Item J2
Revised 2/95
ADD-ON
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY
Meeting Date: 1/19/00
Division: Mayor Freeman
Bulk Item: Yes No
Department: BOCC-3
AGENDA ITEM WORDING:
Resolution of the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County, Florida supporting the Restudy of
the Central and Southern Florida Project with the inclusion of the Florida Keys Water Protection Program
as a project component.
ITEM BACKGROUND:
u.S. Senators Bob Graham and Connie Mack have joined Vice President Gore and other state, federal and
Congressional leaders as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers delivered to Congress its comprehensive
plan-also known as the Restudy-to repair the damaged Florida Everglades and preserve it for future
generations of Americans.
PREVIOUS RELEVANT BOCC ACTION:
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
TOTAL COST:
BUDGETED: Yes No
COST CENTER #
COST TO COUNTY:
REVENUE PRODUCING: Yes
No AMOUNT PER MONTH YEAR
APPROVED BY: County Atty.L. OMB/Purchasing_ Risk Management _
DIVISIONDIRECTORAPPROVAL: c51L.. ' ~
Mayor Shir~
DOCUMENTATION: Included: X
To Follow:_ Not Required:
Agenda Item #:
Id.-
DISPOSITION:
Mayor Shirley Freeman
RESOLUTION NO.
~2000
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MONROE
COUNTY, FLORIDA SUPPORTING THE RESTUDY OF THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN
FLORIDA PROJECT, WITH THE INCLUSION OF THE FLORIDA KEYS WATER QUALITY
PROTECTION PROGRAM AS A PROJECT COMPONENT
WHEREAS, the South Florida Water Management District and the US Army Corps of
Engineers have engaged in the Restudy to review, the SO-year old water management system in
Central and South Florido; and
WHEREAS, the current water management system is outdated and has contributed to the
degradation of natural ecosystems, including the Everglades, Florida Boy, the Florida Keys coral
reef tract, Lake Okeechobee, Kissimmee River. Cclooschatchee River, St. Lucie River,
Loxahatchee River, Indian River Lagoon, end Lake Wroth Lagoon; and
WHEREAS, implementation of the Restudy is important in order to prevent the continued
degradation of wetlands, Ickes, rivers, oceans, boys and estuaries, end ensure economic
prosperitf in South Florida; and
WHEREAS, the preliminary Initial Draft Plan for the Re~tudy provides benefits of
environmental restorotion, increasing regional woter supplies, improving water quality,
maintaining flood protection, and ensuring a high quality of life; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MONROE COUNTY.
FLORIDA supports the Restudy of the Central and Southern Florida Project, with the inclusion of
the Florida Keys Water Quality Protection Program es 0 project component, ond requests that all
governing bodies in the project aree adopt a position of support for the conceptual Restudy
Pion.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County. Florida,
at a regular meeting of said Board held on the __ day of January, 2000.
Mayor Shirley Freemen
Commissioner Wilhelmina Harvey
Commissioner George Neugent
Commissioner Mary Kay Reich
Commissioner Nora Williems
(SE.AL)
Attest: DANNY L.KOlHAGE, Clerk
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
OF MONROE COUNTY. FLORIDA
By
Deputy Clerk
By
Mayor/ChQirperson
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FOR .Il\oDmnr" TE RELEASE
July I, 1999
Contact;
Chris Hand (Graham)
(202) 224-7999
Nancy Segerdahl (M"eJc)
(202) 224-7359
Graham, Mack, Gore Announce
Historic Everglades Restoration Plan
u.s. Army Corps of Englneers Unveils Blueprillt for Presen1ng U.dque
Ecusvstem
.
W ASlDNGTON - tlfty-two years after environmental advocate ond author MarjOI)' Stoneman Douglas
placed the 'River of Grass' m the 1186"""1"""00;""...... U.S. S........'" Bob Oraham and C_ie Maclc
today joined Vice Prcsideut 00Ie and other -. foderoJ. ond Congressional leadecs as the U.S. Anny
COl1lS ofEo~n-. doH.end to C_. no cumprel!en'ive plan - also known as the Restudy -to ropair
the damaged Florida Everglades and preserve it for future generations of Americans.
