Effective use of land for water storage can benefit South Florida agriculture, business, environment and tourism. Effective use of land for water storage can benefit South Florida agriculture, business, environment and tourism.

Feds approve key Everglades restoration project


The Sun-Sentinel
2009-11-04

November 4, 2009

Long-stalled Everglades restoration took a welcome step forward as the Army Corps of Engineers today announced the approval of a construction contract to turn a failed development back to its natural state.

The $53 million Picayune Strand project in Collier County becomes the first federally funded construction project in the state and federal Everglades restoration plan that has struggled to make progress since 2000.

Everglades restoration is a multibillion-dollar effort to build reservoirs and treatment areas to recreate the water flows that once naturally replenished the River of Grass.

Picayune Strand includes 55,000 acres between Alligator Alley and Tamiami Trail in southwest Florida, surrounded by preserves and Everglades National Park.

The federal work, to begin next month, involves plugging 13.5 miles of drainage canals, removing 95 miles of roads and building a pump station to redirect water, according to the corps.

The corps announced today that it awarded the work, expected to take two years, to Harry Pepper and Associates of Jacksonville.

About $40 million of the price tag will be covered by federal economic stimulus money, which helped speed up the construction timetable.

"The reclamation of Picayune Strand will be a case study in realizing the positive economic and environmental benefits of restoration," Kirk Fordham, CEO of the Everglades Foundation, said in a statement released Wednesday.

While waiting for federal help, the South Florida Water Management District in recenty years has already been at work on Picayune Strand, clearing out exotic plants, plugging northern sections of the Prairie Canal and removing roadways.

Giving an additional boost to Everglades restoration, the district last month approved a $44 million contract for the C-111 project to start repairing environmental damage caused by a 15-mile-long canal in southern Miami-Dade County.

In addition, the district is pursuing a $536 million land deal with U.S. Sugar Corp. to buy 73,000 acres, much of it in Palm Beach County, to use to build reservoirs and treatment areas.

Andy Reid can be reached at abreid@SunSentinel.com or 561-228-5504.

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Statement of Support

River of Grass Coalition
River of Grass Coalition Initiative
Statement of Support
Secure Land Now for Florida’s Economy and Water Supply!

As individual citizens, businesses, community leaders, civic organizations, municipalities and trade and professional organizations, we support the River of Grass Coalition Initiative to acquire the land needed to secure clean and abundant fresh water for human and environmental needs.  

The flow of abundant clean water through the Everglades is the key to South Florida's tourist, boating, fishing and agricultural industries. Hundreds of thousands of good-paying Florida jobs depend on these industries.  Florida must act to secure the land now, while it is available from a willing seller.

We support the public purchase of U.S. Sugar Corp. land to convey, store and treat water for the Everglades.  The absence of land to move, store and treat water has limited previous Everglades restoration efforts and water supply planning.   The flow of abundant clean water through the Everglades is the key to South Florida's economy.

Over the last 20, years, we taxpayers have committed billions of dollars to Everglades restoration projects.  Our investment will now be secured by Governor Crist’s initiative.  Public purchase of the land currently owned by U.S. Sugar Corp. is the best and most cost-effective option available to ensure Florida's water and economic security.  

River of Grass Coalition
River of Grass Coalition Initiative
Statement of Support
Secure Land Now for Florida’s Economy and Water Supply!

As individual citizens, businesses, community leaders, civic organizations, municipalities and trade and professional organizations, we support the River of Grass Coalition Initiative to acquire the land needed to secure clean and abundant fresh water for human and environmental needs.  

The flow of abundant clean water through the Everglades is the key to South Florida's tourist, boating, fishing and agricultural industries. Hundreds of thousands of good-paying Florida jobs depend on these industries.  Florida must act to secure the land now, while it is available from a willing seller.

We support the public purchase of U.S. Sugar Corp. land to convey, store and treat water for the Everglades.  The absence of land to move, store and treat water has limited previous Everglades restoration efforts and water supply planning.   The flow of abundant clean water through the Everglades is the key to South Florida's economy.

Over the last 20, years, we taxpayers have committed billions of dollars to Everglades restoration projects.  Our investment will now be secured by Governor Crist’s initiative.  Public purchase of the land currently owned by U.S. Sugar Corp. is the best and most cost-effective option available to ensure Florida's water and economic security.  

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Spread the word. Tell everyone you know about the efforts of the River of Grass Coalition and encourage them to submit a statement of support. It’s easy and effective.

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