August 13, 2007

Dear News Press Editor:

On August 8, 2007, regional environmental groups, including the Caloosahatchee River Citizens Association/Riverwatch, Save Our Creeks, Sierra Club-Calusa Group, and Conservancy of Southwest Floida joined ecological activists, scientists and residents from the East coast in speaking in opposition to the backpumping practices at the governing board meeting of the South Florida Water Management District. For four hours, the audience patiently listened to presentations from economists, scientists, farmers, and environmentalists; all stakeholders in the District and its decisions. When public comments were finally permitted, remarks were limited to one minute per speaker. Despite the time limitations, the consensus of the people was evident. In voices eloquent and passionate, simple and direct, or angry and disgruntled, over thirty individuals expressed their dismay at the possible continuation of polluted water being pumped into the already-compromised waters of Lake Okeechobee.

The outcome of the Board’s decision not to backpump has been applauded by South Florida environmental groups such as Riverwatch. Since 1995, The Caloosahatchee River Citizens Association/Riverwatch has been the voice of the Caloosahatchee; promoting, protecting and preserving Southwest Florida’s most valuable river. In 2005, Riverwatch nominated the Caloosahatchee as one of America’s Most Endangered Rivers and in 2006, the river was ranked seventh in the American River’s MER Report. The purpose of nominating the Caloosahatchee was to change public policies like those implemented by the Army Corps of Engineers and the South Florida Water Management District, to prevent further damage to the estuary and its watershed.

Although a victory was declared on August 9^th, the issue of backpumping is still being debated among the Water Management Board. In a lawsuit involving Friends of the Everglades vs South Florida Water Management District, Judge Altongas ruled that National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits are required for future backpumping in cases of emergency like flooding. The SFWMD Board is in the process of appealing this judgment. CRCA/Riverwatch believes that there are solutions, other than backpumping, that would better serve Lake Okeechobee, the Caloosahatchee and the watershed. A flow way to the south of Lake Okeechobee, mitigation for farmers to store water on their lands to the south, and water storage north of the Lake are possible solutions.

At Wednesday’s meeting, more than one spokesman uttered the phrase, “Board, you need to think outside the box.” Riverwatch, while echoing that refrain, would add, “Let’s think outside the dike!” We urge the Water Management Board to reject old practices that jeopardize the health of our water resources. We don’t want to see further degradation of our river and its watershed, and the decline of our marine life and their habitat. We want to see public policies that will restore the health of our estuaries and the life it sustains, both human and animal, for future generations.

Margaret England, Vice President

Caloosahatchee River Citizens Association – Riverwatch