December 5, 2016 ‘The Honorable Jean Monestime Chairman, Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners 900 NE 125" Street, Suite 200 Miami, FL 33139 Dear Chairman Monestime, Thank you for your continued interest and support in protecting the water supply for 2.5 million Miami-Dade residents and for the restoration of America’s Everglades. Progress is being made. | received a copy of South Florida Water Management District Executive Director Peter Antonacc's letter to you relating to Commissioner Cava's resolution urging support for a land purchase south of Lake Okeechobee to build a reservoir. | was humored by Mr. Antonacci’s passionate concern of a bureaucratic document that is as relevant as the paper itis written upon. The Integrated Delivery Schedule (“IDS") is a planning document between the South Florida Water Management District and its federal partner, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, in setting timelines for Everglades projects. It can be modified at any time and the Corps has already stated its willingness to change the planning timeline to expedited the reservoir south of Lake ‘Okeechobee. What you and your fellow Board of County Commissioners must know is that the IDS is a living, breathing document that is often changed. In fact, Mr. Antonacci’s Board Chair, Dan O'Keefe, penned a letter on April 1, 2016 to the Army Corps of Engineers asking that the Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands, Phase II project be moved up within the IDS schedule. Under the current IDS, Phase II of the Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands project is not even included. Commissioners and residents of Miami-Dade County should not be lured into a false sense of security by the South Florida Water Management District. Since February, the state of Florida has been under a state of emergency due to toxic water in Lake Okeechobee being dumped east and west. The economic and environmental damage and threat to human health have caused a Floridians trom all walks of like to come together demanding action. Good news is that the Everglades restoration plan, on the books for 16 years, calls for an above ground reservoir south of Lake Okeechobee. This projectis vital to reducing the water pollution plaguing our fellow Floridians. Your Commission has recognized the importance of this project and sending water south for some time. As you know all too well, your constituency depends on the water that the Everglades provides, and this project helps protect that water supply. Thanks to support from the Board of County Commissioners, the Florida Legislature passed the Legacy Florida Act last session dedicating at least $200 million dollars per year towards Everglades restoration projects. Governor Scott signed the bill on 18001 Old Cutler Road Suite 625 Palmecto Bay FL. 33157 Ene €VER GLADES FOUNDATION Co-Founders: coor Bay Board of Directors Mary Bly ‘lana Bax PRD. CChtophor Bucky, Jr, Eo sim Batt ‘Barbara Wnty Care Thomas N, Davison, (arcs ola Cn, osoph 2. Dut it Mouton For, MD, Marana Fd V in Goes Rx Harton son lon Past Teer Jone James A. Kuhian PRO. kevin.aw Dave Lawrence, Corson duP. Lice Kime Meraetson Hon, Jon, ms, Es. Feber L Pas, Esa Nathan P Re Witar Fy ional, Sole ‘Stunt, Sat. PhD. Beau Wray emai: info@evergladesfoundation.org ol: 305-251-0001 fax: 305-251-0039 website: evergladesfoundation.org °April 7". The Legacy Florida Act went on to require the water management district to prioritize Everglades projects that reduce the harmful discharges from Lake Okeechobee to the coastal communities, something the district has not done and Mr. Antonacci’s encouragement of your Commission to wait until 2021 to advocate for this critical project simply ignores. Further positive news stems from Senate President Joe Negron’s vocal support of purchasing land south of Lake Okeechobee for construction of the reservoir. President Negron understands the need to store, clean and send water south from Lake Okeechobee to the Everglades. Returning to a more natural flow of water on the state peninsula will provide relief to Florida's east and west coasts, but also place more water in the Everglades sending it under the Tamiami Trail bridge and down to the Florida Keys. The Everglades Foundation strongly supports Commissioner Cava's resolution in support of advancing this critical Everglades restoration that has been stalled. We cannot afford to wait 5 more years for the planning process to start. We welcome Miami-Dade County's voice to this important effort. Sincerely,