JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the South Florida Water Management District — the two implementing agencies of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) — announce publication of the draft 2014 System Status Report (SSR), a comprehensive report evaluating monitoring data within the Everglades ecosystem. The document is now available online for public review at: http://bit.ly/2014_SSR. Three informational meetings, with webcasting, are scheduled in April to provide opportunities for discussion and comment. Public comments on the draft report will be accepted through April 29, 2014.
“This multi-agency report evaluates current monitoring data from different geographic regions within the Everglades ecosystem to determine if the goals and objectives of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) are being met,” said Andy LoSchiavo, System Status Report Coordinator for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Jacksonville District. “The data reviewed in the report are used to summarize changes in the ecosystem, and to recognize and discuss, when necessary, why goals are not currently being met and how adaptive management may be incorporated to better manage the system.”
Comments can be submitted electronically to: 2014ssrcomments@evergladesplan.org or mailed to:
Andy LoSchiavo, PD-ES Patti Gorman
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers South Florida Water Management District
P.O. Box 4970 3301 Gun Club Road
Jacksonville, FL 32232-0019 West Palm Beach, FL 33406
Additionally, the following meetings and webinars have been scheduled to discuss the draft report and give all interested individuals, groups and agencies an opportunity to comment and ask questions.
• Tuesday, April 1: 6 - 7 p.m.
Frazier Rogers Hall, Room 122, University of Florida, 1741 Museum Road, Gainesville, FL
Web Meeting Address: http://ufifas.adobeconnect.com/markclark040114/
Call-In Number: (877)873-8017; Access Code: 8543900; Security: 1234
• Monday, April 21: 4:45 - 5:45 p.m.
Wertheim Conservatory, Room 130, Florida International University, 11200 S.W. 8th Street, Miami, FL
Web Meeting Address: https://www.webmeeting.att.com
Meeting/Call-In Number: (877) 873-8017; Access Code: 8543900; Security: 1234
• Wednesday, April 23: 1 - 2:30 p.m.
Sugden Welcome Center, Room 108, Florida Gulf Coast University,10501 FGCU Blvd. South, Fort Myers, FL
Web Meeting Address: https://www.webmeeting.att.com
Meeting/Call-In Number: (877) 873-8017; Access Code: 8543900; Security: 1234
* Note: First-time users may need to download client software prior to accessing web meetings. Additional information available at the above web links.
The SSR incorporates data collected by the Restoration Coordination and Verification (RECOVER) Monitoring and Assessment Plan (MAP) program for CERP, data from CERP projects, and data provided by RECOVER partners.
The CERP is a joint effort between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Jacksonville District and the local sponsor, the South Florida Water Management District. RECOVER is a multi-agency team of scientists, modelers, planners and resource specialists who organize and apply scientific and technical information in ways that are most effective in supporting the objectives of CERP. Additional information on RECOVER is available at: http://bit.ly/CERP_RECOVER.
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