Jun 25, 2008

Melbourne, FL -  Governor Charlie Crist yesterday unveiled a plan to bring about one of the largest environmental land acquisitions in the nation’s history and provide the “missing link” needed to protect Florida’s coastal estuaries and better revive, restore, and preserve the Everglades.  The plan involves the $1.7 billion purchase of 187,000 acres of farmland from U.S. Sugar. 

“Congress and the federal government have broken promise after promise to help restore the Everglades.  We just can’t wait on them any longer.  I wholeheartedly support this action,” said Senator Bill Posey (R-Rockledge).  “Buying this land is a huge step forward in the restoration of the Everglades and securing our fresh water supply.  The fact that it is being done with existing funds and without raising taxes makes it a very smart investment in our environment and our future.”

Senator Posey believes that the Everglades is a critical component of Florida’s ecosystem and must be protected at every turn.  The restoration of the Everglades needs to become a higher priority for all Floridians, especially during these times of drought and water shortages.

Benefits of the land purchase include:

• Huge increases in the availability of water storage; significantly reducing the potential of harmful discharges from Lake Okeechobee
• Ability to deliver cleaner water to the Everglades during dry times
• Preventing thousands of tons of phosphorus from entering the Everglades every year
• Forever eliminating the need to “back-pump” water into Lake Okeechobee from the Everglades
• Additional water storage alternatives, relieving pressure on the Herbert Hoover Dike
• Sustainability of agriculture and green energy production.