As you know, estuaries are areas where fresh and salt water mix. They serve as nurseries where baby fish, crabs, and other animals can grow, and provide resting and feeding areas for migrating birds. They also support recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and birdwatching. In addition, estuaries are often located close to ports that are important for commercial shipping. We need to protect our estuaries so that they can continue to support these diverse activities.
The Clean Water Act Amendments of 1987 established the National Estuary Program to identify important estuaries and promote planning, restoration and protection activities. There are now 28 estuaries across the country participating in this program, four of them in Florida. The Environmental Protection Agency works together with other federal, state, and local government agencies as well as industry and local citizens to identify and address an estuary's environmental problems.
I am a long time supporter of the National Estuary Program, and the cooperation between federal, state, and local agencies that it encourages. Over its ten year life, the program has had many successes in reducing nutrient loadings, protecting habitats, and controlling stormwater runoff into coastal waters. Florida currently has more estuaries participating in the program than any other state.
I am a co-sponsor of Senator Chafee's S. 835, the Estuary Habitat Restoration Partnership Act, and Senator Torricelli's S. 878, to reauthorize the National Estuary Program for an additional five years. I support coordination of the various existing federal, state, and local estuary protection initiatives. I also support funding for implementation of the National Estuary Program Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plans. Development of the plans is an important step, but they are of little value without funding for implementation.
Clean beaches are very important to the people of Florida and the 48 million visitors who come to our state each year. Our residents and visitors want to know that they can enjoy swimming, snorkeling, surfing, and other water contact recreation without fear of disease. However, we have some concerns about the beach bills in their current form. Beaches and coastal waters in Florida are different from those in Maine or California, and our states need to be allowed the flexibility to implement beach protection programs that will be the most appropriate for each state. I look forward to hearing what our witnesses have to say today and to working with my colleagues on the committee to resolve these issues.