Commentary: 10 steps forward on Everglades restoration
When first asked to share my thoughts on Everglades restoration in 600 words or less, I was smacked with the thought that I couldn’t come up with enough material. Now that I’ve given it further consideration, I feel that isn’t nearly enough. I have been studying the subject both passively and actively for more than 20 years.
My son and I won first place in the Imperial River Challenge a couple of years back with the fastest canoe. It was one of my happiest moments that we shared on the water. A close second would be the time we drifted atop a pod of manatees at 5:30 in the morning on the Crystal River in Homosassa Springs. They gave a terrific wave of their tails; they nearly tipped my canoe with two adults and five kids!
A more scientific approach would reference the many graduate-level texts I have had the privilege to borrow on the subjects of sheet flow, littoral shelves and optimal salinity levels for estuary environs. But nobody wants to hear about the science of beauty and nature. It’s simply easier to trust the experts and follow their recommendations. So I did that. Only after spending some time alone with the books did I feel prepared to meet the experts.
I’ve presented on clean water with activist John Heim; meet regularly with environmental advocate Pete Quasius of the Audubon of the Western Everglades, and regularly speak and trade emails with Rae Ann Wessel of the Sanibel Captiva Conservation Foundation. I have visited the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, Six Mile Cypress Slough, Nature Conservancy by car and canoe, Picayune Strand, Big Cypress Preserve and even got trapped in the Florida Panther Preserve with my wife on our 10th anniversary. We were later released by members of the Florida Highway Patrol and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Long story. Boils down to: Be careful with Google Maps!
Plain and simple, I love Southwest Florida. My family and I have made ourselves at home here these past two decades. We enjoy the natural wonders of the migratory birds, sea cow visits on the beach and turtle releases from rescued nests.
It matters to us that the water has become less hospitable due to the influence of engineers dabbling in nature’s harmony. It affects us personally when beach visits are punctuated with fish kills and red tide blooms. It angers us that politicians and polluters give nothing but lip service and empty promises to clean up the mess and fix the problem. Following the K.I.S.S. principle and the wisdom of David Letterman’s top ten lists, here are my quick and easy steps to success:
10. Buy the land and send the water south.
9. Add the oxbows to the Kissimmee River.
8. Mandate that dairy farms use their manure retention ponds for fertilizer in neighboring farms using injection methods to put the nutrients to the roots. This is already done in Iowa, Ohio, Kansas and many other states. From Congress, I could fund a feasibility study to demonstrate the benefits.
7. Eliminate the use of phosphates and nitrates to fertilize crops.
6. Finish the reservoirs to ensure a regular supply of drinking water.
5. Stop allowing development along or in the density reduction/groundwater resource (DR/GR) zones.
4. Ban the use and sale of plastic bags, cups, lids and straws. Laud the use of renewables.
3. Accept the scientific facts of climate change, global warming and sea level rise.
2. Develop and implement comprehensive plans to address sea level rise and its effects on our water tables and coastal cities.
1. Support me for U.S. House of Representatives.
Truax is a Democratic candidate for Florida’s 19th Congressional District. Friday, we published the Everglades restoration views of David Holden, Truax’s Aug. 28 primary opponent.
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