No Name Key is an unusual community in that there is no public electricity or public water supply; though it does have paved roads, telephone service, a new fire well pump, and water valves and pipes in the street (but no water connection).
The 43 homes, although often refered to as "solar homes", are in reality "lead-acid battery powered homes". The 43 residential homes rely on a "hybrid system", a combination of solar panels and generators, to produce the electricity needed to power the batteries that run the homes.
Though often touted as "green", this hybrid method of powering the homes is quite "black". The CO2 emmissions produced from generators are three times (i.e. 300%) more than power produced from Fl. Elec. Co.
This method of powering the homes is not supported by the super-majority (70%) of the No Name Key residents, but is due to bad County legislation left over from when one No Name Key neighbor held a position of authority at a County level. This bad County legislation, which conflicts with State and Federal Laws, has made not only electricity, but central sewers and public water "illegal" on this small island.
In spite of State Statuatory requirements and the Policy and Intent of the State Legislature, the only source of water on No Name Key is rainwater collected and stored in cisterns; as "potable water" (which is defined as "safe for human consumption") was also made to be "illegal" by the same bad county policies on this little island. Recognizing the illegality of the situation, and the human right to water, the FKAA recently rescinded its' rule, which in the past had prohibited water and sewer connections to No Name Key.
A super-Majority of the No Name Key residents (the No Name Key Property Owners Association /NNKPOA) are advocating for a central sewer connection, as No Name Key was identified on several USEPA water quality studies as an area with known or suspected water quality degredation. These studies identified the Florida Keys "Hot Spots" which, based on science, were to be connected to a central sewage treatment system to eliminate contamination of the Florida Keys waters. The 2008 USEPA Water Quality Study declared No Name Key as 1 of 26 "verified impaired waterbody" in the Lower Keys making it subject to Federal 301(d) listing and regulations.
Although identified as a "verified impaired waterbody (as a "Hot Spot") the water quality issues in the Florida Keys unfortunately became political, and the issue of how to address the State Sewer Mandate on No Name Key remains unresolved.
This majority group (70+%) of No Name Key residents are also advocating a "grid-tie system"; a truly green solution that would eliminate the need for the lead-acid batteries and polluting generators.
As of September 2009, it appears that the County has no legal standing to deny No Name Key residents electricity. County Staff and County Attorney opinions have cleared the way for the extension of electricty. It's now in the hands of Keys Energy.
~We wish them luck in their quest for a clean and green No Name Key, as this website promotes responsible enviromental practices.
Approximately 820 acres (of this 998 acres island) is currently protected as part of the National Key Deer Refuge.There are only a handful of desirable canal front lots that are not developed and remain in private ownership. Between the Tier System and ROGO (Rate of Growth Ordinance), it is highly unlikely that another home will ever be built here. For more information on the Tier System and ROGO, please visit Monroe County Virtual Town Hall.
No Name Key is accessible through Big Pine Key via the Bogie Channel Bridge. This bridge used to be called (and used to be) the Old Wooden Fishing Bridge; but it is now a wide, modern concrete bridge approx. a half mile long. The bridge was, and remains today, a popular fishing spot.
No Name Key Bridge
The Main Road is Watson.There are an additional eight named roads, with five being the main residential roads. There are plenty of Key Deer to view along the main road (Watson), no need to go down the residential roads, doing so is Discouraged. Click here: For More Information on the Key Deer.
There are several hiking trails through the Key Deer Refuge off of Watson (be sure to bring your hat, sunscreen, insect repellant and water).Or follow Watson to the end, it’s a very short walk to enjoy the ocean view. Click here for More on: what to See, where to Stay, where to Eat and where to Shop.
No Name Key began as a small fishing village, grew into the site of the first ferryboat landing (the only way to get from the Upper Keys to the Lower Keys), and later was the training site/staging grounds for the failed Bay of Pigs invasion.Today it is a community consisting of 43 middle to upper income homes, and several hundred Key Deer. Click here: For More on the History of No Name Key.
We hope you enjoy your visit to No Name Key and enjoy viewing our Key Deer.
~Please leave nothing behind but good will: Don’t Litter!
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