    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2002, Book I)]
    [January 9, 2002]
    [Pages 37-38]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan
    January 9, 2002

        On June 4, 2001, I joined the Governor of Florida in visiting the Everglades. The Everglades and the entire
    south Florida ecosystem are a unique national treasure. The restoration
    of this ecosystem is a priority for my administration, as well as for
    Governor Bush. Today we are very pleased to solidify our commitment and
    full partnership in this unprecedented endeavor by signing a joint
    agreement to ensure that adequate water supplies will be available to
    benefit State and federally owned natural resources.
        The Water Resources Development Act of 2000 authorized the
    Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan. The plan has a projected cost
    of $7.8 billion over 30 years, the largest ecosystem restoration project
    ever undertaken. The plan establishes a unique 50/50 cost-sharing
    partnership between the State of Florida and the Federal Government.
        A critical component of the plan relates to the supply and
    management of water for multiple uses in south Florida--restoration,
    municipal, agricultural, and flood control. The Congress determined that
    the overarching objective of the plan is the restoration, preservation,
    and protection of the south Florida ecosystem, while providing for other
    water-related needs of the region, including water supply and flood
    protection.
        Because the Federal Government's primary interest is in restoration
    and protection of the federally owned natural resources in the State,
    the Congress called for the President and the Governor to agree formally that the State would reserve under
    State law for each restoration project water sufficient to meet the
    needs of the south Florida ecosystem, including Everglades National
    Park, the Big Cypress National Preserve, and other natural areas owned
    by the State and Federal Government. The reservation of water under
    State law will be included in the Project Implementation Report for each
    project and will be consistent with the plan.
        My administration is deeply committed to the Federal/State
    Everglades partnership, and the Department of the Interior and the Army
    Corps of Engineers will have important roles in this effort. On January
    16, 2001, Secretary of the Interior Norton will convene a meeting in
    Plantation, Florida, of the South Florida Ecosystem Restoration Task
    Force comprised of representatives of Federal, State, regional, local,
    and tribal governments to discuss issues involving Everglades
    restoration including the recently released draft programmatic
    regulations by the Army Corps of Engineers.

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