On September 22nd, the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) approved a $1.5 billion budget for its FY 2010 activities (October 1, 2009-September 30, 2010).  This budget highlights significant allocation of funding to restore South Florida’s natural environment.  The budget includes $536.5 million in Certificates of Participation funding for the historic acquisition of 73,000 acres of farmland from U.S. Sugar Corp.  The SFWMD has also approved:

• $152 million to expand Everglades water treatment areas, creating 11,473 acres of new treatment wetlands south of Lake Okeechobee to improve water quality.
• $34.5 million to begin work on the C-111 Spreader Canal, a project to help restore Florida Bay and Taylor Slough, preserve clean water in Everglades National Park and maintain flood control for eastern communities.
• $25 million for Kissimmee River Restoration land acquisition.
• $42.3 million to design and construct the Lakeside Ranch Stormwater Treatment Area north of Lake Okeechobee to improve water quality in the lake.
• $11 million for Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands Construction to restore habitat and improve water quality in the bay and national park.
• $8 million for the St. Lucie Watershed Protection Plan to improve water quality.
• $3 million to complete dredging of Lake Trafford, helping to clean water flowing to southwest Florida.

Audubon will continue to advocate that the construction and operation of all restoration projects realize ecological benefits throughout the Greater Everglades Ecosystem.