[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 38, Number 2 (Monday, January 14, 2002)]
[Pages 38-39]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
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

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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.