynamic and sometimes delicate
environment. Our county staff work hard to address issues
municipality, check with city officials to confirm how much
they will allow curbside for pickup. that affect our quality of life. Your input on areas of concern
By Ilan Kaufer, Town • Water Discoloration In Estuaries And Along The is very helpful. As always, please contact me if I can be of
Of Jupiter Councilman Coast assistance at (561) 355-2201, or by email at hvaleche@
Happy October You may have observed darker water flowing out of pbcgov.org.
everyone,
Las t month,
Hurricane Dorian
provided our Town with
a scare. While we were
relatively unscathed, as
we all know the residents
of the Bahamas, whom
many of us can count as
family and friends, suffered devastating harm from the
storm. It is heartwarming to see so many in our community
work tirelessly to provide financial and material support
to our neighbors and we hope they continue to rebuild
their lives as quickly as possible.
In the Town, the storm provided an opportunity to
review our storm processes and protocols. As with any
storm, there are things we learned and will apply to future
emergency scenarios. I want to thank our Town staff, our
first responders, and all our government officials for their
work to keep our community safe during these storm
episodes.
Please find below a few recent updates from the Town
Council.
Tax Rate
The Town Council approved the 2020 millage rate at
its first meeting in September. The rate will remain the
same as this year’s rate (2.4633). The Town has a voter-
approved debt service millage of .1978, which results in a
total millage rate of 2.6611. This combined rate represents
a .0101 reduction from the combined rate in FY 2019.
Police Technology
Several years ago, one of my strategic initiatives was
for the Town to increase the use of technology in the police
department to enhance our police’s ability to proactively
fight criminal activity and enhance officer safety. The
council recently approved the purchase of additional
license plate reader systems. The police department
recommended adding more of this technology after testing
its effectiveness the last couple years.
Beach Dune Crossovers
The Town Council approved a contract to replace
seven more of the Town’s beach dune crossovers. This
continues the Town’s three-year plan to replace and
upgrade our crossovers. I will continue to advocate that
one or more of the crossovers that will be upgraded during
this project be ADA accessible. The Town will need to get
permission from the Florida Department of Environmental
Protection to construct these types of accesses, and at a
recent meeting I asked and received unanimous approval
that a letter be sent to the governor and FDEP secretary to
assist us with getting permits for this type of ADA access.
As always please contact me with any comments
or questions at ilank@jupiter.fl.us and follow me on
Facebook at www.facebook.com/Councilorkaufer or on
Twitter @Councilorkaufer.