Baby Steps Lead to Big Leaps for Everglades Restoration

Background: The National Park Service today released the final draft plan for the Tamiami Trail Modifications/Next Steps, which would add an additional 5.5 miles of bridging to Tamiami Trail in order to restore historic water flows back to Everglades National Park, Florida Bay habitat and sea grass beds.

“The National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) applauds the Obama Administration and the dedicated leadership of Department of Interior Secretary Ken Salazar for spearheading continued progress on restoration efforts that will both benefit the Everglades ecosystem and will bring thousands of jobs to South Florida.

“As we prepare for the upcoming holiday, what better gift to give all Americans than to continue our years-long momentum towards achieving full Everglades restoration? By continuing to move this project forward, we will achieve significant cost savings, meet urgent restoration needs, and create jobs in one of our hardest hit industries - construction.

“Everglades National Park can no longer afford to wait for relief. The Park Services’ plan for Tamiami Trail requires bold initiatives, which demonstrates the Federal government’s commitment to real environmental and economic progress for South Florida. Everglades restoration has made substantial progress this year and the plan for Tamiami Trail provides an opportunity for reversing the ecological decline of America’s Everglades and ensuring that we protect this national treasure for our children and grandchildren to enjoy.”

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About National Parks Conservation Association
Since 1919, the nonpartisan National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) has been the leading voice in safeguarding our national parks. NPCA and its more than one million members and supporters work together to protect and preserve our nation’s natural, historical, and cultural heritage for future generations. For more information, visit www.npca.org.