I wanted to follow up on the recent Congressional bipartisan briefing on the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee waterways I hosted in Washington, which brought national attention to the issue of toxic waters that have been plaguing the Treasure Coast.  

For both those who were unable to attend and for those that were there, I hope the following summary of the briefing will be helpful. For more information on the briefing, including a full transcript and video and presentations from panelists, please click here.

Community Voices

It was great to see so many familiar faces from the district who were able to attend our briefing.  There was an overwhelming showing of support, with over a hundred community members who came to bring national attention to this pressing issue, leaving us with standing room only. The bus full of dozens of residents that held fundraisers to make the long journey up to Washington, D.C. was unprecedented, and their presence helped demonstrate the gravity of this issue and its impact on the lives of those in the affected communities.

We heard from a variety of community members throughout the briefing including children who told of how their summer was dramatically affected by the pollution in the river, and long-time residents who have seen the problem year after year.  We all came together to send many decision makers at the local, state, and federal levels a clear message: This is a serious problem that demands solutions. 

With the help of the River Kidz, we also asked the President to come see first-hand how damaging the releases and run-off we are experiencing hurts public health, the economy and the environment. (click here to see the letter sent to the President)

Panelist Input

Though because of the government shutdown our federal agency panelists could not attend the briefing, our state and local panelists gave many perspectives and insights into federal, local and state work underway and also discussed what else needs to be done in order to fully address the issue. They included:

• Secretary Herschel Vinyard, Florida Department of Environmental Protection
• Ernie Barnett, Assistant Executive Director, Everglades Ecosystem Restoration, South Florida Water Management District
• Dr. Tom Van Lent, Senior Scientist, Everglades Foundation  
• Senator Joe Negron, Chair of State Select Committee on the Indian River Lagoon and Lake Okeechobee Basin
• Representative Matt Caldwell, Florida House of Representatives - District 79
• Representative Heather Fitzenhagen, Florida House of Representatives - District 78
• Thomas MacVicar, MacVicar Consulting, Inc.         
• Mark Perry, Executive Director, Florida Oceanographic Society
• Martin County Commissioner Chair Sarah Heard
• St. Lucie County Commissioner Frannie Hutchinson
• Lee County Commissioner Larry Kiker
• Mayor Kevin Ruane, Sanibel, Florida
• Todd Bonlarron, Legislative Director, Palm Beach County
• Mr. Roland Ottolini, Director, Lee County Division of Natural Resources
• Dr. Brian LaPointe, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, Florida Atlantic University

The panelists highlighted many important points.  For example, Ernie Barnett, the Assistant Executive Director of the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) and long-time south Florida waterways expert said that the amount of water flowing out of Lake Okeechobee into the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee is “unacceptable” and noted that provisions of the House WRRDA bill would allow for the authorization of four important projects, which will allow the SFWMD to move forward on construction of these projects that will benefit the entire system.  He noted that “we have the will, we just need the authorization and the funding.”

We also heard from Mark Perry, Executive Director of the Florida Oceanographic Society and long-time river advocate, who said that it took us decades to get into this mess and we have decades to go to fix it.  He noted that while progress has been made, we must act and act quickly to implement water quality standards, restore natural flows south of the lake through water management projects, and continue to restore the Kissimmee valley to reduce inflows into the lake. He also asked that federal agency officials such as NOAA, and US Fish and Wildlife become more involved on the ground.  

Local leaders also weighed in.  For example Martin County Commissioner Sarah Heard told about Martin County officials fighting against these discharges since the 1930s, and emphasized that we must proceed and finish the first tier Everglades restoration projects in order to build support for the essential future projects.  In regards to growing technologies that may help the waterways, Commissioner Heard said that ecosystem restoration is going to be huge business in the upcoming decades and that Martin County is pursuing pilot projects using new technology that could help the local ecosystems. 

Representatives of agriculture also said that implementation of the state’s water quality plan has had the most effect on reducing the phosphorous rates from flowing into the waterways, and recognizing that a long term approach, when pursued in agreement with all stakeholders, is what can make the difference. 

We also heard how important monitoring equipment is to truly understand what impact urban sources of pollution have on the waterways, and also track progress being made in the waterways.

Member Advocacy

I also was thankful that over 20 Members of Congress came to learn more about this issue and to hear directly from community members on how these toxic waters have affected them.  Below is a list of which Members of Congress attended and some of the comments they made:

• Senator Bill Nelson
  • “There are way too many nutrients in [the water], and I am sure you have already had the testimony of what happens when there is too many nutrients.  It is not only that bottle, but that has been going on for years.”  
  • “We have got to continue the appropriations for the Everglades restoration.  We have to keep the fire under the Army Corps of Engineers.”
  • “My ask of you all would be to keep up the pressure.” 

• House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi
  • “When Patrick Murphy came in with that bottle I was not sure what was going on.  When he told me what that water was, it was really shocking.”
  • “The fact that all of you are here is a tribute to how important the issue is… I think your being here and their support for this elevates this to an issue of national significance.”

