October 20, 2008

ISSUE 1241

A plan to clean up the Caloosahatchee River basin is moving along, but implementation funding may not be forthcoming, said Janet Starnes, an official from the South Florida Water Management District. Speaking to a meeting of the Southwest Florida Watershed Council Oct. 16, Starnes said the Caloosahatchee River Watershed Protection Plan’s initial phase could be in place by the beginning of 2010, but that state funding could be a challenge during this period of economic downturn.

The plan is part of the 2007 Northern Everglades Protection Act, which also requires a similar plan for the St. Lucie River watershed. SFWMD will make final changes to the plan after a period of public comment ends Oct. 31. SFWMD will then deliver it to the Florida Legislature by the end of the year.