Port Everglades Mangrove Habitat Plan Moves Forward 

Broward County Commissioners have given Port Everglades Director Phil Allen the go-ahead to begin drafting an agreement with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection that could lead to the release of a portion of an existing conservation easement at the Port in favor of creating a new on-port mangrove wetland habitat.  This action could eventually allow the Port to expand its existing Turning Notch to accommodate larger cargo ships.

The ability to release approximately 8.68 acres west of the Turning Notch from the existing 48.27-acre conservation easement in Southport and the creation of an approximately 16.5-acre functioning mangrove wetland habitat (Upland Enhancement) on port property is a key component of the Port Everglades 20-Year Master/Vision Plan.  Changing the footprint of the mangroves will enable the Port to extend the Turning Notch by 400 feet, which will accommodate larger ships and create additional berth space for the size of cargo ships that currently call at Port Everglades.

Port officials worked closely with the environmental community and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to develop a plan for the new mangrove habitat, which has been endorsed by the South Florida Audubon Society and the Port Everglades Association.

"The regard for the environment evidenced in the mitigation for the conversion of the turning notch to additional berthing space engenders a reciprocal spirit of cooperation, and the South Florida Audubon Society not only endorses the plan as laid out at the meeting, but also looks forward to working with Port Everglades officials in the future in the maintenance of the conservation easement to be placed on the mangroves in the port," said Grant Campbell of the South Florida Audubon Society in an email message to Broward County Commissioners.  Campbell is the South Florida Audubon Society's Director of Wildlife Policy and Conservation Chair.

Broward County Commissioners adopted the 2006 Port Everglades Master/Vision Plan in December 2007. This plan developed a comprehensive and realistic five-year capital improvement plan within the framework of 10 and 20-year vision plans for all of the Port's business sectors. The first update to this document began in February 2009 and is estimated to be completed in the late summer of 2010. The total estimated cost for 20-year Vision Plan projects is $2 billion.

"Approval of this item will allow the growth of Port Everglades to proceed in a manner that not only provides for the berthing needs of commercial shipping, but also protects the delicate and vital mangrove and manatee habitat so unique to this region and this seaport," said Margaret Kempel, Executive Director of the Port Everglades Association.  "The expansion of the Turning Notch combined with the ultimate tripling (between in-port expansion and mitigation in Westlake Park) of preserved wetlands is a brilliant resolution to the classic Florida dilemma of the need to develop versus the need to preserve."

Port Everglades is one of the nation's leading container ports and a trade gateway to Latin America and Caribbean.  Port Everglades has direct access to the interstate highway system, is within two miles of the FEC rail hub and is just one mile from the Atlantic Shipping Lanes. Ongoing capital improvements and expansion ensure that Port Everglades will have the ability to handle future growth in container traffic. A world-class cargo handling facility, Port Everglades serves as an ideal point of entry for products shipped around the world. 

More information about Broward County's Port Everglades is available on the Internet at http://www.porteverglades.net  or by calling toll-free in the United States 1-800-421-0188 or emailing PortEvergladesCargo@broward.org .

02/2010