HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-184RESOLUTION NO. 02-184
A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING
AUTHORIZATION OF COMPREHENSIVE
EVERGLADES RESTORATION PLAN (CERP)
PROJECT FOR PROJECTS FOR 2002
WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners of St. Lucie County, Florida has made the
following determinations:
1. The Everglades ecosystem, spanning from the Kissimmee River Valley to Florida Bay, is
a significant national resource and international treasure.
2. On December 11, 2000, Congress approved the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration
Plan (CERP), and Everglades restoration must move forward expeditiously.
3. Everglades restoration requires that Congress approve each restoration project and three
projects are scheduled for approval during the 2002 session of Congress.
4. These projects, in particular, are immediately necessary because of development pressure,
escalating costs of delay, and impending estuarine ecological collapse.
5. These projects promise to provide large-scale restoration early in the CERP process, thus
demonstrating the worth of the investment the federal, state and local taxpayers are making in this
historic restoration effort.
6. These projects repair previous damage caused by federal and state water control projects.
7. These projects contain more than half of the total land area in the restoration plan, and will
provide impressive ecological benefits well before 2010, including:
- 265 square miles (170,000 acres) of restored and protected wetlands and uplands.
- restored habitat for more than 2,200 species, at least 35 of which are threatened or
endangered (including, manatee, snail kite, wood stork, red-cockaded woodpecker,
scrub jay, crested caracara, whooping crane, bald eagle, indigo snake, eastern
loggerhead turtle, Atlantic green turtle, leatherback turtle, Atlantic hawksbill, and
Atlantic Ridley turtle).
tens of millions of dollars in associated economic and quality of life benefits
annually.
improved water quality for the Everglades, Florida Bay, 10,000 Islands, St. Lucie
Estuary, and Lake Okeechobee.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of County Commissioners of St.
Lucie County, Florida:
1. St. Lucie County continues to support implementation of the comprehensive Everglades
Restoration Plan (CERP) through the authorization of the three projects listed above, the Indian
River Lagoon Feasibility Study, the Southern Golden Gates Estates project and the Water Preserve
Areas Feasibility Study, in a Water Resources Development Act of 2002 or another legislative
vehicle consistent with the assurances provisions of WRDA 2000.
2. St. Lucie County calls on Congress and the Florida Delegation to endeavor to pass
legislation approving the Indian River Lagoon Feasibility Study, the Southern Golden Gates Estates
project and the Water Preserve Areas Feasibility Study.
3. The County Administrator is hereby directed to forward copies of this resolution to
members of Congress and the Florida Delegation.
After motion and second the vote on this resolution was as follows:
Chairman Doug Coward
Vice-Chairman Cliff Barnes
Commissioner Paula A. Lewis
Commissioner Frannie Hutchinson
Commissioner John D. Bruhn
AYE
AYE
AYE
AYE
AYE
PASSED AND DULY ADOPTED this 16th day of July, 2002.
ATTEST:
DEPUTY CLERK
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
ST. LUCIE COUNTY, FLORIDA
BY:
APPROVED AS TO LEGAL FORM AND
CORRECTNESS:
3.~---. COUNTY ATTORNEY