• House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer (who was so moved by the briefing that he visited the district on October 14^th to see the problem firsthand)
  • “This is a crucially important issue, not just for Florida, but also for our nation.  This is an extraordinary resource, and Florida is a resource.  I want to thank you for doing those carwashes to come up here.  Saying democracy works is a little tough today, but I have been in office for 45 years.  Democracy works.  Democracy works because conscientious people take their time and effort to communicate their concerns.”

• House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bill Shuster
  • On WRRDA legislation: “We worked very hard in the committee to produce a bipartisan product and went through a number of listening sessions from local stakeholders to industries and companies that have interests in the ports, harbors, waterways, and environmental restoration projects.”
  • "Both Republicans and Democrats both saw the need to make sure we move these projects forward faster and I think anybody that runs any type of organization knows that time is money.  So, we get this done faster and we can save money and get these projects closer to completion.” 

• House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Ranking Member Nick Rahall
• House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Peter DeFazio
• Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Water Resources and the Environment Ranking Member Tim Bishop
• Co-chair of the Everglades Caucus Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart
• Co-chair of the Everglades Caucus and the Florida Delegation Rep. Alcee L. Hastings
• Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Member Rep. Cheri Bustos
• Florida Congressional Delegation Members:
  • Rep. Corrine Brown
  • Rep. Ted Deutch
  • Rep. Joe Garcia
  • Rep. John Mica
  • Rep. Bill Posey
  • Rep. Tom Rooney
  • Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz
  • Rep. Daniel Webster
  •  Rep. Ted Yoho 

Every Member who attended was provided a comprehensive information on this issue, as well as actions Congress can take to help address this problem. 

While I was extremely pleased to have a number of my colleagues attend this briefing to hear directly from our community, we have a long and challenging fight ahead of us to get the message to 200 other Members of the House to ensure that Congress continues to fund and authorize projects and initiatives that will help clean the waters of our local rivers and estuaries. 

Common Goals

One of the goals of this briefing was to isolate common goals among the many parties and stakeholders in the room.  Some of the reoccurring points many stakeholders agree on that need work on the federal level are:

Continue to advocate to Members of Congress the importance of Everglades restoration funding

The shocking photos provided by local residents depicting this devastation to the ecosystem were on full display to all Members, as well as the presence of so many concerned citizens speaking personally about how these discharges have impacted them and the community. This education aspect of the briefing was crucial. With the 22 Members who attended, they now can help garner support for important measures related to local environmental projects when they come up for a vote, helping us advocate for the passage of the House Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA) and including needed funding in the Administration’s budget.  But our advocacy work isn’t done.  We still must make the case that Everglades restoration funding is an important goal that ALL Members of Congress should support. 

Funding to complete Everglades restoration projects

Everyone agreed that continuing to fight and urge for funding for existing Army Corps projects is crucial.  With the involvement of Congress and federal agency officials, we can work together to prioritize funding for ongoing projects such as the C-44 Indian River Lagoon Project, the Kissimmee River restoration project, and other Everglades restoration projects that once completed will provide relief to our imperiled waterways.  In order for the entire system to function better, many key components must be able to function.  Completing projects that are already under construction will help us most effectively clean the waterways of southern Florida.

Continued funding to rehabilitate the Herbert Hoover Dike

One of the biggest problems affecting our waterways is that Lake Okeechobee can only retain a specific amount of water safely.  That is why the community agrees that the Army Corps must continue its work of rehabilitating the Herbert Hoover Dike to get it to a state where it can contain more water safely.  Holding more water in the lake is the most effective method of water retention in the area, and while this will be a long term project, Congress must act to continue to fund the critical work of rehabilitating this vulnerable structure.

Passing the House WRRDA bill

There was also consensus that provisions in the House WRRDA bill will allow state and federal actors to move forward on Everglades ecosystem restoration, which in turn benefits our district.  In addition to passing WRRDA, we also need to continue to pressure for the Chief’s Report for the Central Everglades Planning Project (CEPP) so that these important projects can move forward as well.  While the CEPP Chief’s Report isn’t scheduled to be complete until 2014, the timing of passing a final WRRDA bill will be crucial. 

Urging the Corps to safely reexamine the Lake Okeechobee Release Schedule

Another issue that was discussed is the need for the Army Corps to reevaluate at what level the lake can safely retain water by reassessing the Lake Okeechobee Release Schedule (LORS).  I sent a letter to Army Corps officials just prior to the briefing but we must continue to urge them to take this action to reduce these harmful discharges from the lake into the St. Lucie. (click here to view the letter regarding LORS)

Getting federal agencies more involved on the ground

Unfortunately, due to a government shutdown, our federal agency panelists were unable to attend.  Although we were still able to have a robust and important conversation, it is vital that these federal agencies become more involved.  They each have a role to play, and their engagement can be helpful to addressing the river issue. I will be working with my colleagues who attended the briefing to push for this involvement from agencies such as the Army Corps, NOAA, and Fish and Wildlife, as well as invite these officials to see the damage firsthand so they see the urgent need to move forward with these ongoing projects.

There was also unity on the state moving forward quickly and aggressively with their water quality implementation plans.

Moving Forward