Front Burner:
Florida water policy debate heats up.
On a Workday at Wakulla Springs in North Florida, I saw firsthand what our state’s water policy, or lack thereof, has done to our most valuable resource.
The crystal-clear springs I remembered from my childhood are dark. Algae chokes the water of its oxygen. The glass bottom boats rarely run.
The scene is replicated across our state, from Tallahassee to the Florida Bay. In Central Florida, Lake Apopka and Wekiwa Springs are polluted. The beaches along the Treasure Coast are green from pollution.
Clean water is important to every community’s health — but it’s even more important in Florida, where our economy also depends on our waters.
Beach tourism provides billions of dollars a year to our economy. Our state parks, many of which are based around springs, rivers and lakes, attract 20 million visitors a year.
Seeing the obvious benefit, Republicans and Democrats were actually able to work together to protect our water. As governor, my father, Bob Graham, ushered in a new era of comprehensive environmental protection that recognized all our state’s waters are connected. Gov. Lawton Chiles worked to put Everglades restoration back on track by resolving disputes and establishing a long-term plan. Gov. Jeb Bush supported Florida Forever to purchase sensitive lands, and Gov. Charlie Crist worked to restore the River of Grass.
Unfortunately, that era of bipartisan support for conservation has run dry under Gov. Rick Scott. Since coming into office, Scott has gutted environmental protections by abolishing the Department of Community Affairs, politicizing water-management districts and allowing the Legislature to misappropriate Amendment One funds meant for conservation.
There was a short glimmer of hope, this year, when the Legislature took up a water bill. The legislation, which passed with bipartisan support, has some bright spots, like new funding for spring restoration — but it was largely a missed opportunity to address the most important water issues we face today and in the long term.
They say the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, while expecting a different outcome. That’s where we are with our state’s water policy — and it’s time to do something different.
First, we must address failing septic tanks that pollute our lakes, rivers and streams. The governor has finally recognized this problem and said his 2017 budget will request funds to address the issue in a limited area of the state. He has not yet offered details, but if it’s a comprehensive plan that could be expanded to repair and replace septic tanks across our entire state — I will be the first to cross the aisle and support it.
Second, we need to restore the integrity of Florida’s water-management districts. In his first year as governor, Scott forced the districts to cut their budgets by $700 million. He then filled their boards with political appointees and limited the voice of conservationists. I believe, everyone deserves a seat at the table, but a developer wouldn’t put an environmentalist in charge of constructing an apartment building — we should put persons who don’t know water in charge of protecting our water.
Third, we must defend and improve our water-quality standards. The Environmental Regulation Commission, whose members are appointed by Scott, is working to allow more cancer-causing chemicals in our rivers, lakes and coastal waters. The governor and state leaders must demand the commission reverse course and work to raise our standards — not gut them.
Finally, the Legislature must appropriate Amendment One funds as voters intended. Instead of using the funds to purchase environmentally sensitive lands, like those south of Lake Okeechobee, the Legislature has used the funds as general revenue to pay for operating budgets. The Legislature should quit wasting tax dollars fighting off the ensuing lawsuits, and use the funds as our constitution prescribes.
Florida’s population has doubled in the past 30 years because our state’s natural treasures attract people from across the world. If we want to continue to grow and sustain our rich heritage and unique way of life, we must work together to ensure we protect those natural treasures — starting with our most important asset, our water.
If insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, while expecting a different outcome, that’s Florida’s water policy.