[dropcap]B[/dropcap]iscayne Bay desperately needs fresh water flow but restoration plans for the Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands (BBCW) have been underfunded and delayed year after year. If Governor Scott and the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) Governing Board Members don’t act NOW, we will lose federal funds for Biscayne Bay restoration.

Write a short email to Governor Scott and the SFWMD to tell them to fast-track all phases of the Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands Project. You can copy and paste the following addresses and message:

kim.mcdougal@eog.myflorida.com, pantonacci@sfwmd.gov, dokeefe@sfwmd.gov, kpowers@sfwmd.gov, saccursio@sfwmd.gov, fbarber@sfwmd.gov, sbatchel@sfwmd.gov,charlow@sfwmd.gov, mhutchcraft@sfwmd.gov, jmoran@sfwmd.gov, mpeterson@sfwmd.gov, tbarnett@sfwmd.gov, livablecutler@gmail.com

To Whom It May Concern,

Biscayne Bay desperately needs fresh water flow but restoration plans for the Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands (BBCW) have been underfunded and delayed year after year. Rising salinity levels in the Bay are jeopardizing our water and fishery. I am writing to you to implore you to fast-track the Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands Project. Phase I needs to be completed in a timely manner and the planning for Phase II needs to be expedited immediately and not delayed until 2021. The SFWMD must ask the Army Corps of Engineers to budget for the needed federal funding to complete the project in a timely manner. Our water and fisheries depend on it!

The Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands project aims to:

• restore wetlands
• improve natural freshwater flows to Biscayne Bay
• reduce salinity in the Bay
• rebuild coastal estuaries
• protect Biscayne National Park
• protect our water supply
• sustain the economic viability of the bay

 

For more details on this issue, you can click these links to read the opinions of State Senator Anitere Flores and former Governing Board Member of the SFWMD Irela Bague.