Published in the Palm Beach Post's Letters: Today's groundbreaking of a 1-mile bridge over Tamiami Trail paves the way to recovering the abundant colonies of roseate spoonbills, other wading birds, and healthy wildlife populations that once flourished in the Everglades.

Audubon, whose scientists have studied wading birds and ecological conditions in the Everglades for over a half century, has raised the alarm that the southern Everglades and important species, such as the spoonbills, are reaching a tipping point and could face ecological collapse unless freshwater flows are reestablished. The bridge is the beginning of efforts to restore these important flows.

Tamiami Trail, U.S. 41 from Tampa to Miami, was built in 1928. A consequence of its construction was the division of the natural flow of water, which historically nourished the Everglades and provided the conditions necessary for wading bird colonies. When complete in 2013, the 1-mile bridge along Tamiami Trail will reconnect fresh water flows through Northeast Shark River Slough into Everglades National Park. A component of what is known as the Modified Waters Deliveries Project, the initial bridge has overcome political, economic and legal hurdles and paves the way to accomplishing other important restoration projects.

The Everglades has been torn apart by roads, canals and levees. Putting the ecological parts back together is the key to not only bringing the wildlife back but to securing fresh water for people and nature. Audubon salutes those who have worked so hard over the past 20 years to overcome many obstacles to get to this point.

Audubon applauds the dedication and longstanding commitment of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Department of Interior. The staff of these agencies and many others worked for two decades to see this project begin. That dedication continues as plans move forward for additional bridging of Tamiami Trail to increase ecological connectivity. To fully restore natural water flows into the Everglades, more bridging is needed beyond this one mile, as well as other restoration efforts.

Implementation of key restoration projects will provide ecological benefits, abundant colonies of wading birds and healthy wildlife in Everglades National Park and Florida Bay. Completing this first bridge over Tamiami Trail demonstrates that these goals are within reach.

Eric Draper, Executive Director

Audubon of Florida