Preserving
Our Marine Environment,
Our Economy, and
Our Quality of Life,
Depends Upon Improving
Water Quality NOW


Time is running out...

Our coral reefs are disappearing at an alarming
rate. Poor water quality contributes to coral diseases such as blackband, whiteband, yellowband, white pox, and white plague. These diseases are killing corals that have endured in these waters for centuries.

Our once-clear waters are becoming murky and green. Algae is smothering living corals and seagrasses. Oxygen in the water is reduced, making it difficult for sealife to survive. Valuable nursery and breeding grounds for spiny lobster, shrimp, fish and other local marine life are at risk.

Sea turtles, long- spined sea urchins, and even the Queen Conch - the mascot of the Keys - are just a few of the species that are nearly extinct in local waters.

Gene Shinn of the U.S. Geologic Survey, notes:

"Coral reefs of the Florida Keys are suffering and have in many places been replaces by algae known to thrive on nutrients from treated sewage These chemicals, byproducts of the treatment of human sewage, are not considered to be contaminants, but to be nutrients.

Sewage is treated at sewage treatment plants and is discarded via ocean outfalls or discharged to the groundwater via the plus or minus 670 shallow injection wells in the Keys. There are also about 25,000 septic systems and as many as 11,000 illegal cesspits in Monroe County. The nutrient-rich water discharged to the groundwater is probably migrating to nearshore waters in the Keys."

Dr. James Porter, of the University of Georgia, studied six coral reef locations between 1984 and 1991. His results, from "Quantification of Loss and Change in Floridian Reef Coral Populations" indicate:

"Five of six reefs monitored declined in percent cover of living coral over the sampling period. All reefs declined in species number during this time. Throughout the study, there was no recruitment...by any of the massive building coral species."

Harold Hudson, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Biologist. "Certain corals are susceptible to an infection known as blackband disease that is caused by a cyanophyte bacteria. In the summer of 1986, an outbreak of the disease occurred at Looe Key. by June, 40 corals had been infected. By November, the number reached 150. Immediately following the outbreak, and emergency pilot study was undertaken to control the bacteria. Since the pilot study at Looe Key, the treatment has been used in other areas. Due to the success of the pilot program, the treatment will continue to be improved and will hopefully control the spread of this disease until a means of eliminating the problem can be devised."

It attracts residents and visitors from all over the world who enjoy diving, fishing, boating and nature excursions. Tourism and commercial fishing are the basis of the Keys economy. It is also home to many endangered and threatened birds, fish, and other wildlife who depend upon a wilderness environment to survive.

Preserving our marine environment, our economy, and our quality of life are goals we can all share.

cannot be traced to any single source, but is the result of many cumulative impacts. Florida' coral reefs are at the climatic threshold for reef growth. Pollutants can be traced from the Mississippi River, the Gulfstream, and Florida Bay, as well as the land mass of the Florida Keys. While there is little we can do about some of these impacts, we can help reduce the large amounts of nutrients that are entering Keys waters from our activities on land.


Dr. Brian Lapointe, of Harbor Branch Oceanographic Foundation, studied 30 stations throughout the Florida Keys between 1989 and 1990. His study revealed: "Human activities on land enrich groundwaters contributing to elevated concentrations of nutrients in nearshore canals and seagrass meadows."

Dr. Lapointe's recent study concludes that: "nutrient enrichment from land-based sewage inputs can have significant effects on seagrass productivity for considerable distances from shore. These observations suggest that nutrient enrichment from Key West are impacting seagrasses at Sand Key some 7 kilometers from shore."

Pamela Hallock, Frank E. Miller-Karger & John C. Halas, "Coral Reef Decline." national Geographic Research and Exploration 1993.

"Unfortunately for reefs, many human activities degrade water quality and shallow-marine habitats. But reef decline is even more widespread and consistent with observations that nutrient input to marine systems is increasing in direct proportion to growing human populations."

Corals require clear, clean, nutrient-free waters to thrive. Nutrients are pollutants that enter the marine environment of the Keys and reduce water quality. Local sources of nutrient-loading are inadequately-treated sewage and stormwater run-off.


Illegal cesspits: there are as many as 11,000 cesspits that discharge sewage into groundwater throughout the Keys. The county's "Cesspit Identification and Elimination Project" has creating a data- base of existing cesspits and is currently testing nutrient-stripping alternatives as part of a plan to replace them with environmentally-safe options.

