Background Broward County received notification (PDF - 123 KB) that the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is considering modifications to the County's manatee protection rule. Additionally, FWC requested the County create a Local Rule Review Committee (LRRC) to review the FWC proposal and provide comments and recommendations. Florida Statute 379.2431(2)(f) details the LRRC process and steps for FWC to adopt or amend manatee protection rules.

Proposed Manatee Rule

LRRC Preliminary Discussion including cover letter (PDF - 6.5 MB)
Current Manatee Protection Rule Zones (maps) (PDF - 868 KB)

Appendix A documents:

Manatee Sanctuary Act (PDF - 43 KB) Chapter 68C-22, FAC "Scope and Purpose" and "Definitions" (PDF - 108 KB)

Current FWC manatee protection rule (text) for Broward County (PDF - 94 KB)

Sections of FWC manatee protection rule for Sarasota County (PDF - 65 KB)

LRRC notice to County (PDF - 123 KB)

Rulemaking process for Broward LRRC (PDF - 52 KB)

Calleson, C.S. and R.K. Frolich. 2007. Slower boat speeds reduce risks to manatees. Endangered Species Research, Vol. 3: 295-304 (PDF - 81 KB)

Deutsch, C.J. et al. 2003. Seasonal movements, migratory behavior, and site fidelity of West Indian manatees along the Atlantic coast of the United States. Wildlife Mono. (PDF - 1.5 MB)

LRRC ReportReport of Broward County Local Rule Review Committee to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Regarding Proposed Manatee Speed Zone Rule Changes (PDF - 6 MB)

FWC Response LetterFWC staff response to the LRRC recommendations report (PDF - 2.5 MB)

Local Rule Review CommitteeOn April 27, 2010, Broward County Board of County Commissioners approved a 10-member LRRC.

The LRRC members were:

Daniel Yaffe - ChairAllan BurrowsGordon ConnellMark ErcolinBarry Webber

Dr. Edward Keith - SecretaryDr. Lisa BaumbachGeorge CavrosGary HeckerKarl Roeder

Meeting Dates

June 03, 2010 - 10:00 am - noon, agenda (PDF - 12 KB); minutes (PDF - 93 KB)

June 17, 2010 - 10:00 am - noon, agenda (PDF - 9 KB); minutes (PDF - 91 KB)

June 24, 2010, 2:00 - 4:00 pm - Cancelled

July 01, 2010, 10:00 am - noon, agenda (PDF - 8 KB); minutes (PDF - 74 KB)

July 08, 2010, 10:00 am - noon, agenda (PDF - 8 KB); minutes (PDF - 222 KB)

July 15, 2010, 10:00 am - noon, agenda (PDF - 8 KB); minutes (PDF - 74 KB)

July 22, 2010, 10:00 am - noon, agenda (PDF - 9 KB); minutes (PDF - 19 KB)

July 29, 2010, 10:00 am - noon, agenda (PDF - 9 KB); minutes (PDF - 19 KB)

August 3, 2010, 5:30-7:30 pm Public Hearing*

August 5, 2010, 10:00 am - noon, agenda (PDF - 8 KB); minutes (PDF - 19 KB)

August 13, 2010, 10:00 am - noon**, agenda (PDF - 9 KB); minutes (PDF - 13 KB)

August 20, 2010, 10:00 am - noon**, agenda (PDF - 9 KB); minutes (PDF - 14 KB)

August 23, 2010, 10:00 am - noon**, agenda (PDF - 8 KB); minutes (PDF - 52 KB)

August 27, 2010, 10:00 am - noon**, agenda (PDF - 8 KB); minutes (PDF - 9 KB)

**Please note that these were different meeting dates than previously published. Additionally, August 23rd was a meeting date that had been added.

Date and times were subject to change. Unless otherwise noted, meetings of the Local Rule Review Committee were held in the Julia Assembly Hall at the Secret Woods Nature Center. Secret Woods is located at 2701 W. State Rd. 84, Dania Beach, FL 33312.

*A Public Hearing was held on August 3rd, 2010 from 5:30-7:30 pm in the Magrove Hall at Anne Kolb Nature Center. The Center is located at 751 Sheridan Street, Hollywood FL 33019.

Additional InformationBroward County Manatee Protection Zones maps (PDF - 868 KB)

Broward County Boating Safety Zones maps (PDF - 1.5 MB)

Manatee Protection and Boating Safety Zone Overlaps (PDF - 87 KB)

Recreational Boating Survey for Broward County (PDF - 4.6 MB)

Sarasota Manatee Rule Documents

FWC Waterway Management Sign Information

Gerstein, E.R. 2002. Manatees, Bioacoustics, and Boats. Amer. Sci. 90:154-163 (PDF - 440 KB)

Gerstein, E.R., L. Gerstein, J. Greenewald, and S.E. Forsythe. 2009. Parametric projectors protecting marine mammals from vessel collisions. 157th meeting of Acoustical Society of America, Portland OR, May 2009. FWC Research Summary on Manatee Sensory Systems (PDF - 106 KB)

Sarastoa County LRRC final report (PDF - 2.7 MB)

Lee County LRRC final report (PDF - 4.2 MB)

FWC Manatee Management Plan (PDF - 2.2 MB)

For more information regarding the LRRC,
contact Dr. Pat Quinn by email or call (954) 519-1218.