Do more to protect Kissimmee River — and our quality of life
I am a developer and an environmentalist, and I own property in and around Orlando. It is one of the most dynamic and interesting cities in the United States, and natural resources are part of the mix. A Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute study published in 2013 determined that wildlife viewing (excluding hunting) had a nearly $5 billion impact on Florida’s economy. Orlando needs to retain and enhance its share of this ever-expanding ecotourism industry.
U.S. Rep. Darren Soto has authored H.R. 3961 to begin the process of designating the Kissimmee River as a Wild and Scenic River. The Kissimmee used to meander its way down to Lake Okeechobee. In the dry season, flows naturally slowed; in the wet season, the river often turned into one large flood plain.
About 50 years ago, the Army Corps of Engineers dredged and straightened the Kissimmee. What was left was not much of a river, certainly not wild and not particularly scenic. Once the federal government and Florida realized the environmental disaster that was created, they decided to recreate the Kissimmee. The project is not finished, but progress has been made.
The Kissimmee River is a significant part of the one-andonly Everglades. Maybe the federal designation will help limit development and runoff from cattle farms. The details of the final bill will determine whether or not the designation will be meaningful.
Urban growth makes nature that much more valuable. We have a whole lot less nature, so it’s worth a whole lot more. Fifty years ago, when federal and state designations became a reality, there was much more unspoiled land, and many fewer people appreciated its value.
Things have changed. Today, many more understand the importance of our environment. In the past, the private sector might have been an obstacle. Today, we can and must engage with the private sector. In order for a venture to succeed, consensus must be built. Today more than ever, private and public interests need to work together.
In 1985, Florida designated the Myakka River as the first State Wild and Scenic River (it is currently the only one). The designation was contentious, but more than 30 years later, we are all grateful. The river has boosted tourism, which provides jobs for residents.
Why not seek a federal designation for the St. Johns River? Or the Peace River? In addition to providing recreation and jobs for locals, they are valuable drinking-water sources. Imagine how much good a federal designation could do for either of these.
While the extra dollars for the Kissimmee River would be a drop in the bucket as part of Everglades restoration, the federal dollars would go a long way for these other lesserknown, but culturally, economically and environmentally important and beloved rivers. Given the various existing stakeholders for each of these, it’s a good place to start.
We need to approach the designation of rivers with Florida’s unique needs in mind. Our Legislature has approved $50 million for springs protection. Let’s do more. The Army Corps of Engineers and the Environmental Protection Agency are currently reviewing a proposal to delegate state water-quality control to Florida’s Department of Environmental Protection.
Let’s encourage our Legislature to use this transfer of responsibility as a catalyst to do more for our water quality and more to protect and promote our resources.
Let’s empower our FDEP to hire more people and cultivate landowner support for more state and federal designations. We live in a business-friendly state, and ecotourism is big business. It also just happens to be very good for the quality of our lives.