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MIAMI RIVER COMMISSION 
c/o Rosenstiel School
4600 Rickenbacker Cswy,
Miami, Fl. 33149
305-361-4850
Fax: 305-361-4755
  e-mail: mrc@rsmas.miami.edu

Rick Alleman, South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD), provided a Draft Status Report of the Upper Wagner Creek Water Quality Improvement Plan.  Mr. Alleman explained that they reviewed all the available documentation, and the draft report details what portions of the plan have been completed and what remains to be done.  Rick stated in his review that approximately 40% of the 1996 action plan has been completed.  The effectiveness of the implementation has not been reviewed.  The draft report provides a section for “Opportunities for Improvement”.

Alleman asked the different agencies represented at the Stormwater Subcommittee to review the draft and provide him with any revisions, additional information, and suggestions for improving the content of the report.  Alleman also requested representatives to provide recommendations for future action and the recommendations should include who, when, where, how, why and how much it will cost.  When the report is completed we will utilize it to approach the legislature with a funding request based on the recommendations.  Sallye Jude stated that it was critical to determine the cost estimates because we are in a good funding position with the legislature this year.  In addition, criteria to set water quality standards needs to be developed.

Hector Badia, City of Miami Department of Public Works, needs to provide documentation of stormwater and sewer system improvements completed by the City since 1996.  Badia said he would provide Alleman with pertinent documents.  Alleman stated that the files of the Miami River Commission provided the majority of the documents the draft report was based on.

Mr. Alleman suggested that one of the goals enumerated in the report should be the elimination of stormwater infiltration into the sewage system.  Reducing water infiltration will keep the pump stations from exceeding their capacity.  Discussion ensued concerning the recent severe rainstorm and it was noted that the sanitary sewer system handled over 800 million gallons per day.  This is 500 gallons above normal an attributed to infiltration.  Again citizens in flooded areas often remove manhole covers to drain water and some of the manholes are to the sanitary sewer vice the stormwater system.

  Capt. Miller stated a critical aspect of the report should be public education.  The report is for the public, press and politicians, and needs to incorporate a general educational overview of how storm and sanitary sewer systems work in south Florida.  Additionally, the report must describe responsibilities and jurisdictions of the different agencies involved in the maintenance and operation of storm and sanitary systems.  Miller said the Miami River Commission would meet with the Allapattah Multi-Agency Enforcement Team to obtain pertinent data concerning enforcement actions.

  Alleman agreed to e-mail the members of the Stormwater Subcommittee a copy of the draft report to simplify the means of adding data and making revisions.  Additions and revisions were requested by the first week of November.  Milan suggested that the funding of DERM’s water quality testing programs be addressed within the report to guarantee regular monitoring of our progress through water quality testing.
       The Department of Environmental Protection 319 grant request submitted by the City of Miami and the MRC for stormwater and sewer system “dye flooding testing” to locate cross connections between systems was not approved.  Fifty per cent of all available 319 grant funds went to four specific geographic areas, that obviously did not include the Miami River. 

The next stormwater subcommittee meeting was set for 10 am on Thursday, Nov. 16, 2000 at the Miami River Inn.

The meeting was adjourned.

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