Miami-Dade County has released its annual Biscayne Bay Report Card, detailing the health of one of our most vital ecosystems and critical solutions to protect our clean water. The report released on April 23rd for Earth Day and compiled by The Department of Regulatory and Economic Resources (RER), Division of Environmental Resources Management (DERM), details three components vital to assessing the ecological health of our bay: water quality, habitat, and fisheries. This year’s report concludes that six of the bay’s 12 regions showed improvement, while the others did not deteriorate further. The report utilizes red, yellow, and green categories to make the data more accessible to Miami-Dade residents.
DERM provides residents tips on simple actions they can take to protect Biscayne Bay.
“Our economy and quality of life here in Miami-Dade depend on the health of our beloved bay,” said Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. “Protecting our clean water is a key priority for my administration, and the Biscayne Bay Report Card is an important tool to help us pinpoint problem areas and mobilize resources to save the Bay. I’m proud of the great work of our community during this year’s 40th annual Baynanza Beach Cleanup, and I’m looking forward to joining the global conversation about how to adapt and protect our natural environment from the threats of climate change before the United Nations this week.”
The county has acted swiftly by adopting policies from the Biscayne Bay Task Force and its Chief Bay Officer, Irela Bague, to help restore life in and around the bay, including the adoption of the strongest fertilizer ordinance in the state, restricting excessive use by homes and businesses; kicking off the Connect 2 Protect septic tank-to-sewer program; and creating a permanent Biscayne Bay advisory board and piloting stormwater innovation projects to improve water quality.
“Two years ago, a massive fish kill became the catalyst for renewed attention on the health of Biscayne Bay,” said Irela Bagué, Miami-Dade County Chief Bay Officer. “That tragedy centered the importance of water quality for residents and businesses across the county. Aging water infrastructure, as well as nutrient pollution flowing from our streets into our stormwater systems and canals, have contributed to the decline of the watershed. We must take responsibility and continue to work towards recovery. We can all do our part to improve the health of Biscayne Bay and the wildlife that depends on it.
