Water Quality Protection Program document for the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary

Continental Shelf Associates, Inc.

The Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS) was created with the signing of HR5909 (Public Law 101-605, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary and Protection Act) on 16 November 1990. Included in the Sanctuary are 2,800 square nautical miles of nearshore waters extending from just south of Miami to the Dry Tortugas. Recognizing the critical role of water quality in maintaining Sanctuary resources, Congress directed the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the State of Florida, represented by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP), to develop a Water Quality Protection Program for the Sanctuary. This is the first such program ever developed for a marine sanctuary. The purpose of the Water Quality Protection Program is to "recommend priority corrective actions and compliance schedules addressing point and nonpoint sources of pollution to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the Sanctuary, including restoration and maintenance of a balanced, indigenous population of corals, shellfish, fish and wildlife, and recreational activities in and on the water" (Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary and Protection Act). In addition to corrective actions, the Act also requires development of a water quality monitoring program and provision of opportunities for public participation in all aspects of developing and implementing the program. The Water Quality Protection Program described in this document consists of an administrative framework and a set of initial recommendations for corrective actions, monitoring, research/special studies, and education/outreach. The recommendations have been included in the comprehensive management plan prepared by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to guide the use of the Sanctuary. Recommendations for monitoring and research/special studies are being implemented directly by EPA and FDEP under the administrative framework described below. For educational activities, EPA and FDEP will assist NOAA, which is responsible for educational programs in the Sanctuary. In contrast, most recommendations for corrective actions will require coordinated activities by numerous Federal, State, and local government agencies.