Issues, Florida Chapter

Everglades

The Everglades Committee works to protect the Greater Everglades Ecosystem which includes the following regions: Kissimmee River Valley, Lake Okeechobee, the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA), Water Conservation Areas, Big Cypress Swamp, Immokalee Rise, Everglades National Park, Florida Bay, Biscayne Bay, Florida Keys, Florida Reef Tract. The Florida Everglades are unique in the world and combine the only subtropical ecological communities in the continental United States in a rich mosaic of habitats. Everglades National Park is highly significant internationally and has been designated a World Heritage Site by the United Nations, a Wetlands of International Significance, and an International Biosphere Reserve. It is the largest designated wilderness in the eastern United States and is regarded as the most significant breeding grounds for wading birds in North America. The Everglades is the subject of the largest restoration program in the United States called the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP).

Threats

Threats include: continued urban encroachment into natural areas, reduced commitment to restore water quality, failure to decompartmentalize the system, spread of invasive species, marginalization of CERP restoration projects, inadequate land acquisition, inadequate restoration of habitats, further threats to the 68 federally listed species including the Florida panther.

Opportunities

Opportunities include initiatives to decompartmentalize the system with the Tamiami Trail Skyway campaign, litigation on the proposed Florida City Development and Rock Mining, intervention in the C-111 Spreader canal and Biscayne Coastal Wetlands Projects, initiation of a Florida Panther corridor campaign, monitoring of the Aquifer Storage and Recovery Pilot Project and development of a ASR Contingency Plan. 

Goals

General goals would include achieving real science-based restoration of the natural system rather than marginal improvement resulting from political expediency in CERP Projects and prevent loss of remaining natural areas. Committee actions include: Litigation, administrative actions, education, coalition building, political action. 

Expected Legislation, Rulemaking, and Legal Action

Legislation to include funding for the Tamiami Trail Skyway, litigation on the Florida City Development and Rock Mining, and rulemaking on proposed wilderness in Big Cypress National Preserve. Other legal actions may include the EAA and the UDB issue in Miami-Dade County.

Allies and Opponents

Opponents will include the Corps of Engineers, SFWMD, the Bush Administrations, and some local governments. Allies include the groups of the Everglades Coalition, certain local governments, civic groups, and generally the Department of Interior agencies.

Other Actions Planned for 2006

The Miami Group and the Committee have submitted two AWL CIC proposals that may be funded; one on the south Miami-Dade CERP Projects and the second on a Florida panther corridor. If funding allows we may include a campaign to prevent development of the EAA. Committee members will be engaged in the fight to prevent the westward expansion of the Urban Development Boundary in Miami-Dade County. The Committee also will likely comment on the draft General Management Plans for Everglades National Park and Big Cypress National Preserve, the Recovery Plan for the Florida Panther, and the ASR Contingency Plan.  

Recent Accomplishments

Committee member Kay Gates was instrumental in stopping the Scripps Bio-Research Complex at the environmentally sensitive Mecca Farms site in Palm beach County. Pushing the Corps on the Tamiami Trail Skyway from its original inadequate 3000 ft bridge to one 2-mile bridge and one 1-mile bridge. Funding was increased almost 8 times. Progress has been made on political inroads to funding the full 11 mile Skyway. Another achievement was blocking the Rock mining of sensitive Everglades wetlands with litigation and successful opposition to moving the Urban Development Boundary in Miami-Dade County.

What Members Can Do

Provide timely phone calls, e-mails, and faxes advocating Sierra’s position.