Public meeting scheduled for Western Everglades planning effort

Public meeting scheduled for Western Everglades planning effort
Project will restore and reconnect the Western Everglades

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Jacksonville District will be hosting a public meeting to discuss and seek input on the Western Everglades Restoration Project. Interested individuals, groups and agencies are encouraged to attend the meeting to provide comments and ask questions.

The meeting will be held in the John Boy Auditorium, 1200 South W.C. Owen Avenue, Clewiston, Florida 33440 on Tuesday, August 16 with an open house beginning at 6 p.m., followed by an official presentation at 6:30 p.m.

The Western Everglades Restoration project is a new planning effort aimed at improving the quality, quantity, timing and distribution of water needed to restore and reconnect the western Everglades ecosystem.

“The Western Everglades Restoration project will address areas within the Everglades that are important to help restore the overall system,” said Tim Brown, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Jacksonville District project manager. “This public meeting will serve as the initial opportunity for interested individuals to provide their input into the development of the project and we look forward to receiving public comments at this meeting and throughout the planning process.”

Comments are currently being accepted on the project through Aug. 24, 2016 and can be sent electronically to Western.Everglades@usace.army.mil or mailed to:

Melissa Nasuti
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Jacksonville District
P.O. Box 4970
Jacksonville, FL 32232-0019

This public meeting is being held in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), with the sole purpose of soliciting input on the project, such as the project area, constraints, and management measures, as it enters into its preliminary planning stage. Input received during this meeting will be used in the development of the project’s Environmental Impact Statement. This report will be included as part of the Project Implementation Report that, once completed and approved, will be submitted to Congress for authorization and appropriations. There will also be additional opportunities to provide public input throughout the development of the project.

The Western Everglades Restoration Project is a component of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) and is being developed in partnership with the South Florida Water Management District.

Additional information on the Western Everglades Restoration Project available at: http://bit.ly/WesternEverglades (http://www.saj.usace.army.mil/Missions/Environmental/Ecosystem-Restoration/Western-Everglades-Restoration-Project/)

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