10 reasons wetlands protections should not be reduced in Manatee County

County commission could ignore all of this, and more on Oct. 5

From Glenn Comption, chairman of ManaSota 88, a nonprofit organization that has spent over 30 years fighting to protect the environment of Manatee and Sarasota counties, via the Bradenton Times.

Wetlands surround the Little Manatee River (Photo: Southwest Florida Water Management DIstrict)

Manatee County is proposing to eliminate several policies that provide wetland protections. Revisions to the county’s Comprehensive Plan and Land Development Code will defer to the state standards for wetland protection. The proposed revisions are scheduled for a final public hearing on October 5, 2023. (Plan Amendment PA-23-06 / Ordinance No. 23-66).

Here are 10 reasons (and yes, there are many more than 10) why Manatee County should abandon its efforts to weaken wetland protections:

1. Wetlands are valuable. Wetlands clean the water, recharge water supplies, provide buffers to storm surge and are important fish and wildlife habitats, wetlands provide recreational opportunities, aesthetic benefits, sites for research and education, and commercial fishery benefits.

2. Wetland and wetland buffers reduce flood risks. Wetlands are the low spot on a property, they are the first to fill up with water when there is a storm that causes flooding, the second area to become inundated is the area around the wetland. Wetlands act as buffers for wind and water and are valuable in reducing wave energy, which can damage structures and cause deaths. Wetland buffers reduce flood impacts by absorbing flood waters caused by significant storm events. Wetlands provide a natural defense from flooding and storm surge.

As the likelihood and costs of hurricanes continue to increase, Manatee County needs to adopt strategies to reduce the risks from storm surge and flooding. Reducing wetland protections by reducing buffers around wetlands is a significant step backward in protecting the lives and property of people living in Manatee County.

3. Wetland and wetland buffers have functions and values that are beneficial to all citizens. Wetland buffers are an essential part of protecting a wetland. Requiring wetland buffers is an appropriate way to protect the environmental integrity of a wetland, yet the County is changing the current wetland buffer requirements by deferring to the state’s minimum standards. Manatee County should not strive to become like the rest of Florida, we do not need to have the same water pollution problems as the rest of the state.

Read the rest of the list at the Bradenton Times.