Caloosahatchee River and Estuary: SFWMD Vs. News-Press
Caloosahatchee River and Estuary: SFWMD Vs. News-Press Tension Escalates.
“With an astonishing evasion of the facts, the Fort Myers News-Press published an article incorrectly claiming the C-43 Reservoir will not work for the Caloosahatchee River and Estuary because of algae blooms.”
Things are getting a bit tense between SFWMD and the News-Press, and the press in general.
The South Florida Water Management District issued the following news release this afternoon.
“With an astonishing evasion of the facts, the Fort Myers News-Press published an article incorrectly claiming the C-43 Reservoir will not work for the Caloosahatchee River and Estuary because of algae blooms.
The C-43 Reservoir, under construction by South Florida Water Management District, will absolutely benefit the ecology of the river and estuary by storing and delivering water at the right times. The project went through years of design, review and permitting by an array of scientists, engineers and experts – and even the U.S. Congress. The project has widespread support and is the top environmental priority of residents on the Southwest Coast.
Here are the facts:
SFWMD staff includes about 300 scientists, with nearly 75 PhDs, whose mission is to implement the most viable solutions to restoring and protecting South Florida’s ecosystems, including the Everglades.
Projects designed by these experts undergo rigorous testing. The C-43 Reservoir included test cells at the Hendry County site to evaluate seepage, water movement and water quality, and the results were incorporated into the final design.
Like all projects in the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan approved by Congress, operational and design changes can be made the C-43 Reservoir to counter potential issues and ensure its benefits are realized.
C-43 alone will resolve more than 70 percent of the instances where the river does not meet the minimum flows and levels necessary for a healthy ecology.
The project is just one component of the overall solution to restore the river, which includes water quality improvement, storage and operational changes to the water management system.”
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The South Florida Water Management District is a regional governmental agency that manages the water resources in the southern part of the state. It is the oldest and largest of the state’s five water management districts. Our mission is to protect South Florida’s water resources by balancing and improving flood control, water supply, water quality and natural systems.
