Everglades Plan Under Review:


The House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Water Resources
and the Environment will discuss a $7.8 billion state and federal plan to
restore the Everglades while ensuring adequate water supplies for the cities
and farms of South Florida.

Known as the Restudy, the multiagency comprehensive review study, along
with the Clinton Administration's plan, seeks to recapture 80% of the 1.7
billion gallons of fresh water currently diverted out to the sea. The plan,
which was proposed last summer, would affect 18,000 square miles from south
of Orlando to Florida bay and the flora, fauna, and more than 5 million
people who live in the area. The plan calls for 181,00 acres of new
reservoirs, 35,600 acres of restored or constructed wetlands and removal of
almost 240 miles of levees and canals.

Everglades National Park covers 1.5 million acres and was created in 1934.
The federal agency has built 1,700 miles of canals and levees and 16 major
pump stations in south Florida, altering the flow of water from the lake to
the bay and causing dramatic declines in native species.

Among those expected to testify at the hearing, to be held at 1:00 p.m. on
March 1, are Joseph Westphal, Assistant Secretary for the Army for Civil
Works; David Struhs, Secretary of the Florida Department of Environment
Protection; a representative of the Miccosukee tribe; and
representatives of
environmental, landowner, and farming groups. The hearing will be held in
2167 Rayburn. House Transportation contacts are Ben Grumbles, majority,  
202-225-4360 and Ken Kopocis, minority, 202-225-0060.


Suzy MacDowell
American Rivers