A recently added amendment to SB 1684 would allow 15 square miles of the important Econlockhatchee floodplain in Eastern Orange County to be drainedwithout wetland permits. The land in question lies between the St. Johns River and the Econlockhatchee River and is currently made up of mostly flatwoods and cypress domes. The Ranger Drainage District is seeking a change in law that allows drainage districts to be exempt from local and state wetlands laws.

The result will be the conversion of the river’s tributaries into drainage canals and extensive ditches degrading the rest of the area’s wetlands. Your voice is needed right now to protect this Outstanding Florida Waterway, see our email form below.

Orange County regulations have required permits and mitigation for wetland impacts. The Ranger Drainage District has refused all attempts to update its obsolete permits. Instead it hired a lobbying firm to change the law. HB 999 by Rep. Jimmy Patronis (R-Panama City) is the vehicle for a dozen similar changes to Florida’s environmental laws. This is the most egregious. 

It is becoming commonplace for those refusing to comply with Florida’s wetlands and water quality laws to just change the laws.

Audubon and others have objected to this odious provision in SB 1684. Senator Thad Altman (R-Melbourne), the bill's sponsor, had removed the offending section from his bill. Unfortunately, the change was putback into his bill. Senator Altman is open to removing the Econ amendment but needs our urgent support to help persuade other Senators.

Florida’s wetlands provide habitat for fish, plants, wildlife, and countless species of birds. They have the ability to clean water by storing it and help recharge our drinking water supply. Local governments are the last line of defense in protecting these natural resources and they should not have their statutory authority stripped away because of a bad bill.

The last committee stop for SB 1684 will be on Tuesday, April 23 at the Senate Appropriations Committee. Protect the Econlockhatchee River from wetland destruction, urge Senators to delete the Chapter 298 preemption from SB 1684.

After you make your voice heard, please share this important alert.