September 1996

Everglades Cleanup Measures Move Ahead

Parties in the debate over South Florida's water supply have agreed on a vast, multi-year plan for restoring the endangered Everglades that will cost billions of dollars. After months of debate, business executives, agricultural interests, government officials and environmentalists completed their recommendations to restore the water flow through the Everglades.

The plan provides a blueprint for several agencies to balance the needs for the water supply, the environment and flood control. Earlier efforts to restore the ailing marshlands that dominate South Florida have been piecemeal and tied up in legal battles. The new plan now goes to the Governor, who will review it after consultation with water management officials. The plans implementation will eventually be Governor, Legislature and Congress to implement.

The expected cost of the project ranges from $2 billion to $5 billion, depending on future recommendations. It does not address hot political fights like the penny-per-pound sugar assessment on this year's election ballot to help return sugar farms to marshland.