Natural Resources

June 27, 2007

Text Size A A A

Republicans Achieve Equilibrium: Balancing Access and Conservation

Environmental Protections:

Governor Charlie Crist recently signed the 2007-2008 budget, which seeks to maintain the state’s beautiful natural resources in order to preserve and increase the overall quality of life for future generations of Floridians to enjoy through:
- Restoring Florida’s Waterways – Improving water quality is vital to Florida’s economy and quality of life. This year’s budget provides $263.1 million, including $60 million for alternative water supply projects, $21 million for Small Financially Disadvantaged Communities for Construction of Wastewater Facilities and $182 million for wastewater and drinking water improvement loans and grants;
- Saving Lake Okeechobee and Its Tributaries – Recognizing the importance of the heart of America’s Everglades, the budget allocates $54 million to Lake Okeechobee and estuary recovery. An additional $40 million is included to restore the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie rivers and estuaries as well as $6 million to the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services for pollution controls; and
- Restoring America’s Everglades – The Florida Legislature has appropriated $100 million to continue the state-federal partnership to restore the famed River of Grass and return a natural flow of water across the 2.4 million-acre marsh. To date, the state’s commitment toward the $10.9 billion Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan tops $2 billion.

Economic Benefit:

Tourism is Florida’s number-one industry, much of which is attributed to the state’s unique physical characteristics, which are attractive to hunters, fishermen, and outdoors-lovers of all types.
Pro-sportsmen and environmental preservation legislation has enabled the tourism industry to flourish in Florida, boosting the economy and growing jobs across the state.
Republicans are committed to using cash to pay for environmental projects, such as the Everglades Forever Program in 2004, funded by Republicans with $100 million in cash. This ensures that the next generation of Floridians is not burdened with our debt.
Governor Crist recently opened the state’s first hydrogen energy demonstration station, an example of high-tech initiatives that aim grow Florida’s technology industry and spur investment and economic opportunity while safeguarding the state’s natural resources.

Did You Know?

Florida is home to more than 700 documented world-record fish catches, making the Sunshine State the unequivocal "fishing capital of the world."
Florida is the nation’s premier coastline state, with 825 miles of sandy beaches stretching from the Gulf of Mexico to the Atlantic Ocean.

back | top