FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  April 7, 2004
CONTACT: Deena Wells, (850) 245-2112

Florida Puts Seal on Plan to Restore Indian River Lagoon

-- Everglades Project moves ahead--

AMERICA’S EVERGLADES – Department of Environmental Secretary Colleen M. Castille today signed off on a joint plan by the State and federal government to protect the Indian River Lagoon. When complete, the project will restore more than 53,000 acres of wetlands, reduce pollution and provide water storage to return a natural flow of fresh water to the St. Lucie and Indian River estuaries.

“Approval of this plan to protect the Indian River Lagoon is the next step in the restoration of America’s Everglades,” said Governor Jeb Bush. “This is further evidence of Florida’s continued commitment to restore the River of Grass on time and under budget.”

Once complete, the $1 billion restoration project will return historic flows of cleaner water across 90,000 acres of natural land spanning Martin, St. Lucie and Okeechobee counties. The plan includes construction and operation of 12,000 acres of inland reservoirs and 9,000 acres of pollution-filtering treatment marsh. To restore habitat within the estuaries, the plan also recommends removing more than 5 million cubic yards of muck from the waterways.

Together with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, South Florida water managers plan to build miles of pumps, levees and canals to capture and redirect water. The reservoirs and treatment marshes, which will provide 170,000 acre-feet of water storage, offer an alternative to discharging excess water into the St. Lucie River that can harm habitat and degrade water quality.

"The South Florida Water Management District has completed a thorough scientific evaluation and delivered a comprehensive restoration plan,” said Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Colleen M. Castille. “Delivering water at the right time to the right places will restore habitat, improve water quality in the St. Lucie River and provide flood protection to residents across three counties.”

The Indian River Lagoon is recognized as an estuary of national significance and is a Florida Aquatic Preserve and an Outstanding Florida Water. Part of the $8 billion, 30-year plan to save America’s Everglades, the project now requires federal approval by the U.S. Congress.

"The Indian River Lagoon South Restoration Project is moving forward because of a dedicated partnership between federal, state and county governments," said South Florida Water Management District Executive Director Henry Dean, "and because of the invaluable contributions from the local community."

Florida’s share of Everglades restoration is ahead of schedule and under budget. Since 2000, Governor Bush has committed more than $2.5 billion through the end of the decade to clean up and restore the famed River of Grass.

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