In November, the Everglades Coalition held 25 meetings with Florida elected officials in five counties throughout the state for the Coalition’s first Everglades Education Week.

Representatives from the Coalition’s 54 organizations discussed the importance of continuing the momentum for investing in Everglades restoration, building up to the 27th annual Everglades Coalition Conference, Everglades Restoration: Worth Every Penny, which will be hosted on Hutchinson Island Jan. 5-8.

During the past three years, Everglades restoration projects have generated 10,500 jobs with more than 442,000 jobs expected to be created over the next several decades in tourism, real estate and commercial and recreational fishing industries. Now, more than 10 years after the original Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan was adopted by Congress, restoration projects are well under way and Floridians are reaping the benefits.

•  Restoration replenishes and protects the drinking water supply for Floridians and supplies water for agriculture, recreation and commerce.

•  Everglades National Park generates more than $165 million in visitor spending each year.

•  For every dollar invested in Everglades restoration, $4 is generated in economic benefits to the public.

•  America’s Everglades is recognized as one of the world’s most unique and spectacular natural wonders.

Florida lawmakers must support and maximize our investment in the Everglades. Each time we turn dirt on an Everglades restoration project we are creating jobs and fulfilling a promise to protect our national parks, wildlife and family memories for our children and grandchildren to enjoy.

Dawn Shirreffs, co-chair, National Everglades Coalition, Hollywood

Julie Hill-Gabriel, co-chair, State Everglades Coalition, Miami