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TALLAHASSEE – “This legislation is another milestone
in Florida’s unprecedented efforts to protect America’s
Everglades.
I am grateful to Governor Crist and the Florida
Legislature for their leadership and vision in
recognizing the importance of restoring the northern
Everglades. I am also thankful for their commitment to
work hand in hand with those communities whose economy
and quality of life is most affected by the health of
Lake Okeechobee as well as the Caloosahatchee and St.
Lucie rivers and estuaries.
Developing a comprehensive plan and schedule for
increasing water storage, enhancing treatment and
improving best farming practices north of the lake will
ultimately serve to enhance and improve the entire South
Florida ecosystem.”
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BACKGROUND
Senate Bill 392 expands the Lake Okeechobee
Protection Act to include protection and restoration of
the Lake Okeechobee watershed and the Caloosahatchee and
St. Lucie rivers and estuaries.
To achieve water quality standards and improve the
quality, quantity, timing and distribution of water in
the northern Everglades system, the bill requires the
South Florida Water Management District, in cooperation
with the Departments of Environmental Protection and
Agriculture and affected local governments, to develop
protection plans for the St Lucie and Caloosahatchee
river watersheds.
The plans will identify the size, location, available
lands, construction schedule and cost for facilities
needed to improve the quality and distribution of water
within each watershed. The legislation also requires
improved best farming practices, more stringent
regulations for the application of wastewater residuals
in the watershed and an accelerated timeline for
implementing a Total Maximum Daily Load for the
Caloosahatchee. In addition, the legislation extends the
Save Our Everglades Trust Fund for 10 years through 2020
and expands its purpose to include protection and
restoration of the Lake Okeechobee watershed and coastal
estuaries. | 
