Posted on May 29, 2019
SOUTH FLORIDA — Though still not locked in, a $200 million budget boost for Everglades and Florida Bay restoration passed in a key U.S. House of Representatives committee last week, giving South Florida conservationists a rare reason to smile.
“It’s actually amazing, almost unbelievable,” said Elizabeth Jolin of Florida Bay Forever, based in Islamorada. “Voices from across Florida came together to make this happen.”
Urged on by a bipartisan coalition of South Florida’s U.S. representatives, the House Appropriations Committee raised its proposed annual spending for Everglades restoration from less than $70 million to $200 million.
That, said Eric Eikenberg of the Everglades Foundation, is “the amount needed to meet the federal commitment to the 50-50 partnership with the state of Florida.”
“Full and consistent funding from the federal government is imperative if we are to keep the conveyor belt of project planning, construction and completion on track,” Eikenberg said in a statement. “The House Appropriations Committee’s spending bill puts us on a path to get there.”
On May 13, President Donald Trump increased his suggested $63 million federal budget for Florida water projects by about $137 million.
Florida Keys anglers, fishing guides, conservationists and coral reef advocates have contended for years that lack of properly treated fresh water coming from Lake Okeechobee has contributed greatly to degraded water quality in Florida Bay.
A crucial element of a plan to provide more water to Everglades National Park and the bay, and prevent harmful discharges of nutrient-laden water from being dumped into coastal estuaries, is building a massive reservoir south of the big lake.
“During President Trump’s visit to Lake Okeechobee, I talked with him specifically about the importance of fully funding critical infrastructure projects like the southern storage reservoir that will cut down on discharges, prevent harmful algal blooms and restore the southern flow of water,” said U.S. Rep. Brian Mast, R-Palm City.
A 2015 drought caused Florida Bay’s water salinity to spike. That apparently triggered an extensive seagrass die-off that fed a blue-green algal bloom. Waters turned muddy, sponges died and fish critical to the sportfishing economy fled or perished.
“The sooner we can complete key restoration projects, the sooner we can reduce the discharge of polluted water to our coasts and restore the flow of clean freshwater south to Everglades National Park and Florida Bay,” Eikenberg said.
“Much work is still left to be done through the Senate and conference process, but we are optimistic that our policymakers in Washington realize that full and consistent funding is the best way to get the best return on investment,” he said. “We appreciate the work and support of our entire Florida Congressional delegation — particularly representatives Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Lois Frankel, Mario Diaz-Balart, John Rutherford and Charlie Crist, who sit on the Appropriations Committee.”
“Sometimes when you’re advocating for the environment, it seems like no one is paying attention,” Jolin said. “Now we’re optimistic. This is a big step forward.”
U.S. Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, D-Miami, who represents Monroe County, joined with Francis Rooney, R-Naples, Alcee Hastings (D-Delray Beach, and Mast to implore the Appropriations Committee “to fully fund Everglades restoration.” Several other Florida representatives signed a letter to that effect.
Florida state officials have long voiced concern that the federal government has not paid its full share of an agreed-upon Everglades restoration plan that split funding costs.
In the $91.1 billion budget passed by the Florida Legislature on May 4, lawmakers followed Gov. Ron DeSantis’ call for $360 million for Everglades restoration, which includes the new Everglades Agricultural Area reservoir, and $40 million for work to send more fresh water under the Tamiami Trail to Everglades National Park and Florida Bay.
Source: keysnews.com
