February 10, 2011 -- The Rivers Coalition yesterday widely released a Resolution In Support Of The Caloosahatchee Estuary, with PURRE's support. The South Florida Water Management District Governing Board Chairman Eric Buermann and Army Corps of Engineers' Jacksonville District Commander Pantano received copies, as well as many coalitions such as PURRE that are working for health of the river and its estuary. The Resolution reads:
WHEREAS the Caloosahatchee estuary suffers ecologically during the dry season if no fresh water is discharged from Lake Okeechobee, and
WHEREAS the South Florida Water Management District continues to refuse to recommend to the Corps of Engineers that a "base flow" be allocated to the Caloosahatchee despite impassioned pleas for a minimal "base flow" by Lee County Commissioner Ray Judah, SCCF, Riverwatch, PURRE and others, and
WHEREAS the lack of such "base flow" is causing algae blooms, tape grass mortality and contamination of the water treatment plant at Olga by heavy salinity, and
WHEREAS the minimal "base flow" requested would have minimal effect on the water supply for agriculture in the Everglades Agricultural Area and for water utilities, upon which no water use restrictions have been imposed, and
WHEREAS the environment deserves consideration as much as the water supply for those competing uses,
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Rivers Coalition urges the SFWMD Governing Board to recommend allocation of a minimum "base flow" to the Caloosahatchee to the Corps of Engineers.
