Everglades Conservation Network Update #11, Excerpts 3, 4
Everglades Conservation Network Information: 800-753-5499    



3) 8.5 Square Mile Area Public Hearing in Miami-Dade County- (See
Upcoming Meeting Section)

On June 6, the Miami-Dade County Commission will hold a public
hearing to discuss the less than infamous 8.5 Square Mile Area
(8.5 SMA), and vote on a proposed resolution that was postponed
from May 23. If passed, the resolution would commit $25 million
for land acquisition in the 8.5 Square Mile Area (SMA) if two
alternatives (5 or 6b*) are chosen by the SFWMD, as presented in
a recent Army Corps of Engineers Supplemental Environmental
Impact Statement (SEIS)**. In 1998, hundreds of willing property
sellers were identified in the 8.5 SMA by the South Florida Water
Management District. Now, a small number of land owners want to
hold up Everglades restoration, and not consider the wishes of
those land owners who want to sell.        


* Alternative 5 is the option that would fully acquire all the
land in the 8.5 SMA for Everglades restoration. This is the best
option for protecting the ecological integrity of Everglades
National Park, Florida Bay, and to help stop urban sprawl from
encroaching on the Park boundaries.

* Alternative 6b is an option which would construct a levee
through half of the 8.5 SMA, providing flood protection for half
of the residences, and acquiring the rest for Everglades
restoration.

**Audubon of Florida has finished technical comments on the Army
Corps of Engineers Supplemental impact Statement and are
available by request (contact <mailto:smayorga@audubon.org>
smayorga@audubon.org )

4) Meetings and Public Hearings 

Tuesday, June 6
09:00 AM * Board of County Commissioners Meeting - Public Hearing
SPCC, 111 N.W. 1st Street, Commission Chamber The Commission will
open the meeting up to the public for comment on the 8.5 Square
Mile Area.  (305) 375-2035 for more info