Friends of the Everglades has launched a new campaign called “Rescue the River of Grass.” The goal is to secure the public acquisition of land in the Everglades Agricultural Area. This campaign aims to “address Florida’s pressing water storage and treatment needs, restore the natural flow of clean water to the Everglades and Florida Bay, and prevent harmful discharges that devastate the northern estuaries.”
Executive Director of Friends of the Everglades Executive Director Eve Samples says the Everglades is at a tipping point. “With the support of citizens who approved Amendment 1 and have shown consistent support for Everglades restoration funding, we have the opportunity to acquire the land needed to restore clean water flows, protect public health, and safeguard Florida’s water-dependent economy. This is a commonsense solution that cannot wait.”
The “Rescue the River of Grass” campaign has a goal of acquiring at least 100,000 acres in the EAA “to store and clean water, thereby curtailing discharges and restoring clean water flows into Everglades National Park.”
The organization says it has identified “a clear mechanism for funding this land acquisition: Amendment 1 funds will generate $1.3 billion-$1.6 billion annually for land acquisition in Florida through 2034.” The Florida Water and Land Conservation Amendment, widely known as Amendment 1, was a constitutional amendment passed by Florida voters in 2014. Its goal was to provide adequate funding for 20 years solely to acquire and conserve land. Funding would come from documentary stamp tax which is estimated to generate more than $1 billion annually until 2035
Goals of the campaign include:
- Preventing Lake Okeechobee Discharges: Stopping the flow of polluted water into the northern estuaries that triggers harmful algal blooms.
- Restoring Clean Water Flow: Ensuring adequate, clean water reaches Everglades National Park and Florida Bay.
- Protecting Public Health: Reducing exposure to harmful algal toxins that cause respiratory issues, neurological diseases, and other health risks.
- Safeguarding Florida’s Economy: Supporting water-dependent industries such as tourism and real estate while reducing billions in economic losses from algae blooms and red tide.
To learn more about the campaign, visit everglades.org/rescue.
What a great initiative. Looking at the map, the “Everglades Agricultural Area”, located just south of Lake O, acts as a blockade for water that should be flowing through the Everglades Water Conservation Areas and Big Cypress National Preserve, into Everglades National Park and on to the Gulf. Sure, Big Sugar will cry “Alligator” tears while they cash their big windfall checks, but our quality of life wins!!