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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. |
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A partnership of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, South Florida Water Management District and many other federal, state, local and tribal partners. |
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March 3
Voice of the Everglades:
Marjory Stoneman Douglas
North Regional/BCC Library
Coconut Creek, Fla.
March 10
Sea Turtle Day 2
Gumbo Limbo Nature Center
Boca Raton, Fla.
March 24
Water Matters Day
Davie, Fla.
March 25
RiverFest 2007
Jonathan Dickinson State Park
Jupiter, Fla.
April 22
Earth Day
Sawgrass Mills
Sunrise, Fla.
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Please join the CERP
Outreach Team in
welcoming Elizabeth
“Beth” Myers, Acting Deputy for Small
Business. If you are interested in learning
about the business opportunities with the
Corps, please contact Ms. Myers at
904-232-1150. Interested persons can
also reach Ms. Myers via e-mail.
To learn about business opportunities
with the South Florida Water
Management District, please contact the
Procurement Hotline at 1-800-472-5290.
To request a presentation for a group or
organization, please contact Erica
Robbins at 561-472-8893 or Bernadette
Morris at 305-948-8063, ext. 201.
People interested in learning about the
Comprehensive Everglades Restoration
Plan can leave their name and mailing
address on the toll-free line at 1-877-
CERP-USA. |
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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.
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Every April, millions of people from around the world
observe Earth Day. Events and activities are held
throughout the month to raise awareness of the Earth’s
natural resources and how to protect them. And in south
Florida, with the nation’s largest environmental
restoration under way, there are many efforts planned for
the Everglades, too.
The Comprehensive Everglades |
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Restoration Plan (CERP) will restore America’s Everglades and its
associated lakes, rivers and bays in the 16-county south
Florida region. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is leading the way, in partnership with the South Florida Water Management District, and many other federal, state, local and tribal partners.
Throughout south Florida and the nation, there are
different ways to get involved in Everglades restoration.
These include attending a public meeting to plan projects,
encouraging students to learn through environmental
education materials, visiting or volunteering at an
Everglades park or refuge, getting involved in the
Everglades restoration plan as a business or contractor,
and logging onto the official Everglades website to keep
up to date on the latest activities.
In observance of Earth Day 2007, the Corps of
Engineers is introducing new outreach products for
children and adults to highlight the value of restoring
America’s Everglades.
For children, a new coloring book will be introduced
about the Everglades ecosystem. The Journey of Wayne
Drop to the Everglades is a storybook and lesson plan for
elementary students available in English, Spanish and
Creole. It was first distributed to schools in 2005. This
spring, a companion coloring book will be available
online and in a limited number of print copies. |
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For Everglades enthusiasts of all ages, a challenging
new game called “Name that CERP Sound” will be
released. Short recordings of the sounds of Everglades animals will be available online and as
radio public service announcements.
Listeners can try to guess which animal
they hear (and some are quite unique)
and discover the answer by going online
to the Everglades website
(www.evergladesplan.org) or by calling
the toll-free number: 1-877-CERP-USA.
Adults and children alike will also
enjoy a new hanging mobile of four
animals widely associated with the
Everglades ecosystem. The mobile serves
as a reminder of the endangered and
threatened wildlife in the greater
Everglades ecosystem. Be on the lookout
for additional mobiles to add to your
collection in the future!
For additional information, visit
www.evergladesplan.org.
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Each March, the contributions of women to the history
and culture of the United States are recognized in Women’s History Month. Proclaimed by Congress, the
month raises awareness of the vast contributions of
women in all areas of endeavor throughout the nation.
Women have contributed greatly to the environmental
movement in the past and continue to do so today.
In the past, women have helped pave the way
through volunteer efforts, education, employment at
regulatory and natural resources protection agencies,
writing, and in many other roles. Marjory |
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Stoneman Douglas wrote The Everglades: River of Grass, originally
published in 1947. Her crusade to protect the Everglades
and raise awareness about this unique natural treasure
continued until her death at the age of 108.
Today, women fill many key roles in the protection of
the Earth’s natural resources and the implementation of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP). Women are working throughout Florida and the nation as
legislators and environmental advocates to ensure
legislation is developed and enacted to protect the
Everglades, water, and natural resources. |
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At the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
and the South Florida Water Management
District – the agencies responsible for the
protection and restoration of the Everglades
– many important roles at all levels are
filled by women, including attorneys,
biologists, project managers, outreach
specialists, regulators, and many other
positions. The South Florida Water
Management District is headed by a
woman. Carol Ann Wehle has served as the
Executive Director of the South Florida
Water Management District since 2005.
Women are encouraged to get
involved at all levels and in all areas of
Everglades restoration. There are countless
ways to do so – helping to protect a
treasured national resource for generations
to come. For more information, visit www.evergladesplan.org. |
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In celebration of Earth Day 2007, the Corps
of Engineers plans to expand the
promotional efforts and products of The Journey of Wayne Drop to the Everglades with the introduction and development of
additional products and services.
A Wayne Drop coloring book will soon
be introduced to the nation. This book will
explore the animated water drop’s journey to
the Everglades and provide insights on the
south Florida ecosystem.
In addition, the Wayne Drop storybook
and teacher’s guide are available in English,
Spanish and Creole, on the
www.evergladesplan.org website for
teachers, parents and students alike to enjoy.
Prior to the Earth Day celebration,
these products |
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and others will be available and
provided during the National Science
Teacher’s Conference, set for March in St.
Louis, Missouri. Erica Robbins, the Corps’
Outreach Program Specialist based in the
South Florida Restoration Office, and
a former middle school science and
environmental teacher, will be on
hand to provide useful information
about the Comprehensive
Everglades Restoration Plan to
teachers throughout the country.
For more information on the
Corps’ Wayne Drop storybooks,
teacher materials and other
products, contact Ms. Robbins
at 561-472-8893.
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Visitors enjoy learning about the Comprehensive Everglades
Restoration Plan (CERP) at the
Broward Community College
Environmental
Fair on February 5, 2007. |
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Visitors of all ages enjoy the annual Everglades
Day at the Arthur R.
Marshall Loxahatchee
National Wildlife Refuge, in Palm Beach
County,
on February 10, 2007. |
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