[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 12 (Monday, January 22, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Pages S837-S838]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. NELSON of Florida (for himself and Mr. Martinez):
  S. 353. A bill to authorize ecosystem restoration projects for the 
Indian River Lagoon-South and the Picayune Strand, Collier County, in 
the State of Florida; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
  Mr. NELSON of Florida. Mr. President, today I am introducing 
legislation authorizing two important Everglades projects: the Indian 
River Lagoon, IRL, and the Picayune Strand Restoration, PSR. Senator 
Mel Martinez has joined me as an original cosponsor.
  These two projects constitute the first phase of the overall 
restoration of the Everglades. IRL at the northern tip of the 
Everglades ecosystem and PSR in the southwest section of the 
Everglades--are essential to getting the water right. IRL will restore 
natural sheet flow to the Everglades ecosystem by re-directing water to 
the Everglades instead of out to the ocean, provide reservoirs for 
storage of water in the wet season and release in the dry season, build 
stormwater treatment facilities to improve the water quality of the 
water flowing through the Everglades ecosystem and remove millions of 
cubic yards of muck from the St. Lucie Estuary.
  I toured the St. Lucie River when it turned phosphorescent green 
during an algae bloom and what was more amazing to me was that I saw 
absolutely no wildlife, it was a dead river.

[[Page S838]]

  PSR will re-establish the natural sheet flow to the Ten Thousand 
Islands, restore 72,320 acres of habitat, and restore ecological 
connectivity of the Florida Panthers National Wildlife Refuge, the 
Belle Meade State Conservation and Recreation Lands Project Area and 
the Fakahatchee Strand State Preserve. For these reasons, the Indian 
River Lagoon and Picayune Strand projects must be authorized and 
completed.
  Last year we came close to meeting that goal, as the projects were 
included in the Senate passed WRDA 2006. Today I am renewing this 
effort and will work to ensure these projects are included in WRDA 
2007.
  I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the 
Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                 S. 353

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Restoring the Everglades, an 
     American Legacy Act of 2007''.

     SEC. 2. INDIAN RIVER LAGOON-SOUTH, FLORIDA.

       (a) Indian River Lagoon-South.--The Secretary of the Army 
     may carry out the project for ecosystem restoration, water 
     supply, flood control, and protection of water quality, 
     Indian River Lagoon-South, Florida, at a total cost of 
     $1,357,167,000, with an estimated Federal cost of 
     $678,583,500 and an estimated non-Federal cost of 
     $678,583,500, in accordance with section 601 of the Water 
     Resources Development Act of 2000 (114 Stat. 2680) and the 
     recommendations of the report of the Chief of Engineers, 
     dated August 6, 2004.
       (b) Deauthorizations.--As of the date of enactment of this 
     Act, the following projects are not authorized:
       (1) The uncompleted portions of the project authorized by 
     section 601(b)(2)(C)(i) of the Water Resources Development 
     Act of 2000 (114 Stat. 2682), C-44 Basin Storage Reservoir of 
     the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan, at a total 
     cost of $112,562,000, with an estimated Federal cost of 
     $56,281,000 and an estimated non-Federal cost of $56,281,000.
       (2) The uncompleted portions of the project authorized by 
     section 203 of the Flood Control Act of 1968 (82 Stat. 740), 
     Martin County, Florida modifications to the Central and South 
     Florida Project, as contained in Senate Document 101, 90th 
     Congress, 2d Session, at a total cost of $15,471,000, with an 
     estimated Federal cost of $8,073,000 and an estimated non-
     Federal cost of $7,398,000.
       (3) The uncompleted portions of the project authorized by 
     section 203 of the Flood Control Act of 1968 (82 Stat. 740), 
     East Coast Backpumping, St. Lucie--Martin County, Spillway 
     Structure S-311 of the Central and South Florida Project, as 
     contained in House Document 369, 90th Congress, 2d Session, 
     at a total cost of $77,118,000, with an estimated Federal 
     cost of $55,124,000 and an estimated non-Federal cost of 
     $21,994,000.

     SEC. 3. PICAYUNE STRAND ECOSYSTEM RESTORATION, COLLIER 
                   COUNTY, FLORIDA.

       The Secretary of the Army may carry out the project for 
     ecosystem restoration, Picayune Strand, Collier County, 
     Florida, at a total cost of $375,328,000, with an estimated 
     Federal cost of $187,664,000 and an estimated non-Federal 
     cost of $187,664,000, in accordance with section 601 of the 
     Water Resources Development Act of 2000 (114 Stat. 2680), 
     Report of the Chief of Engineers dated September 15, 2005.
                                 ______