Amendment 1 money
In 2013, the Indian River Lagoon was devastated by discharges from Lake Okeechobee. Discharges have started early this year, and we may be in for another “lost summer.”
The only long-term solution to this recurring nightmare is to create a flowway that can store, clean and send water south where it is needed, instead of east and west where the discharges do great harm.
In order to build a flowway, we first have to buy land. The option to buy 46,800 acres from U. S. Sugar expires in October, so the Legislature needs to authorize the purchase during the upcoming session. Fortunately, in 2014, Florida voters overwhelmingly approved Amendment 1. That money, a $1-billion budget surplus and Florida’s excellent credit in the bond market means we can afford to buy the land. The expiring option makes immediate action imperative.
Doing the right thing isn’t always easy. Our state politicians need to find some political courage, fight on our behalf and, if necessary, leave blood on the field, not leave a trail of excuses.
Mary Higgins, Port Salerno
This story was originally published February 25, 2015 at 6:54 PM with the headline "Amendment 1 money."