Shifting political winds re: restoration funding

Update: The President did veto the bill, and the congress overrode that veto. This is the first veto by this president that's been overridden by Congress. Read more here.

It's been a pretty big year for federal proposals for restoration funding, but the question remains as to how many of those proposals will make it past President Bush's desk. Critical restoration in the Everglades is an unfortunate case in point, as described by the New York Times today.

The state/federal Everglades restoration project was adopted in 2000, and is described as the largest restoration project in the world. It's delicate crafting brought support from nearly all sectors in Florida - industry and conservationists; republicans and democrats. But in this war economy, raising money for restoration projects is no easy task. And while the state of Florida has invested billions, the Feds have not been particularly forthcoming with their share. Unfortunately, it appears that won't change any time soon, as the current appropriation for Everglades restoration is part of a massive water projects bill that is sitting on the President's desk awaiting a threatened veto.

We're pretty disappointed by the threatened veto for several reasons. First, as the largest restoration project in the country, and possibly in the world, this project is an icon for the nation. If we can't fulfill our promise to restore the Everglades, how many other restoration promises are going to be broken? Second, investing in restoration is an opportunity for this country to invest in green jobs that put people to work putting the land back together. In a country with a struggling economy, restoration makes good business and ecological sense. Third, and perhaps closest to home, the Everglades funding includes $375 million for hydrologic restoration of the Picayune Strand near Big Cypress National Preserve. A significant portion of this funding would go to remove roads from a 1960's scam residential development. The Nature Conservancy now owns the failed development and the roads, which are acting like dikes, must be removed to restore hydrological flow. This may be the largest appropriation for road removal ever proposed. The Picayune Strand area is 85 square miles, and the proposal also includes several other restoration projects in the area.

Perhaps Bush will change his mind and sign the bill. Regardless of what happens with this particular bill, it's time for public and private entities to begin building a green restoration economy by investing in projects like these.