New First for Marco - Code Enforcement on the Water

The new Marco Island Code Enforcement boat has been on the water since August 27, 2026. “It was purchased by the City of Marco Island to help protect the Island’s water quality,” said Keith Richter, Supervisor for Code Enforcement. “The boat allows the Code Enforcement Officer to access our waterways to identify, document, and address illicit discharges, construction debris, and various safety issues. Water quality problems can be difficult to spot from land and our Code Enforcement Officer can issue notices of violations and also work with property owners to bring problems into compliance.” Richter added, “The boat is there to help keep unwanted materials out of our water and educate the canal property owners on environmental issues – and regulations - this is a new FIRST for Marco!”

Officer Ed Barrios, Marco’s new Marine Unit Code Enforcement Officer, is the new set of eyes from the water and has been observed by our canal residents patrolling with the new 25-foot patrol boat. Officer Barrios trained with Marco’s Marine Unit Officers Josh Ferris and Alex Cordero and went through a certification process. He spent 22 years with the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office and was assigned to the Port of Miami as part of their harbor patrol. He joined the Marco Island Police Department and then switched over to Code Enforcement when this opportunity came up. Officer Barrios is a reserve police officer, a Code Enforcement Officer, and the Marine Unit Code Enforcement Officer.

Already this past week, several Notices of Violations (NOVs) were issued for illicit discharges into the waterways, according to Officer Barrios. I joined code officers Richter, Ray Leshinger, and Barrios for a brief visit as they shared photos of recent illicit discharges and contaminants. Here is a sample list:

• Dilapidated docks – in disrepair, posing a safety risk to the community.
• Seawalls – showing cracking or leaning, posing a safety hazard.
• Illicit discharges from seawall construction. “Marco Island takes this very seriously,” according to Officer Richter. “In one instance, a neighbor called and we were able to witness this in “real time and documented it.” “The containment barrier in the water broke, spilling unknown quantities of polluted materials into the canal.” According to Richter, “These events are treated with ‘immediate compliance,’ due to their imminent harm to health, safety of marine life and their habitat and water quality from the release of excessive sediment. This case will also be brought before the Code Enforcement Magistrate.”
• Floating landscaping debris. Landscaping services blowing grass cuttings/debris into waterways.
• Absence or damaged silt fence spilling soil sediment into the waterways.
• Overgrown weeds/trees. Tree limbs overhanging the waterways and posing a navigational hazard.

Officer Barrios keeps a log of miles traveled and the number of NOVs issued and warnings given to residents on water quality and safety-related issues. We also had a brief discussion on the visible traces of oil sheen on the water and traces of dissipating paint – which is on the list of prohibited illicit discharges according to Marco’s Storm Water Control Ordinance. After a heavy rain, stormwater runoff carries pollutants such as motor oil, grease, gasoline, paint, and solvents into the waterways. Officer Barrios takes a date/time stamped photograph and documents its location.

On Thursday afternoon, I joined Officer Ed Barrios for a brief patrol of several canals to experience firsthand what he was observing from the canal side. Residents were surprised to see a Code Enforcement boat and asked what we were doing. Another resident asked if there was something wrong. The overall reaction had been positive.

According to the Marco Island website, the island covers over 100 miles of total waterways with a labyrinth of 290 man-made canals. In addition, on Marco there are approximately 5,723 residential properties located on canals or waterfront sites.

It’s going to be a long process for Officer Barrios as he cruises the canals at an Idle speed, observing, taking photos, making notes, and sometimes returning the next day to re-check a site for compliance. According to Barrios, one of their main focus is to help protect Marco’s water quality.