By Kevin Wadlow, keynoter.com
Wednesday, February 03, 2010
Projects needed to restore the Everglades and Florida Bay could be in for a $284 million boost, as outlined in President Obama's proposed federal budget for fiscal year 2011.
"The Obama Administration [on Monday] demonstrated its ongoing commitment to America's Everglades by requesting $284.8 million in its fiscal year 2011 budget for the restoration of South Florida's ecosystem," said Randy Smith, spokesman for the state's South Florida Water Management District. The nonprofit Everglades Foundation agreed.
"Even as the budget is being trimmed, it is encouraging to see Everglades restoration remains a top priority of the Obama administration," said Kirk Fordham, the foundation's chief executive.
The budget includes $180 million for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers work in the South Florida Ecosystem Restoration Program, which includes the Everglades and Florida Bay.
A Corps statement said the money will fund engineering and construction at restoration projects including:
· The C-111 Canal, in western Miami-Dade County, considered a key to providing Florida Bay with more fresh water.
· The massive Picayune Strand restoration near Naples.
· The Site 1 Impoundment, a 1,700-acre water storage facility in northern Broward County to hold fresh water that would otherwise be channeled into the Atlantic Ocean.
· A Tamiami Trail bridge to bring water to Taylor Slough.
· Work toward changing the Kissimmee River back to its more natural flow.
"The projects are part of the massive effort to restore and improve water flows and water quality and ensure a healthy, sustainable environment," the Corps said in a prepared statement. "Restoring the Everglades is the Corps' single largest ecosystem restoration effort."
The U.S. Department of the Interior, which includes the National Park Service, is slated to receive $74 million toward efforts to protect Everglades National Park.
Said Fordham of the Everglades Foundation, "In addition to the critical benefits to our environment and water supply, Everglades restoration projects are now creating jobs in Florida. In this economic climate, initiatives that have both economic and environmental benefits appear to be the winners in this year's budget proposal."
Smith, from the Water Management District, noted, "The proposed investments by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Department of the Interior would build on the significant momentum for Everglades restoration established over the past year."
Sean Morton, acting superintendent of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, alerted sanctuary advisors that the budget "includes a significant increase in funding request for all NOAA line offices."
Precise budget figures for the National Marine Sanctuaries Program were not broken out in the budget, but the National Ocean Service will receive additional money for monitoring threats such as ocean acidification and harmful algae blooms, according to a summary.
