385 



board of health as a separate department — ^the Department of Health 

 and Rehabilitative Services. 



In Florida, there seems to be two coordinated and related foci for 

 estuarine management. 



First, the Florida Department of Air and Water Pollution Control 

 is the primary State agency having the responsibility and authority 

 for pollution control. Most of the powers, duties, and functions of other 

 State agencies relating to pollution control, including those in estu- 

 arine areas, were transferred to the Department of Air and Water Pol- 

 lution Control (Air and Water Pollution Control Commission) by the 

 State legislature through the Florida Air and Water Pollution Con- 

 trol Act of 1967; this represents a consolidation of authority and 

 improved coordination in air and water pollution control activities. 



Second, the board (of trustees) of the Internal Improvement Fund 

 owns the title to all State-owned submerged lands in estuaries, except 

 those that are privately owned (as described in ch. 67-393, acts of 

 1967). By virtue of ownership, the board is responsible for the man- 

 agement, preservation, and administration of these submerged lands. 

 The board can sell, based on approved applications, certain submerged 

 lands after establishment of bulkhead lines by appropriate counties or 

 municipalities. It can also reject applications for title to submerged 

 lands (F.S. ch. 253.12) or for authority to fill such lands (F.S. ch. 

 253.124). The board approves permits, after initial approval by cities 

 and counties, authorizing dredging and filling. However, some lands 

 have been leased or set aside for specific purposes such as oyster 

 culture, aquatic preserves, and State parks. 



Other State departments whose responsibilities relate to estuaries 

 include those duties which logically fall within their aegis, for 

 example : 



Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services : Surveillance of 

 oyster- and clam-bearing waters. 



Department of Natural Resources : Fisheries and shellfish manage- 

 ment, beach erosion control, development of master plan for commer- 

 cial and recreational w^aterways, waterfowl management, State park 

 administration, seafood quality control, seafood marketing program, 

 marine biological research, and ecological and environmental studies 

 of projects pertaining to sale, modification, and development of 

 submerged lands. 



Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services : Surveillance of 

 seafood quality and watershed management and land conservation 

 and reclamation. 



Department of Transportation : Bridge and causeway construction 

 (mainly U.S. Army Corps of Engineers function) . 



An organization chart showing the Florida State agencies whose 

 responsibilities relate to estuarine management is shown in figure 



