Commentary: Michael Collins answers Eric Eikenberg, CEO of the Everglades Foundation

Last week the Post published a "Point of View" by Eric Eikenberg. Yesterday (6/9) a "Commentary" by Michael Collins hits back hard at some of the assertions by Mr. Eikenberg. Mr. Collins is the former chairman of the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD). The failed "Land Buy" is still a big issue and so is the projected cost of the reservoir that Mr. Eikenberg supports: $2.1 Billion (not including the projected $700 million in start-up costs). Here is an excerpt from Mr. Collins' commentary:

     Suggesting that without a new reservoir, the Everglades will continue to “starve” for water? What does he think we have been doing for the past 60 years? [emphasis added] With the water management system put in place — at incredible expense — since the 1950s, the flow of water into the Everglades has grown from 200,000 acre-feet per year to more than 800,000 acre-feet. That’s a 400 percent increase, and more important, planned projects and work will continue to increase the amount of water flowing into the Everglades, without buying more land and building an expensive reservoir south of Lake O.
     Everglades water supply is not the only progress being ignored. He says: “Communities are suffering. The Everglades is threatened. The public has been waiting for more than 15 years for tangible restoration of the Everglades and is demanding action — right now.”
     It’s just wrong to so glibly dismiss the tremendous progress that has been made, the billions that have been invested and pledged, and the cooperative efforts that are making historic improvements in both water quality and quantity in the Everglades and related critical estuaries.

An image from map produced by the SFWMD demonstrating where water was moved to from Lake Okeechobee. Since last November over 308 billion gallons of water have been moved south from Lake O.