Congress approves $1.8 billion in Everglades restoration projects

President's budget follows with substantial funding

In November, Congress passed the 2007 Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), which contained authorization for three important Everglades restoration projects. This legislation allows for approval of funding for up to $1.8 billion for these projects. The president’s budget, released Feb. 4, included substantial funding for design and construction phases of the projects. Both WRDA 2007 and the ample funding provided in the president’s budget take Everglades restoration to the next level

The WRDA 2007 bill gives the federal go-ahead for:

• The Indian River Lagoon – South project will restore this estuary of national significance, home to more than 4,300 wildlife species. Up to $1.4 billion of funding was approved.
  
  
• The Picayune Strand Hydrologic Restoration project will improve the groundwater and uplands in an area of western Collier County which, among other important attributes, is home to the Florida panther, black bear and other native Everglades wildlife. Up to $375 million was approved.
  
  
• The Site 1 Impoundment (Fran Reich Preserve) project includes reservoir and water conveyance features for storing water that would otherwise flow to the Atlantic Ocean. One benefit of the Site 1 Impoundment project is the improvement it will provide to Lake Okeechobee and the coastal estuaries. Up to $80 million was approved.
  
  

The president’s budget, which supported the Corps’ funding request, includes the following: Picayune Strand - $25.229 million ($24.229 million for construction and $1 million for design); Indian River Lagoon South - $4.5 million for design; Site 1 Impoundment - $3.5 million for design.

The WRDA 2007 bill also authorizes a $1.5 million study of the Herbert Hoover Dike. The 143-mile dike that surrounds Lake Okeechobee is essential for public safety and is a key component of central and south Florida’s regional water management system.

The WRDA 2007 legislation and subsequent appropriations provided by the president’s budget reaffirms the federal government’s commitment to the plan to restore America’s Everglades, authorized in 2000. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is leading the federal efforts to restore the Everglades. The state of Florida, through the South Florida Water Management District, is moving forward on many related projects to support CERP.

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Welcome to Everglades Report

For the past four years, the Corps of Engineers-produced electronic newsletter, CERP Report, delivered to desktops throughout south Florida the latest news and information about outreach activities for the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan – also known as CERP. Now, as the need for information has changed, CERP Report has changed too.

CERP Report has evolved into a new publication with an expanded mission.

The new newsletter, Everglades Report, will continue to focus on public information, environmental education, community and public meetings, but will expand to include programs and projects beyond the 16-county CERP focused areas.

“Everglades Report will give readers the latest news and information on all the Corps’ efforts to restore central and south Florida’s natural environment,” said Nanciann Regalado, program manager for strategic communication and outreach, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District.

“There are many kinds of activities under way in the central and south Florida area, which is actually the greater Everglades ecosystem. These include the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan, earlier projects which today are called foundation projects, and others that will protect the environmental resources, improve water supplies and provide public safety. This newsletter will cover all these topics,” she said.

Like CERP Report, Everglades Report will be published six times a year and distributed to an electronic subscriber list.

To download a copy or subscribe to Everglades Report, go to www.evergladesplan.org.

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National and state leaders focus on Everglades

More than 400 advocates for a healthy Everglades ecosystem gathered in southwest Florida in January for the 23rd Everglades Coalition Conference. This year’s conference highlighted the projects and public policy needed to restore the Everglades.

Many federal and state leaders spoke during the four-day event including Florida Gov. Charlie Crist and U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson. Both want to ensure the Everglades remains a healthy, viable ecosystem in the years to come. Many appointees and staff members at all levels of government spoke or participated in panel discussions including John Paul Woodley, assistant secretary of the Army for civil works; Carol Wehle, executive director of the South Florida Water Management District; and Stu Appelbaum, deputy for restoration program management for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District.

A message that resonated throughout the nationally-recognized conference was the continued need for a strong federal-state partnership to protect America’s River of Grass. The importance of partnerships with stakeholder groups was also emphasized.

The Everglades Coalition Conference was held Jan. 10 to 13 on Captiva Island. For more information, visit www.evergladescoalition.org.

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Agency leaders discuss Lake Okeechobee and local involvement

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was among 11 federal, state and local organizations that participated in a public forum to discuss issues affecting Lake Okeechobee. The Decision Makers Forum was held in Belle Glade on Jan. 17. The purpose was to provide information to local governments, small businesses and residents in the communities that surround the lake. More than 190 people attended.

“We’ve gotten a lot better at working together,” said Col. Paul Grosskruger, commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District. "Public discussions (such as this) help people understand the many challenges agencies face in managing the lake,” he said.

Many issues were discussed for this complex water body including the need for more water storage outside of the lake, reducing nutrients in the lake and the lake level regulation schedule. Also highlighted at the forum were the many effects to the lake and regional water supply caused by the record drought in Florida and the southeast United States. One theme presented throughout the day was the need for continued local involvement and outreach. There are at least 60,000 people who live near the lake’s shores (an area that spans five counties) and involvement of area residents, governments and businesses is very important.

“Coming to local communities is vital,” said Carol Wehle, executive director of the South Florida Water Management District. It assures taxpayer dollars are spent wisely.

The forum provided an opportunity to bring all parties together to address the issues and work toward a common goal. For more information on the forum, please visit www.ces.fau.edu/dmf/.

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Everglades restoration may provide water storage lessons

As the water shortage gripping the southeast United States continues, many scientists and water managers can look to Florida to learn from the implementation of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP).

While the overarching goal of its more than 50 projects is the improvement of the natural ecosystem in south Florida, CERP is also about storing water that would be wasted. The CERP proposes to capture 1.7 billion gallons of water which is sent to sea daily, store it, treat it and release it to the natural environment. Additional water will be available for people and farms, too.

Water planners and managers throughout the nation and world can watch the progress of CERP and apply some of the innovative techniques and lessons learned through projects like the Indian River Lagoon-South, Site 1 Impoundment and others designed to capture and store water. In the meantime, as CERP works to restore the River of Grass and improve habitat for 68 threatened and endangered species, an added value will be increased fresh water supplies for south Florida.

To learn more about CERP, visit www.evergladesplan.org.

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To add or remove your name from the Everglades Report electronic mailing list: visit www.evergladesplan.org or call 305-948-8063.