In a victory for Everglades protection, an administrative law judge has just rejected a proposed extension of State Road 836 near Miami. In addition to costing $1 billion, the road would destroy 1,000 acres of wetlands, and its alignment threatens seven out of the 68 projects in the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP), while directly cutting through the footprint of the Bird Drive Basin Recharge CERP project critical to rehydrate the Biscayne Aquifer and send more freshwater south into Everglades National Park. 

We asked you, our Audubon members, to write to the Army Corps of Engineers to convey your concerns about this project, and you did! 

“It is a great day when the value of the Everglades stands on its own and shines through to beat down a bad project,” says Celeste De Palma, Director of Everglades Policy for Audubon Florida. “It is about time we learned that putting a road through the Everglades is a bad idea, and embraced that Everglades restoration is the key to South Florida’s resiliency and prosperity."

She continues: “This victory represents the power of the Audubon network. Working together with our members and supporting our Miami chapter, this outcome could have not been possible without Tropical Audubon’s fierce advocacy and leadership!”

At Audubon Florida, we will continue to work towards Everglades restoration by pursuing additional funding for improvement projects, while fighting against proposals that would damage the River of Grass and the unique wildlife that call this ecosystem home.