Members of the Florida delegation applauded the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for supporting Florida’s priorities in their Fiscal Year 2021 work plan.
The work plan includes funding for water resource and navigation projects that are of importance to communities throughout the state, and also builds upon the recent, unprecedented progress towards the restoration of Florida’s Everglades through projects like the Central Everglades Planning Project (CEPP).
Earlier this week, Florida’s two U.S. senators—Republicans Marco Rubio and Rick Scott sent a letter to R.D. James, the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, outlining their priorities for the work plan.
“This work plan provides critical funding for Everglades restoration, as well as vital maintenance and construction funding that will allow our ports to continue to meet the demands of Florida’s growing population,” Rubio said. “I am thankful for the Army Corps’ inclusion of many of the funding priorities that Senator Scott and I requested, and I look forward to seeing the benefits come to fruition.”
“I’m glad to see the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers prioritize many Florida projects in their upcoming work plan, including funding for Everglades restoration projects,” Scott said. “These important projects will build on our efforts to protect our environment and ensure future generations can enjoy all our state has to offer.”
Below is a list of funding for projects supported by Rubio and Scott:
Construction:
- $250 million for the South Florida Everglades Restoration (SFER) program, including –
- $150.25 million for CERP Indian River Lagoon South, including full funding for the completion of C-23 and C-24 stormwater treatment areas
- $68.66 million for Central Everglades Planning Project, including construction of canals and design of the EAA reservoir
- $12.125 million for CERP Adaptive Assessment and Monitoring
- $7.115 million for Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands
- $4.549 million for Picayune Strand
- $3 million for Kissimmee River Restoration
- $2.1 million for C-111 South Dade
- $1.5 million for RECOVER
- $1.2 million to initiate design of CERP Broward County Water Preserve Area
- $1 million for oversight of local project sponsor construction of Caloosahatchee Reservoir
- $35.457 million to complete the Jacksonville Harbor Deepening, FL and fiscally close out project
- $5.125 million to reimburse the municipalities of Key Largo, Islamorada, and Marathon for water quality improvement projects.
Investigations:
- North Ponte Vedra, St. Johns County, FL – New start for feasibility study.
Operations and Maintenance:
- $17.667 million for Central & Southern Florida Flood Control Project
- $13.234 million for Tampa Harbor dredging
- $10.052 million for SFER, including –
- $1.927 million for Picayune Strand
- $1.779 million for Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands
- $1.75 million for Everglades Restoration Transition Plan Biological Opinion
- $1.014 million for modified water deliveries to Everglades National Park
- $950,000 for Programmatic costs
- $799,000 for C-111 South Dade
- $750,000 for Seminole Big Cypress
- $564,000 for Indian River Lagoon South
- $367,000 for Melaleuca eradication
- $110,000 for CERP Site 1
- $22,000 for Broward County Water Preserve Area
- $10.38 million for dredging Canaveral Harbor
- $9.779 million for Jim Woodruff Lock and Dam, Lake Seminole, FL, AL & GA for assessments and water line replacement
- $9.675 million for Harmful Algal Bloom Research under the Aquatic Nuisance Control Research account
- $9.65 million for Jacksonville Harbor dredging
- $7.8 million for Okeechobee Waterway gate repairs in St. Lucie sector
- $6.32 million for Palm Beach Harbor dredging
- $4.69 million for Pensacola Harbor dredging
- $3.8 million for Panama City Harbor dredging
- $3.432 million for removal of aquatic growth
- $2.6 million for Miami Harbor
- $1.043 million for hydrographic and topographic surveys of federally authorized navigation channels to identify dangerous shoaling
- $940,000 for inspection of federally authorized levees
- $594,000 for Port Everglades Harbor
- $280,000 for Intracoastal Waterway from Jacksonville to Miami
- $200,000 for Key West Harbor for environmental survey
- $110,000 for Intracoastal Waterway from Caloosahatchee River to Anclote River
- $100,000 for Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway from Norfolk, VA to the St. Johns River, FL
- $100,000 for scheduling reservoir operations
- $75,000 for Manatee Harbor
- $38,000 for Fernandina Harbor
- $36,000 for Ponce De Leon Inlet
U.S. Rep. Michael Waltz, R-Fla., weighed in on Tuesday, noting he helped secure $250.5 million from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in then President Donald Trump‘s Work Plan to help restoration efforts along the St. Johns County shore and the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan which includes Indian River Lagoon- South.
“Following the severe coastal erosion and flooding from Hurricanes Matthew and Irma, we have worked tirelessly to secure commitments from the federal government to help restore our beaches,” Waltz said. “The New Start designation is a major commitment from the federal government to help restore and protect our coastal communities.” “Fully funding Everglades restoration will improve water quality and ecosystems across the state, and as we know, the environment drives Florida’s economy.”
Author