Shallow Injection Wells: The State of Florida issues permits for small package sewage treatment plants for homes and businesses that are equipped with injection wells that pump nutrient-laden sewage into boreholes from 60' to 90'. The injected waste can travel laterally through the porous limestone of the Keys to nearshore waters. A nutrient-stripping technology appropriate for the Keys is needed to phase out such injection wells.

Boats: Many local boats lack holding tanks. Those with tanks often have trouble finding marinas with accessible pump-out facilities. Enforcement of existing regulations and the addition of more pump- out facilities in the Keys would help greatly.

Municipal Treatment Plants: the Key West, Key Colony, and Boca Chica Sewage Treatment Plants all lack nutrient stripping to remove nutrients from sewage prior to discharging it into the ocean. Ideally, the sewage could be treated, nutrients removed, and the greywater re-used.

Stormwater run-off: Drainage from roads, parking lots, and other non-porous surfaces is loaded with pollutants and should be contained and filtered instead of drained into local waters or discharged into shallow injection wells. The Keys needs a stormwater management plan and the state is currently negotiating with the county to pursue such planning.

Septic tanks: there are over 25,000 septic tanks in the Florida Keys. Many were installed improperly - either too close to the shore or to canals, or without the four feet of sediment needed to filter sewage nutrients. Regular inspections, pump-outs of septic tanks and upgrading of older units would help alleviate the problem.

Regional Impacts: In addition to land-based sources of nutrients, water quality in the Keys is affected by external sources including the Gulf of Mexico, Florida Bay and Miami's Biscayne Bay. Upstream impacts from the Everglades, South Florida agricultural areas, and West Florida phosphate mining all contribute to water quality decline. Research and action is needed to reduce these sources of nutrient-loading.

Fortunately, there is a solution but your help is needed. A plan to improve water quality in the Florida Keys has been created by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, the planners of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary and the public.

The Water Quality Protection Program has four components:

Corrective Actions: Actions to reduce water pollution directly by using engineering methods, prohibiting or restricting certain activities, and increasing enforcement.

Monitoring: Comprehensive, long-term water quality monitoring is needed to provide information on the status and trends of water quality and biological resources in the Sanctuary and the effectiveness of remedial actions.

Research/Special Studies: We must identify and understand cause/effect relationships involving pollution, transport pathways, and biological communities of the Sanctuary.

Public Education/Outreach: This element seeks to increase public awareness of the Sanctuary, the water quality protection program, and pollution sources and impacts on Sanctuary resources and solicit and incorporate public input into the design and implementation of the program.

Water Quality Recommendation: Nine categories have been identified for action in the Water Quality Protection Program: Domestic Wastewater, Mosquito Spraying, Stormwater, Canals, Marina and Liveaboards, Research and Monitoring, Landfills, Hazardous Materials and Florida Bay/external influences.



EPA officials are working to secure additional funding. If funding sources aren't found, the program and the water quality of the entire Keys are in jeopardy.

Support the Effort to Improve Water Quality
Let our leaders know improving water quality in the Keys and at the coral reef is a top priority. Every letter counts. Write to:

*Carol Browner:
US EPA, 401 M St. SW, #1035
East Tower, Washington, DC 20515


* Congressman Peter Deutsch:
425 Cannon Office Bldg., Washington,
DC 20515


* Senator Bob Graham
241 Dirksen Office Bldg.
Washington, DC 20510


* Senator Connie Mack:
571 hart Office Bldg.
Washington, DC 20510


* FL Governor Jeb Bush:
The Capital,
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0001


* FL Representative Ken Sorenson:
The Capital,
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1300


* FL Senator Daryl Jones
212 Senate Office Bldg.,
Washington DC 20515


* Billy Causey, Superintendent:
Florida Keys national Marine Sanctuary
9499 Overseas Hwy.
Marathon, FL 33050


Stayed Informed on the issues Contact: U.S. EPA
Attn: Fred McManus, FKNMS Coordinator, 345
Courtland St. NE, Atlanta, GA 30365


State of Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Attn: Ed Conklin, FKNMS Coordinator.
3900 Commonwealth Blvd., Tallahassee, FL 32399-3000


REEF RELIEF PO Box 430, Key West, FL 33041. "Be a Sea Fan" for $20/year. Members are kept informed of the plan.