Water Quality Protection Program (WQPP) Steering Committee

March 8 - 9, 2023

Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary's Water Quality Protection Program (WQPP) will meet on Wednesday and Thursday, March 8 - 9, 2023. Attendees are asked to Please RSVP if they plan to attend any portion of the WQPP meeting. The details are as follows:

Congressional Report Workshop: March 8, 2023 @ 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM

The purpose of this workshop is to convene members of the WQPP to support the development of an updated WQPP Report to Congress.

• Location: Marathon City Hall, 9805 Overseas Hwy, Marathon, FL 33050
  • Parking Lot Map
• Agenda (PDF, 178 KB)
• Other supporting materials: An updated draft of the WQPP Report to Congress will be distributed to workshop participants prior to the meeting.

Public Comment: Verbal public comment is limited to three minutes and will be accepted in-person at 11:45 AM.

Field Trip: March 8, 2023 @ 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM - **Invite Only**

The field trip entails a boat tour on Florida Bay and of the facilities at Keys Marine Lab. This is an informal opportunity to experience and discuss various habitats, water quality issues and priorities, and ongoing research and management efforts with the sanctuary. Space on the field trip is limited due to capacity constraints. Members of the Steering Committee will be given first priority, with others added as space allows. 

WQPP Steering Committee Business Meeting: March 9, 2023 @ 9:00 AM – 4:45 PM

The purpose of this meeting is to convene the Water Quality Protection Program Steering Committee to review the status of Florida Keys water quality projects and complementary efforts, and discuss timely issues and future actions related to water quality priorities.

• Location: Marathon City Hall, 9805 Overseas Hwy, Marathon, FL 33050
  • Parking Lot Map
  • The meeting will also be broadcast live for *Listening Only* via GoToWebinar. To pre-register and join the WQPP meeting via GoToWebinar visit: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/7823453370565708382; Webinar ID: 975-095-411. For audio access by phone: Dial: (631) 992-3221; Code: 885-069-133.
• Agenda (PDF, 227 KB)
• Other supporting materials: The following supporting materials are also attached. Additional supporting materials will be circulated and posted online prior to the meeting.
  • Minutes from August 11, 2022 WQPP Steering Committee meeting
  • Publication: Status and Trajectories of Soft-Bottom Benthic Communities of the South Florida Seascape Revealed by 25 Years of Seagrass and Water Quality Monitoring
  • Draft TAC Recommendations on the WQPP Roadways and Water Quality Resolution
  • Draft list of Management Committee priority topics recommended for 2023 EPA funding
• Public Comment: Verbal public comment is limited to three minutes and will be accepted in-person at 4:10 PM.