August 13, 2007

ISSUE 1179

SFWMD GOVERNING BOARD SAYS NO TO LAKE AUGMENTATION

By a 4-3 vote, the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) Governing Board decided Aug. 9 not to use back-pumping as a method to add needed water to drought-depleted Lake Okeechobee. Malcolm “Bubba” Wade had to declare a conflict and could not vote and member Mike Collins was not at the meeting.

The four SFWMD board members who rejected back-pumping, all new appointees of Gov. Charlie Crist, said they would explore substitute sources.

Back-pumping could have added up to six inches to the lake, bolstering the region's water supply enough to provide irrigation water to surrounding farms and ranches for 90 to 120 days.

Environmentalists argued that the process would add unacceptable amounts of nutrients to the lake, although the water at the S3 structure in the Miami Canal, with the exception of direct rainfall, is much cleaner than all of the other water that enters the lake.

BUSH ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCES IMMIGRATION REFORMS

SFWMD GOVERNING BOARD SAYS NO TO LAKE AUGMENTATION

GOV. CRIST NAMES THREE TO FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION

LETTUCE AND LEAFY GREENS SAFETY SYMPOSIUM SCHEDULED

ANNUAL CONVENTION TO OFFER IMPORTANT LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES

BENEFIT AUCTION PROCEEDS AID FARMWORKERS’ CHILDREN - ITEMS STILL NEEDED

REMINDER - LABOR RELATIONS FORUM APPROACHING