"The Everglades is tho crown j.....1 m our national collection of onvUonmontaJ ............ ' Hid On.luun,
who was t"lorida's Governor from 1979 to 1986. "When We started the Save Our Everglades proaram in
1983. the hope of restorilli the natural ht".alth of this P~iOU3 ccosy5tcU! WItS a dIstant dream. After
sixtteo yom of bipartisan progreo., we now stand on the brink of seeing thet cIroam become reality. .
"In Florida We know a healthy environrnent is key to a strong economy and a iood qualiry of life," said
Mack. MToWlY we are takina a critical step toward leaving a strong environmental legacy to our children
and grand:hildren. l am pleased the State of Florida and thfl Administration shere OUr C;OJllwitment to
Everglades protection and restoration. The Everglades is truly a national treasure, and together we can
ensure it remains protected for generations to Come."
Graham and MSlt'Jc have Ions been an cffe~tivt Lealn in the effort to lmprove environmental conditions in
the Everglades. In addition to guiding key members of Congress _ such as Senate Envimnment and
Public Work~ Chairman John Chatee and Senate Interior Appropriations Chairman Slade Gorton _ on
first-time trips to the River of Grass, the Senator5 have guided tnany significant EYcrgladc$ fuiliatives
throUgh Congress is their more than ten years of joint service. For example, Graham and Mack joined
forus In 1995 to earmark $62lUi11ion ;n Alliguo,- Alley "'II. fM IlvccglWc' IOsronltlon projects. A year
Jator. they included $200 million for Everglaclos laDd acquisition In tho 1996 fann bill. And they have
worked closely togethfI:T to ensure suffioient E~~rgladCls funding in the annual appropriations process.
rf approved by Congross, the implc:lDc::Dtation oftlle Kestudy is expected to cost approximately 7.8 billion
over the next twenty years, an amount that will be evenly divided between the federal govemmftlt and
state ofFIOJ'iWi. In April, Graham. Mack. and U.S. Senator Hany Reid CD-NV) introduced legislation-
the National Park Pres.1Wllion Act - that would direct $1 SO miHion/}'ear' to fund most of Uu; federal
government's annual share. That legislation has won the support of the National Parks and Conservation
Association, National Auduhn" Society. tho Notional Wildlife Fod<Jation, and other conservation groups.
-JO-
JHr~ 13 ' 130 liJ: 35 FR sa~ATOR BOB GRRHRf',
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RESTORING THE EVERGLADES:
A SUCCESS IN THE MAKING
The Comprehensive Plan for rebuilding fl'eskwo/er supplies ii, SOlllh Florida is the
centerpiece of the Clinton-Gore Administration 's strategy for restoring the Everglades.
Since ]996, wke" Vice President Gore announced thi$ long-tenn !!.tralegy, the Administratiolt
has worked in close partnerS/tip with slate of Florida, tribal and local governments, the private
sector, and the conservation community to acquire and protect critical lands, accelerate
scientific research, and strengthen water quality protections. Over the past four years, the
Administration has secured nearly $900 mil/ion for these Everglades resto,.ation, The
President's budget for fiscal year 2000 proposes 5311 million _ a 35 percent increase _ 10
accelerate this landmal'k effort.
Everglades restoratioll projects completed or underway include:
· Acquiring Critical Lands - Since 1996,374,080 acres have been acquired for $481
mi1lion in federal and state funds. Nearly 70,000 aCres have been added to Everglades
National Park, with another 40,000 acres slated for acquisition over the next two
years. Other newly protected lands provide critical buffer bet~..een the Park and
rapidly developing urban areas to the east. These lands also will help build the
region's water supply by controlling the loss of wat:r through unnatural seepage.
Portions Oflhe 50.000~acre Talisman Plantation north of the Park, acquired last year,
were recently exchanged for other agriCUltural lands. allowing acquisition of more
than 60.000 acres in all. These lands wJl1 be used primarily for water storage and
cleanup. Other lands have been acquired to protect and restore wildlife habitat for the
Florida panther and other endangered species. The Comprehensive Plan announced
today proposes acquisition of an additional 220,000 acres at a projected cost of $2.2
billion.
· I,:,creasing Fresh Water FloHls to Everglades Park - Two projects now underway
will increase water flows to Everglades Park through Shark River and Taylor Slough,
two historically important water channels for the Everglades. Upon completion in
four to five years, these projects also will allow bett.:r control Over the timing and
distribution of water deliveries to more closely match natural cycles that have been
disturbed.
