Question

Address how your hotel/resort will impact the surrounding community in the areas of energy and water use as well as waste-trash and sewerage. The project will identify how the property, its’ activities and guests will impact the surrounding environment, depending on the nature of your recreational activities. This hotel is located in Islamorada, FL (Florida keys)

Answer 1

Impact the surrounding community in the areas of energy and water use as well as waste-trash and sewerage.

Islamorada, Village of Islands is committed to ensuring that all visitors and residents with disabilities, are able to access and use our programs, services, and activities.

Islamorada strives to increase awareness of environmental sustainability initiatives and practices to engage the community and improve participation in green living practices. In 2008, the Village began an initiative to encourage Village employees and citizens to reduce the use of single use plastic bags and in 2014, joined the Got Your Bags Florida Keys initiative to promote voluntary use of reusable bags. Islamorada continues to support local actions that can be taken to reduce negative impacts on our environment and to support broader measures. Below are links to resolutions adopted by the Village Council as well as Ordinance 16-20 that bans the release of balloons and sky lanterns within the Village.

In order to contribute to a greener planet, the Village of Islamorada has enacted policies to reduce global warming pollution levels and provide economic and quality of life benefits such as reduced energy bills, green space preservation, air quality improvements and energy conservation. Islamorada adopted its first Environmental Sustainability Plan is September 2007.

Islamorada's Environmental Sustainability Plan has eight major focus areas: Energy, Land/Shoreline, Air Quality/CO2 Reduction, Stormwater, Water Use, Waste, Transportation/Fuel and Water Quality. Since 2007, Islamorada has made steady and continued progress in implementing its goals and actions.

Main sources of impact Residence in the coastal zone

• Fisheries and aquaculture Shipping Tourism
• Land-use practices (Agriculture, Industrial development)
• Climate change

Environmental Sustainability Goal/Action

1. Energy

• Utilize energy efficient mechanical systems in building projects.
• Encourage use of solar / photovoltaic systems by Islamorada property owners and investigate additional LEED energy certification standards for addition to the BPAS scoring system to promote increased energy savings in new development
• Reduce overall electrical consumption for municipal offices and parks utilizing the methods listed in this section.

Land

• Protect the shorelines and implement shoreline stabilization projects.
• Maintain and expand healthy tree canopies over certain roadways to provide for greater shade to residential areas for energy savings and to promote groundwater absorption.

Water

• Utilize the minimum level of water necessary for Founders Park fields and landscaping to be properly maintained for use and for the pool and other facilities to function properly.
• Climate and weather affect water quality through winds and storms, precipitation, evaporation, surface water input, sea level and tides, and "boundary" currents (e.g., Loop and Florida Currents), all of which play an important role in the ecosystem dynamics of Florida Bay and the sanctuary. During the last half-century, regional water management practices have evolved to temper the way climate and weather affect human health and well-being.

Waste

• Create and post additional recycling information on website.
• Provide recycling bins up at public parks in Village.
• Include a requirement in the Village-owned Parks Special Events Policy for mandatory recycling at events at Village parks
• Encourage recycling at Vacation Rental properties.

Report - During FY 14-15, improved measures to promote recycling with increased communication during registration renewals and laminated flyers encouraging recycling for posting at vacation rental properties.

AIR QUALITY/CO2 REDUCTION

Identify locations to strategically plant native canopy trees that would provide ample shade with its canopy to cool temperatures and reduce air pollution. Plant six trees per year in public parks and rights-of-way.

Water Quality

Implement and continue Canal Restoration Demonstration Program.  

Report - During FY 12-13 Began participation in Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Water Quality Protection Program Canal Restoration Advisory Subcommittee. Began participation in three-year grant from EPA for monitoring of the canal demonstration projects. Council approved $100,000 for evaluation and installation of program. Council adopted resolution

Other

• Improve community awareness of environmental sustainability initiatives undertaken by the Village and encourage community involvement.
• Implement a climate change adaptation plan.

Although a comprehensive report on contaminants in the sanctuary is not available, it is known or suspected that:

• Some nearshore waters of the Florida Keys are contaminated to an unknown extent from pharmaceuticals in sewage. Potential local sources of contamination include: solid waste and sewage disposal practices, marinas and live-aboard, seepage from municipal landfills, mosquito control programs, and surface water runoff (Rumbold and Sneaker 1999).
• The practice of soaking wooden lobster traps in used engine oil, or similar products, prior to their deployment was outlawed in 1993. At that time, approximately 670,000 traps were fished state wide, with more than 90% of traps deployed in Monroe County (FWC Fishery Statistics); a wooden trap was estimated to soak up about a quart of oil.
• It is still common practice in the sponge fishery to use vegetable oil as a way to increase "visibility" through the surface of the water while poling for sponges (S. Donahue, FKNMS, pers. obs.).
• Of the more than 300 small-vessel groundings that occur each year in the sanctuary, a few are associated with fuel and shipboard chemical spills (e.g., lubricants, solvents, and paints). Over time, these spills dissipate or break down, but their constituent chemicals may remain in the habitat for years.
• Because of the Florida Keys' proximity to a heavily used shipping lane, potential oil and other chemical spills from container ship and transport vessels remains a threat.