Released in June 2020, the Biscayne Bay Task Force Report issued “an urgent and final call to make Biscayne Bay and the protection of the Biscayne Aquifer a county and state priority,” outlining many of the issues leading to the decline: pollution from stormwater runoff, sewage pipe breaks, compromised septic tanks, plastic, marine debris and other contaminants. Two months later, South Florida saw firsthand the disturbing signs of distress when thousands of dead fish washed up in waters off Morningside Park and hundreds of stingrays gathered outside the Pelican Harbor Seabird Station.
Today, the chairperson of the task force, Irela Bagué, is now Miami-Dade’s first Chief Bay Officer, coordinating Bay efforts by local, state and federal governments and stakeholder groups. “There are so many things we need to work on to clean up pollution,” she says. “We want a community-wide approach to Biscayne Bay recovery and restoration.”
Bagué says she’s happy to see leadership from the cities, including Coral Gables’ initiatives, the city of Miami’s efforts to address storm water runoff by adding an extra layer of protection in grates and increasing maintenance, and North Bay Village’s mangrove-planting program, to name a few examples.
Residents can get involved, too, she says. Her suggestions:
• Reduce plastic consumption. “There’s really no reason to be buying bottled water. That’s one thing a person can do right now and really make a difference.”
• Pick up pet waste and dispose of it properly so it ends up in the landfill, not our water supply. “The nitrogen that comes from pet waste enters our stormwater system when it rains and gets flushed out.”
• Boaters (and everyone), don’t litter. “Leave no trace!”
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