· Improving Water Quality - Work is underway to Convert 40,000 acres south of Lake
Okecchobee into wetlands that will naturally filter runoff from agricultural lands
before it enters the Everglades. Improved agricultural practic~s have sigrJficantly
reduced discharges of phosphorous, which promotes the growth of nonnative plant
species. Stricter federal water quality standards were recently adopted for the
Miccosukee tribal lands, and other standards under development will lead to further
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reductions in. phosphorous and othe: POllutants throughout the Everglades. The
Florida Keys Water Quality Protection Program, approved in 1996, provides
comprehensive monitoring of the most extensive coral reef" in North America.
· Resto,.;ng the Kisdmmee River - In June, construction began on a major project to
retUrn significant portions of the Kissimmee River, at the north end of the Everglades
ecosystem, to its natural course. In the 1960's, to control flooding, the meandering
I 06-miJe river was diverted into a 56-mile canal, destroying wetlands and severely
impacting fish and wildlife. Federal and state agencies now have acquired more than
90 percent of the 94,265 acres needed to restore the river, and in June crews began
filling a nine-mile stretch of the canal. Additional work over the next decade will
restore more than 40 square miles of river and floodplain that are home to about 320
fish and wildlife species.
· Protecting Endangered Species - In May, Vice Presiden.t Gore announced
completion of the South Florida Multi-Species Recovery Plan, a comprehensive
blueprint for restoring native plants and animals throughout the 26,OOO-square-mile
South Florida Ecosystem. The plan, the largest of its kind, aims to remove mOre than
a dozen species from the endangered species list within 20 years. It will serve as a
road map to guide federal. state, tribal, and local restoration efforts. Sixty-eight South
Florida species listed by the federal government as threatened or endangered include
the Florida panther, the American crocodile, the West Indian manatee, and five
species of sea turtles.
.
· Eltsurillg the Best Possible Science - Over the past three years, the Administration
has secured more than S J 10 million, a substantial increase, to accelerate research
critical to Everglades restoration. More than 100 scientists contributed to the
Comprehensive Plan announced today. To ensure that the best possible science
continues to guide the Everglades restoration. an independent Science Review Panel
will peer review implementation of the Comprehensive Plan and future restoration
research. Members of the independent panel will be named shortly by the National
Academy of Science's National Research Council.
· S"engthening Parlne,.ships -In 1993, the Administration c.reated an interagency
task force to coordinate federal efforts to restore the Everglades. In 1996, at the
Administration's urging, Congress fonnaIly reestablished this body as the South
Florida Ecosystem Restoration Task Force and expanded its membership to include
state, tribal, and local representatives. The Task Force, which accepted the Governor's
Commission for a Sustainable South Florida as a permanent advisory committee,
coordinates all aspects of Everglades restoration.
.
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Key Pointl
The Problem
· .c,,-ergladc$ S12e reduce by 50%
· F!ews to existing Ever.'tIades reduced by 70%
· Water quality deteriorated
· Habitat reduc~cf or damaged
· 68 endangered species
The Plan
· CaptuJe most Of 1.7 billion gallons of \'..arer per day lost to the ocean and gulf and store for hucr lIse
· Return the nght quantity and Quality of water at th~ right time and to the nght plal,;tl;;
· Hascd on science
· Developed by a collaborativf! ~fT.on: multi-agency/multl-di:'l:ipline
· Flexible and can accommodate new science
The Costs
· $7.8 billion to COll~llUC~; SI82 million each year to op~rate. maintam and monitor
· Cost shared
· Investment In the nation's future
Beneftts
· ~O% of the "new" \V;I~p.r will be sent to the (.."Cosystem
· 94% of pre-drainage flows returned to Everglades National Park
· Ecologica! restoration ~UPpOI L.s tuurism, fishing. and sustainable south J.")onda
· Enhance water suppl)'o to provide for sustainable south Florida
· Milil1l,ains and sometimes Improves flood control benefits
Implementation
· Based on pnnciple of achievini environmemal restoration w SOOn as pv:.~ibll,:
· By 2010, more than 50% of hydrologic restoration achIeved
· Sound SCh~nce: ann pp.er r""ie'lv IlltCJgrcl pfU't of imy!l.;wcnmnon
· Adaptiv~ assessment allows the plan to be contmualiy monItored and chang.;s mad~ to prOJcct~ S) [!lal
",aXlmum benefit.::l OWl be derived.
July 1099