The Orlando Sentinel recently published an editorial asking Gov. Ron DeSantis to rescue Florida\u2019s wetlands by returning the Clean Water Act Section 404 permitting program to the federal government. We agree and urge state and federal leadership to immediately begin the process of returning the program to the Army Corps of Engineers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The state of Florida is close to deciding on immense and disastrous development projects that will forever change Southwest Florida and the fates of our endangered species, wetland flow-ways, drinking water resources,\u00a0and cherished public lands. Having access to all of our foundational federal laws \u2013\u00a0which Florida\u2019s program circumnavigates \u2013\u00a0is absolutely essential at this\u00a0moment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Of the more than 5,000 projects received by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, our region is disproportionally burdened by the state\u2019s flawed wetlands permitting program. For example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2022 Approximately one-fifth\u00a0of the proposed roads, mines,\u00a0and developments are in Southwest Florida.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2022 About 580 of the projects are within Collier County alone, where the last remaining core habitat for the endangered Florida panther hangs in the balance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When it successfully sought to take over wetlands permitting, Florida only estimated 130 applications a year in Southwest Florida. In reality, however, the state vastly underestimated the volume and complexity of the permitting it would be responsible for handling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If Florida\u2019s program continues to languish without intervention, the state may allow some developers to move forward without adequate mitigation for wetland impacts. In fact, some developers may be able to\u00a0completely avoid the regulatory process while\u00a0Florida continues to use a less-protective standard for identifying federal wetlands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Absent from the state program are essential federal protections and processes like the Endangered Species Act and National Environmental Policy Act\u00a0\u2013\u00a0and this is at a time when six proposed projects in Lee and Collier counties would destroy more than\u00a08,000 acres of essential habitat necessary for the continued survival of the endangered Florida panther. These projects would also impact nearly 1,000 acres of irreplaceable wetlands that are critical for water quality, flood control, and habitat for wildlife.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One project in Collier County \u2013 the Rural Lands West project \u2013 never received the green light from the Army Corps of Engineers\u00a0despite permitting attempts over the last decade. This project and a companion proposal, known as Bellmar, will form a new massive development over six miles long and two miles wide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
These eastern Collier County developments are within a flow-way and panther corridor, and they are next door to the Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge. They will\u00a0lead to 19,000 new residents, who will\u00a0add massive traffic flows onto roadways that are already deadly for the panther. Just a few miles away, located at a hotspot for Florida panther roadkill, the Immokalee Road Rural Village project is also under review by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Meanwhile, when\u00a0three projects in Lee County \u2013\u00a0the Troyer Mine, FFD, and\u00a0Kingston proposals\u00a0\u2013 previously filed applications with the federal Army Corps of Engineers, they were told by the agency that\u00a0rigorous studies of impacts on wetlands, drinking water, listed species,\u00a0and public safety were necessary before they could move\u00a0forward. But now\u00a0that the projects are being decided by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection,\u00a0the federal\u00a0environmental reviews are no longer required.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The distress call has been sent out regarding Florida\u2019s wetlands permitting program. It is time for action to protect our critical watersheds and save our swamps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n