Nelson

Senator Bill Nelson, in Ft Myers to brief BoCC on water bills progress, chats beforehand with PURRE chairman Mike Valiquette. Chairman Valiquette indicated that the main purpose of the PURRE attendance was to stress to Senator Nelson that while the WRDA (Water Resources Development Act) bill is important to the system, it more directly benefits the beleaguered East Coast, and to encourage Sen. Nelson to maintain focus on West Coast water problems as well. During the course of his presentation, Senator Nelson confirmed that he has requested the Army Corps of Engineers to respond with a feasibility study regarding implementation of a storage flow way south of Lake Okeechobee through the Everglades Agriculture Area. When asked by Commissioner Judah if he had received any reply, Senator Nelson answered in the negative. Commissioner Judah pressed further in asking how a United States Senator obtains such a study, Senator Nelson responded forcibly, “by holding up their funding”. Submitted by Paul Reynolds, Sanibel.