Southern Storage in the Everglades
Projects associated with water storage and cleansing in the Everglades are vital to the health of the overall system. During the 2017 legislative session Capital City Consulting lobbied and successful passed one of the most vital pieces environmental legislation in recent history on behalf of our client the Everglades Foundation.
Senate Bill 10 created a large reservoir south of Lake Okeechobee in coordination with the Florida Legislature, the Department of Environmental Protection, the South Florida Water Management District and the Federal Government. The bill authorized $800 Million to be spent out of the Florida Forever bonds for the project construction costs as well as over $100 Million to be used on ongoing projects in and around the Everglades Agricultural Area. The reservoir, will do two things when constructed. It will hold and clean water during the wet season and release much needed water to the southern portion of the Everglades, to Florida Bay during the dry season.
The project, long a part of the Central Everglades Planning Project, was moved up the list to expedite the funding and planning needed to move forward with the build. Capital City Consulting used traditional lobbying methods with the legislature and executive branch but also built a coalition of support through the environmental community, outdoor and fishing enthusiast and those advocates that cares about the overall health of the system.