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Special Feature continued

The first Waterway Cleanup event was held in the late ongoing commitment to our waterways. And of special
1970s to help ensure that both the community and the mention is the fact that the City of Fort Lauderdale made
marine industry could enjoy clean local waterways history when it became the first city in the state to have all
together; and this focus has required determined vigilance. three of its marinas designated as clean. That was a proud
Today, more than a thousand volunteers of all ages work milestone.
at various locations across Broward County during the As stated on the FDEP site, “The Clean Marinas program
cleanup event to remove tons of trash and debris from promotes and celebrates voluntary adoption of measures
waterways, rivers, and canals.
to reduce pollution from marinas and recreational boats.”
Deep cleaning is accomplished by deploying the help of By completing a Clean Marina application and signing the
over 100 boats at more than 35 locations throughout the pledge, participating marinas make a commitment to
county. Volunteers, ranging in age from nine months to 81 actively pursue practices that protect Florida’s waters from
years, participate on land and in water with 120 vessels, harmful chemicals, excess nutrients and marine debris.
including boats, kayaks, and paddleboards. The cleanup is
held on the first Saturday in March, so luckily this year’s COASTAL CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION
event, the 43rd annual, on March 7, 2020 was still possible, OF FLORDA
just before the Coronavirus pandemic hit. Over 1,200 The Broward chapter of the Coastal Conservation
volunteers turned out to help, a record-breaking attendance. Association is one of the most active in the state, and this
is something to be very proud of in the boating and fishing
Attorney Danielle Butler of Luxury Law Group is a past
community. The CCA’s mission states that they seek to
president of the Marine Industries Association and was
instrumental in continuing its growth over the last several “ensure the health and conservation of our marine
resources and anglers’ access to them.” This guiding
years. Danielle is also a committee member of Marine
Industry Cares Foundation, another group dedicated to principal has made local boaters and fisherman among
the biggest advocates of clean waterways. They work to
raising funds and awareness surrounding ongoing efforts
to clean up the waterways. She provides an example of protect not only the health, habitat and sustainability of
our marine resources, but also the interests of recreational
what a dedicated marine industry can accomplish.
anglers and their access to the resources they cherish.
The waterway cleanups are assisted annually by the
Lauderdale Small Boat Club, the oldest such club in Broward Financial advisor Mike Lambrechts, CCA vice president
County, in existence for over 70 years, a group that is always and CCA Broward Chapter president, is fully dedicated to
dedicated to keeping the waterways clean. The club hosts the its cause, so much so that he has spearheaded a
volunteer “thank you” party called “Trash Bash” every year, revolutionary concept to improve the quality of our
after the waterway cleanup event has completed. It is a time- waterways with oysters. That’s right, oysters!
honored tradition by all involved to celebrate another These water-cleansing bivalves are clustered together into
successful ecological scrubbing operation at its conclusion. “mini-reefs” and distributed to waterfront homeowners who
then hang them off their docks with hopes they’ll colonize
CLEAN MARINA PROGRAM and begin filtering the polluted water. This is an especially
The Fort Lauderdale marine industry timely idea, in view of what our waterways have recently
consists of several marinas and suffered, as millions of gallons of raw sewage was
numerous other businesses located pumped into them. A single oyster can cleanse more than
along the waterways, many 50 gallons of water per day!
participating in the Clean Marinas program, a statewide The Coastal Conservation Association is working with a
initiative by the Florida Department of Environmental
scientist affiliated with the University of Miami and NOAA
Protection, with designations granted to marinas after in hopes of learning what areas of Fort Lauderdale would
annual reviews indicating environmental measures are
be favorable to oyster growth. If all goes as planned, there
implemented to address sensitive habitats, storm water might come a time in the future when Fort Lauderdale
control, spill prevention and emergency.
sewage spills, like those of late, are fixed naturally. Water
Several local companies are awarded this designation quality could be improved by way of these living bivalve
annually through the Clean Marinas program. It is an filtering machines.

26 LAS OLAS BOULEVARD & ISLES