In a May 13th letter, a coalition of environmental groups including Biscayne Water Keeper and prominent leaders urged both the County and the US EPA to consider a "reasoned, sound science approach to re-building the County's sewage system, to make the massive taxpayer investment 'climate ready' and resilient."
The experts retained by environmental organizations have reviewed the County's proposed settlement with EPA, forced by their lawsuit in federal court, and determined "it will not survive sea level rise and climate impacts such as increased storm surge and erosion." According to FAU's Dr. Leonard Berry and Professor Ricardo Alvarez, "... proper re-build will stop the widespread violations of the Clean Water Act and make the Miami-Dade County sewer system "climate ready" and resilient for the current and next generation of residents, businesses and visitors."
The antiquated and illegal waste water system will be among the first infrastructure malfunctions to jeopardize the south Florida economy, even before higher water levels impede what we take for granted as normal economic activities. That is why decisions today bear so heavily on a future within sight.
The experts retained by environmental organizations have reviewed the County's proposed settlement with EPA, forced by their lawsuit in federal court, and determined "it will not survive sea level rise and climate impacts such as increased storm surge and erosion." According to FAU's Dr. Leonard Berry and Professor Ricardo Alvarez, "... proper re-build will stop the widespread violations of the Clean Water Act and make the Miami-Dade County sewer system "climate ready" and resilient for the current and next generation of residents, businesses and visitors."
The antiquated and illegal waste water system will be among the first infrastructure malfunctions to jeopardize the south Florida economy, even before higher water levels impede what we take for granted as normal economic activities. That is why decisions today bear so heavily on a future within sight.
6 comments:
Big financial decisions, in fact all decisions involving Miami-Dade County and Carlos Gimenez are always made based on politics. Which contributor will get the contract? Which insider will make the money? How much to give Gimenez's driver?
If the Climate Change sea level projections from these experts are to be taken seriously - then Miami Dade County needs to rethink a lot of other decisions - like building the art and science museums on the waterfront, allowing the Tennis Stadium to pave over Crandon Parklands. Miami Beach needs to rethink concreting over the Convention Center site. We are going to need these open, green spaces to absorb rising seas in order to protect the rest of the development. Developers only know immediate profits - but it's rest of the community that will be left holding the bonds and mortgages.
County officials won't do the right thing - they only make decisions based on the next election cycle. Hopefully, the Federal Judge presiding over the lawsuit brought by Biscayne Bay Water Keeper and interested citizens will force their hand.
Could it be we've reached our sustainable limit in South Florida? We cannot absorb more car traffic or sewage.
Paving over waterfront Bicentennial Park and spending $1 BILLION on two broke museums is crazy. Neither broke museum have endowments and neither deadbeat offer sufficient parking. (Watch the employees use all the under building parking spots.) Typical decision based on lobbyist influence. The Feds need to get involved.
The Feds won't get involved. They've taken a look at this fish bowl and said, 'let them eat each other.'
Post a Comment