For Immediate Release
May 01, 2009
Contact Information

Susan J. Jackson
(904) 232-1953-Phone
(904) 232-2237-Fax
Email: Susan.J.Jackson@usace.army.mil

(BPRW) U.S. Army Corps of Engineers publishes draft plan for restoring flows to Everglades National Park and Florida Bay

- Public meeting set for May 11 -

(BLACK PR WIRE) JACKSONVILLE, Fla. –May 1, 2009 – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District has published a draft report for restoring flows via Taylor Slough to the southern Everglades and Florida Bay. The C-111 Spreader Canal Western Project is a component of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP). It is being developed in partnership with the South Florida Water Management District.

With publication of the draft report in the Federal Register April 24, a public comment period opened. The end of the public comment period is June 23, 2009. A public meeting for the project and its associated Draft Project Implementation Report and Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DPIR/DEIS) is set for 7 p.m., May 11 at the John D. Campbell Agricultural Center, 18710 S.W. 288th St., Homestead, Fla. Public comments will be taken at this meeting.

The C-111 Spreader Canal Western Project is essential to restoring water flows in an area severely impacted by canals, levees and water control structures constructed 25 to 50 years ago. The C-111 canal complex and the South Dade Conveyance System diverted natural water flows from southern Everglades National Park and Florida Bay. The C-111 Spreader Canal Project will reestablish beneficial flows to Taylor Slough and downstream areas within Everglades National Park, the Model Lands and the Southern Glades area. It also has an integral role in meeting the CERP system-wide ecosystem restoration goals and objectives. The project involves structural and operational changes to the C-111 Canal, the creation of a hydraulic ridge east of Everglades National Park, construction of water control features, and other project elements.

The DPIR/DEIS is available online at www.evergladesplan.org/pm/projects/proj_29_c111.aspx.�It is also available as a reference document in three libraries in Miami-Dade County: Homestead Branch Library, Miami-Dade Public Library System, 700 N. Homestead Boulevard, Homestead, Fla.; Main Library, Miami-Dade Public Library System, 101 W. Flagler St., Miami, Fla., and South Dade Regional Library, Miami-Dade Public Library System, 10750 S.W. 211th St., Miami, Fla.

Written comments and suggestions concerning this draft report will be accepted by postal mail to Brad Tarr, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District, Planning Division, Environmental Branch, P.O. Box 4970, Jacksonville, FL, 32232-0019; by email to bradley.a.tarr@usace.army.mil; or, by telephone at 904-232-3582. All comments must be received on or before June 23, 2009.

For further information about the draft report, please contact Brad Tarr at 904-232-3582 or by e-mail at bradley.a.tarr@usace.army.mil. For information about the public meeting, please call 561-472-8885.