The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and The South Florida Water Management District
 
www.evergladesplan.org
Welcome to CERP Report
About CERP
Black Leaders Making a Difference for our Environment
Newspaper Inserts Raise
Awareness about Everglades Restoration
Help Us Plan Everglades
Restoration
Environmental Moments
Out and About
Let's Meet and Greet
This Month Issue
Welcome to CERP Report

In this edition, you will find the latest news and information about the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) and community outreach efforts throughout south Florida.

As you read through this issue, you will discover more about what the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the South Florida Water Management District are doing to inform, involve, and engage our citizens, businesses and communities in the Everglades restoration plan and the protection of our future water supply.
About CERP
Lave Okeechobee

Did you know that the Florida Everglades was once a vibrant, free-flowing river of grass that provided clean water from Lake Okeechobee to Florida Bay? Today, this extraordinary ecosystem is dying. Over the past half-century, the health and size of the Everglades have steadily declined. Severely impacted by drainage and development, the Everglades is suffering from a critical shortage of clean, reliable water sources.

To restore and preserve south Florida's natural environment, enhance water supplies, and maintain flood protection, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in partnership with the South Florida Water Management District and numerous other federal, state, local and tribal partners, has developed a plan to save the Everglades.

The Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) includes a series of ecological and water system improvements. During the next 30 years, the Corps, the District, and their sponsoring partners will restore water quality, quantity, timing, and distribution in what is being referred to as "the largest environmental restoration project in history."

To find out more about Everglades restoration, visit our official website at www.evergladesplan.org.
The Journey to Restore America's Everglades

The Journey to Restore America's EvergladesA partnership of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, South Florida Water Management District and many other federal, state, local and tribal partners.
 
CERP Report is an unofficial publication authorized under the provisions of AR 360-1 and published bi-monthly by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District, P.O. Box 4970, Jacksonville, FL 32232-0019. Telephone 904-232-2235; Fax 904-232-2237. Comments regarding this report are encouraged and may be sent to: nanciann.e.regalado@usace.army.mil
  January / February 2006
Black Leaders Making a Difference four our Environment

February is Black History Month, and there’s no more appropriate time to salute the many Black community leaders who are making an environmental difference in south Florida.

Edith Bush, Bobby Henry and Adora Obi Nweze are only a few of many local leaders who have assisted the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers with reaching and inspiring local citizens to become informed and involved in Everglades restoration. In their own ways, each is working to educate and encourage environmental awareness and involvement for the protection of our fragile natural environment.

Edith Bush of West Palm Beach has been honored with awards from the Sun-Sentinel and the Urban League, of which she is a board member, as a recognized leader in her historically Black neighborhood in northwest West Palm Beach and throughout Palm Beach County. As executive director of the county’s non-profit Martin Luther King, Jr. Coordinating Committee, she is especially proud of their years of camp sponsorships to allow at-risk urban youth to experience the natural environment. She has also demonstrated her environmental commitment by organizing volunteer litter clean-ups and coordinating numerous Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) presentations and exhibit opportunities to engage Blacks in the restoration process.

Bobby Henry of Fort Lauderdale is publisher of The Westside Gazette, one of south Florida’s leading Black-oriented newspapers. The paper is distributed weekly throughout Broward County and has a companion website. Community Outreach in Action, a publication of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers about Everglades restoration, has been effectively reaching Black residents when distributed as an insert in The Westside Gazette print edition, as well as through other means. Mr. Henry has personally supported environmental awareness through his editorial placements, features and commitment to fostering a number of environmental programs throughout south Florida.

Adora Obi NwezeAdora Obi Nweze of Miami is well-respected for her environmental leadership through her position as state president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Ms. Obi Nweze's openness to work with the Corps in its education outreach initiatives has helped pave the way for many communities and organizations throughout the state to learn more about Everglades restoration.
Newspaper Inserts Raise Awareness about Everglades Restoration

Come early spring, a newspaper insert about Everglades restoration will be distributed to Black households via weekly newspapers and community organizations. The Winter-Spring 2006 Community Outreach in Action is due to be published in March. The bi-annual newspaper insert about Everglades restoration is produced for minority communities. More than 100,000 inserts will be distributed in 12 African American newspapers from Orlando to Miami. Another 50,000 copies will be provided to community organizations.

Stories in this next issue will focus on why restoring the Everglades is important, how it will benefit Lake Okeechobee and Everglades National Park, opportunities for small businesses, and other topics. For copies, please contact Bernadette Morris at 305-333-9484.
Help Us Plan Everglades Restoration

The Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) is made up of more than 50 individual projects. These are located throughout south Florida and can be quite large and complex. As many as 19 projects may be completed within the next five years.

Public input is sought in the planning of all of these projects which are in various stages of development. To learn which projects are currently seeking public comments, log on to www.evergladesplan.org. Look for the section on the left side of the homepage titled “Documents for Public Review.” Additionally, the homepage includes a scrolling news section titled “CERP News” which highlights major new additions to the website. Look for CERP projects near your community.

These are two CERP projects for which comments from the public are being sought this winter:

  • A 31,000-acre reservoir is planned south of Lake Okeechobee through the Everglades Agricultural Area Storage Reservoirs – Phase 1. This CERP project involves constructing an above-ground reservoir and associated features to store a large amount of rainwater that would otherwise be held in Lake Okeechobee or be sent to sea. This project provides many benefits including water supply, flood control and environmental restoration. Public comments on the draft plan are being accepted, and public meetings and presentations will be scheduled for this winter.
  • The Broward County Water Preserve Areas will serve as a buffer between the Everglades to the west and developed areas of Broward County to the east. They will capture and store rainwater, clean water before delivery to the Everglades, increase urban water supplies, and reduce saltwater intrusion. A public meeting will be announced in the near future.

For additional information on both, visit www.evergladesplan.org and click on the “Projects” tab at the top of the page.
Environmental Moments
CERP screensavers were provided to visitors at the African American Library in Fort Lauderdale in December, during the annual observance of Kwanzaa. CERP screensavers were provided to visitors at the African American Library in Fort Lauderdale in December, during the annual observance of Kwanzaa.

Amanda Ellison of the Corps of Engineers talks to children about CERP at the Pahokee Grassy Waters Festival in November.

CERP screensavers were provided to visitors at the African American Library in Fort Lauderdale in December, during the annual observance of Kwanzaa.
Malissa Booth of the Corps of Engineers presents a guest lecture on Everglades restoration at the Palm Beach Community College campus in Palm Beach Gardens. CERP screensavers were provided to visitors at the African American Library in Fort Lauderdale in December, during the annual observance of Kwanzaa.

Malissa Booth of the Corps of Engineers presents a guest lecture on Everglades restoration at the Palm Beach Community College campus in Palm Beach Gardens.

Riviera Beach City Councilwoman Ann Iles and Capurnia Cannon, Child Outreach, Inc., receive Kwanzaa screensavers at the CERP exhibit from Corps Outreach Specialist Malissa Booth during the Martin Luther King, Jr. breakfast in West Palm Beach.
Out and About
February 11
Everglades Day Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge Palm Beach County
Let's Meet and Greet

If you are interested in learning about business opportunities with the Corps, please contact Randy Edney at 561-683-1577, ext. 14. If you are interested in learning about business opportunities with the Water Management District, please call the Procurement Hotline at 1-800-472-5290.

If you would like to request a presentation for your organization, please contact Malissa Booth at 561-683-1577, ext. 24 or Bernadette Morris at 305-948-8063, ext. 201