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.