Earlier today, a major blow was dealt to the agency that is responsible for managing the water resources for seven million Floridians and our magnificent water-dependent environment. Governor Rick Scott attended a ceremonial signing of the bill that cuts the South Florida Water Management District's (SFWMD) funding by 30% - or over $120 million dollars. These cuts severely diminish the SFWMD’s ability to pursue Everglades restoration projects. The average homeowner would save less than $30 a year.

Sadly, the cuts have come just at a time when the importance of Everglades restoration for Florida’s future has become so clear. During this year’s drought conditions, it has become apparent that there is simply not enough water maintain a healthy ecosystem and fulfill the needs of citizens and agriculture.

Audubon has chronicled the tragic consequence of low water levels with the recent losses of endangered Everglade Snail Kite nests on Lake Okeechobee as their parents searched for food. One of the goals of Everglades restoration is to make the water pie bigger. Instead of fighting over limited resources, all users should support projects that store water throughout the Greater Everglades that will increase the availability of clean and abundant water resources.

The money cut by Governor Scott today could have gone to key Everglades restoration projects that could help alleviate these kind of drought problems in the future, such as water storage north of Lake Okeechobee as well as throughout the Everglades Agricultural Area. With these deep cuts, the future of these projects is uncertain.

Read more about this story at the Palm Beach Post.