Everglades Restoration Projects to Receive $96 million in Recovery Act Funds “Shovel-ready” projects help Florida’s environment and creates jobs for Floridians

(Washington, DC)  —  Rep. Wasserman Schultz (FL-20) today praised the Obama Administration announcement that $96 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds will go toward Everglades restoration projects.

“The Everglades are a vital part of Florida’s heritage and a national treasure,” said Rep. Wasserman Schultz. “These funds will help provide construction related jobs for Floridians at a time of real economic need.”

The $96 million in Recovery Act funds are in addition to the previously announced $183.4 million in Everglades restoration funds included in the fiscal year 2009 federal omnibus bill (the approved 2009 federal budget).

On February 26, 2009, Rep. Wasserman Schultz joined several of her Congressional colleagues on a letter to Lt. General Van Antwerp of the Army Corps of Engineers urging that he allocate a portion of the $2 billion in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds directed to the Army Corps on Everglades restoration projects.

The funds will go toward the following projects:

FL COMPREHENSIVE EVERGLADES RESTORATION PLAN
Adaptive Assessment and Monitoring
$1,100,000

FL COMPREHENSIVE EVERGLADES RESTORATION PLAN
C&SF: CERP: Melaleuca eradication
$2,886,000

FL COMPREHENSIVE EVERGLADES RESTORATION PLAN
Reach L-31 Pilot
$5,668,000

FL COMPREHENSIVE EVERGLADES RESTORATION PLAN
Picayune Strand: Merritt PS
$40,771,000

FL COMPREHENSIVE EVERGLADES RESTORATION PLAN
Award and complete construction of the Site one reservoir and pump station.
$41,338,000

FL EVERGLADES AND SOUTH FLORIDA ECOSYSTEM RESTORATION
SBC Basins 2 & 3
$4,170,000