Will the new Colonel care as much about the water in Southwest Florida as the last two? Time will tell. Thursday night at the Sanibel Harbour Marriott Resort & Spa, over 100 people said goodbye to Colonel James Booth and welcomed in Colonel Brandon Bowman. Decisions Bowman makes will have a huge impact on our water.
It’s Army tradition that Commander’s move on after three years of service. For the last 36 months Colonel James Booth, Commander for the Jacksonville District, and his team of 1,053 Army Corps of Engineer employees, have been receptive to input and suggestions about improving water quality on our coast. A decade ago the relationship between the Corps and West Coast water stakeholders was non-existent.
A big part of that much improved relationship has been the consistent advocacy from SCCF, Captains for Clean Water, the SanCap and Fort Myers Beach Chambers and other organizations. They rally the troops when needed, which is always when your local economy depends on the water.
At the event, SCCF CEO James Evans said that Booth has been able to accomplish a great deal over the last three years and Bowman has very, very large boots to fill.
Captains For Clean Water co-founder Captain Dan Andrews said thanks to Booth and his team the new Lake Okeechobee Operating System will send 37% less water our way. “We need to be here for the Corps., to work with them and to give them feedback.”
Both Evans and Andrews touched on the many Everglades Restoration projects the Corps has either started or completed under Booth’s leadership over the last three years. Bowman told the crowd that he is proud to follow in Colonel Booth’s footsteps. “Florida has a beautiful ecosystem. Continue to communicate with us. We want to hear from you.”
An official ceremony to change command will take place Friday, July 26th in Jacksonville.