The photo was taken yesterday at the ceremony to commence elevation of one mile of Tamiami Trail: the first construction project for the Everglades that is only for the Everglades and not for cities or agriculture. Unsurprisingly, among the audience of hundreds there were only a few lobbyists from the Growth Machine. County commissioner Katy Sorenson was the only local elected official in attendance. Bruno Barreiro: a no-show.
The divergence of opinion on the worthiness of this project splits into two camps: on the one side, scientists, environmentalists and policy makers who believe that the one mile length is a good start but ultimately inadequate for the purpose of providing enough water to rehydrate the eastern Everglades to Florida Bay, and, on the other side the Miccosuckee Tribe-- represented by former US Attorney Dexter Lehtinen-- concerned both about flooding of historic lands and as importantly, that the elevated Trail will only speed the introduction of more polluted water into the lower end of the Everglades.
The Tribe has argued in federal court that government agencies should start and finish the massive reservoir project upstream, on US Route 27, first; and only when it is proven to provide clean water, then open up internal structures to additional water flow. This sequence, they argue, has already cost hundreds of millions of dollars and an enormous commitment of time and energy. But the introduction of a new plan to acquire large portions of lands owned by US Sugar-- an initiative of Gov. Charlie Crist-- fundamentally altered the opportunities to rework the water supply and cleansing of downstream waters.
The Tribe, environmentalists and agencies agree on one thing: the Everglades are on life support. I believe yesterday's event was indeed historic. There is more to be gained by lifting Tamiami Trail to support water flow while, at the same time, insisting that polluters upstream meet tough pollution standards. Doing both at once, and more-- enforcing tough pollution standards--will move Everglades restoration forward. As usual, the biggest question in the Everglades is political will. Seeing this sea change through will require confronting polluting cities and agricultural interests and rock miners. These wealthy and powerful elites have never gone quietly into that good night. At events like yesterday's, words are freely shared. Like, "the Everglades is a test. If we pass, we may get to keep the planet." We've heard the warning long enough. The danger: by the time we understand what it means and act according to the urgency, it could be too late to count.
3 comments:
I was at the event too. I'm surprised you didn't mention that this project was important enough to get the Secretary of the Interior to visit. He and the Undersecretary of Parks and Wildlife made encouraging statements about how important funding and construction of Everglades restoration weas to the Obama Administration.
Heck, even gruff old "Rock" Salt, formerly of the Army Corps, and now at Interior, got all weepy at the idea that things were actually starting to happen.
As to the local elected officials: are you really surprised that Sorenson was the only one there? You mentioned Bariero as being a no-show, but at least he RSVPd so his name was mentioned. This area is way into Pepe Diaz' district isn't it? And isn't he on some task force or something as the local representative on everglades issues? Yes, that's the same guy who calls environmentalists liars and votes against their position on just about everything, but still, you think he'd show up for what is essentially a road building project. Too many environmentalists in one place maybe?
Love those big gatherings everytime a shovel of dirt is turned in south FL. All they're doing is building a bridge. Think of all those lovely tax dollars at work to arrange just this simple gathering. I challenge someone to reveal how much money the Corps has spent on the Corps since Everglades restoration "started". Wonder how many positions in Jax and south FL have been paid for and sustained for all these years.
If this is a start toward building the 11-mile Skyway project, let's start turning earth. Especially while there may be some federal stimulus money at hand. Am I dreaming?
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