COMMISSIONER CATES TOWN HALL MEETING REGARDING BOCA CHICA MOORING FIELD

JETHON WILLIAMS/Monroe County
Commissioner Craig Cates and Monroe County Marine Resources Administrator Brittany Burtner address dozens of attendees of the recent town hall meeting held at Bernstein Park on Stock Island regarding the Boca Chica Mooring Field project.

STOCK ISLAND, FL — Monroe County Commissioner Craig Cates hosted a town hall meeting Wednesday on Stock Island to discuss the development of the Boca Chica Mooring Field. Residents and stakeholders interested in the future of Boca Chica Basin were encouraged to attend.

“This was a great opportunity to meet with the residents of Stock Island and present the positive impacts of the mooring field, the upland facilities, and address any concerns,” said Cates.

Community members were able to talk directly with Cates, Monroe County Marine Resources Senior Administrator Brittney Burtner, and other project planners and local officials about issues caused by long-term unmanaged anchoring, the benefits of managed mooring fields, the conceptual design of the mooring field and upland site, and the mooring field management plans.

To address boating impacts associated with unmanaged anchorages in the Florida Keys, Monroe County is working to develop and manage a system of public mooring fields, including the Boca Chica Mooring Field. The intent is to eliminate abandoned and derelict vessels, ensure compliance with the Clean Vessel Act, minimize benthic damage, and provide a safe, secure harbor for transient and long-term recreational vessels.

To learn more about the project or to view the town hall presentation, visit www.monroecounty-fl.gov/marineresources under the “Anchoring and Mooring Management” tab.

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