Wetlands Advisory Task Force

The Wetlands Advisory Task Force held its final meeting in July 2012 and submitted its final recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners, which are posted below.

Wetlands are a major element of the historical and current South Florida landscape, providing vital functions which are essential to the health and welfare of the people of Miami-Dade County. Wetland areas in Miami-Dade County provide direct recharge to the Biscayne Aquifer, filtering and replenishing the County's major source of drinking water.

Moreover, wetlands serve to purify surface and ground waters, provide storage capacity for localized flooding, buffer coastlines during major storm events and provide habitat for wildlife, including many rare and endangered species.

In July 2011, the Miami-Dade County Board of County Commissioners (BCC) adopted Resolution R-561-11 , which established the Wetlands Advisory Task Force (WATF). The WATF consisted of seven voting members, six appointed by the BCC and one appointed by the Mayor, and three non-voting members, representing the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the South Florida Water Management District.

Pursuant to Section 1 of the establishing legislation, the WATF had four stated purposes:

1. Reviewing the process that is used in classifying and determining wetland designations.
2. Determining whether the appeals process is fair, adequate and allows for due-process.
3. Investigate ways of providing enhanced outreach to property owners located in environmentally sensitive areas regarding environmental permitting requirements that may be applicable to their properties.
4. Provide advice and recommendations to the BCC regarding revisions to wetlands regulations in Chapter 24 of the Miami-Dade County Code and any Environmental Resources Management fees related thereto.

• See the list of WATF members 
• Report on recommended changes to wetlands regulations  -- April 10, 2012
• Report on recommended changes to zoning regulations  -- July 12, 2012

For more information, call 305-372-6567.

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