b'Why the Cove is Important How You Can HelpMunyon Cove has been the focus of many ongoing studiesSupport non-profit organizations like Sustainable Palm related to water quality, estuarine habitat and fisheriesBeach County, The Everglades Law Center and Lake monitoring.One example is Lake Worth WaterkeepersWorth Waterkeeper.Follow them on social media for the regular enterococcus bacteria sampling, which clearlylatest developments at Munyon Cove so you are prepared demonstrate that areas like the cove offer the best protec- to respond to any call to action.Also, post your pics!tion against bacteria blooms.This is because enterococcusAnother way to increase awareness is to share pictures bacteria respond to nutrient pollution, and areas like theof the fish and wildlife you encounter at Munyon Cove, cove offer a decent amount of habitat that competes withwhich will help remind the public and community leaders the bacteria for the same nutrient pollution.In other words,why this spot is so special and worth protecting.these habitats help prevent bacteria blooms and publichas been made in the lagoon. health problems by cleaning the nutrient pollution out of the water, outcompeting the bacteria.An- Seeking a Solutionother notable example, during the first quarter last year FWC staff conductedThe uncertainty surrounding these a fisheries sample in the central andsubmerged lands has lingered far too northern lagoon, 14 restoration sites inlong.There are a variety of ways this the central and 21 in the northern areaissue can be resolved.Property owners (the cove mostly) where 56 bonefish werecan simply sell their submerged land to caught.Other species such as snook,the state, county or a conservation entity. permit, mutton snapper and flounderHowever, this requires a willing seller have been caught during the FWCsand an agreed upon selling price.Deter-independent fisheries monitoring efforts.mining a reasonable valuation of the land These and other species frequently encoun- is tricky, but it can be done.Owners have tered in the northern lagoon depend upon apresumably been paying property taxes on healthy estuary during the early stages oftheir land so it is not unreasonable for them their life cycle.Simply put, the habitat into expect some return on their investment. Munyon Cove is a critical nursery area forAnother option is for land owners to simply many species of fish. donate their property to the state or some conservation oriented entity, which may Protecting the Publics Investment provide tax benefits to altruistic donors.In fact, this has already happened in one case. Tens of millions of tax payer dollars haveThat particular piece of property became a been spent on restoration and enhancementconservation easement along Munyon Coves projects in the Lake Worth Lagoon, all de- southern border.Perhaps others will follow signed to improve habitat and water quality.this lead.The WPBFC hopes that a fair and In the late 1990s the restoration of nearbyequitable resolution between all the property Big Munyon Island set the pace for numerousowners and government agencies and/or other environmental enhancement projectsother groups can be brokered so that this including Snook Islands, Johns Island, IbisOver the past year, the FWC hasenvironmentally critical portion of the Island, Grassy Flats and South Cove.Therecorded many species of juvenileLake Worth Lagoon is finally protected in return on investment has been tremendous.fish within the lagoon, includingperpetuity.The fish and wildlife that de-The success of these projects has madepermit, flounder and bonefish. pend on a healthy estuary deserve no less.Palm Beach Countys Department of Environmental Resources Manage- E ntEringY ourC atChi nC luba nglingC ontEstsh asn EvErb EEnE asiEr !ment (DERM) a recognized leader in the restoration of wetlands and uplandMembers can habitats.For decades the WPBFC hasenter their catches via partnered with DERM and other agen- smartphone using the cies on these enhancement efforts inWPBFC\'s electronic the lagoon.In 2020 the WPBFC wasfillable affidavit.actively involved in building oysterSimply "Add to Home reefs (see story pg. 5) at MacArthurScreen" and the created shortcut works just Beach State Park, not very far fromlike an app.Enter fish the submerged lands being discussed.at your convenience, Protecting Munyon Cove will protecteven while you\'re out on the significant public investment thatthe water!T ighTL inesB uLLeTin- s ummer2021 53'