TO: Honorable Mayor & Members of the North Port Commission
FROM: Peter D. Lear, CPA, CGMA, City Manager
TITLE: Report on the Proposed Mosaic Desoto County Mine and Potential Impacts on Surface Waters Flowing to the City of North Port.
Recommended Action
Approve recommended actions in Section 9.0 of the Stantec report entitled "Proposed Mosaic Desoto County Mine and Potential Impacts on Surface Waters Flowing to the City of North Port."
Background Information
A network of waterways connected to the Big Slough/Myakkahatchee Creek in the City of North Port (City) provide stormwater collection/conveyance and recreational functions in addition to serving as a source of raw water for the City's potable water supply. Proposed significant changes to the watershed upstream of the City, such as the phosphate mine proposed in northwest DeSoto County, could have the potential to adversely impact both water quality and quantity in the Big Slough/Myakkahatchee Creek and other waterways that the City relies upon.
Stantec Consultants Inc. was retained by the City in October 2017, to research and review publicly available literature related to the impacts of phosphate mining on water quality and quantity. Work included review of existing data from the City, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP), the U.S Army Corps of Engineers, and review of other literature of mining impacts.
A report of the findings was prepared and includes Stantec's professional opinion regarding any potential deleterious impacts, and the likelihood of such impacts, to water quality and/or quantity in the Big Slough/Myakkahatchee Creek watersheds. Stantec also provided recommendations for further City actions in Section 9.0 of the report. The following is a summary of these recommendations:
* Collaboratively work with Mosaic and permitting agencies to:
* Remain fully informed about proposed plan and permit status.
* Review and comment on proposed plans.
* Evaluate possibility...
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