NPS comment period for the Tamiami Trail project ends June 29th
Dear Friends,
Completed in 1928, Tamiami Trail (US 41) is a convenient way to cross the state, a scenic highway, an engineering marvel, and unfortunately a dam across the Everglades. Now, with an administration in Washington taking a truly active interest in the plight of south Florida’s unique ecosystem, the National Park Service has been given funding and authority to raise sections of the trail and once again allow the waters of the Everglades a free run across the ‘Sea of Grass’ to the estuaries of Florida Bay and Ten Thousand Islands.
What can you do? Six alternatives have been presented to the public providing varying amounts of raised roadway. This allows for maximum bridging across Tamiami Trail and is closest to the Army Corps of Engineers original recommendation of an 11 mile bridge to allow for sufficient water flow into the park. When completed, it will provide the greatest environmental benefits to an ecosystem containing a mix of plants and animals found nowhere else on the planet - including 36 species listed as threatened or endangered. These include the manatee, green sea turtle, American Crocodile, and the critically endangered Florida panther.
"The newsletter (below) is from the 2007 alternatives which covered that part of the park. The power point describes the current options for the trail. Alternative 6 would remove the airboat concessions and return the Shark River Slough to a more natural state. It would also be a paradise for us paddlers.
This happened quickly due to bill that went through congress so we have very little time to act." See link below for related article.
http://www.miamiherald.com/569/story/922184.html
I cannot stress how very important this is to us as a paddling community. This may be our one chance to open up the East Everglades for canoes and kayaks in our lifetime without the fear of being run down by airboats!
Below I have included links to the documents and data on the Expansion plan.
Power point with alternatives: http://files.meetup.com/270488/ENP%20Alternatives.jpg
Everglades expansion plan: http://files.meetup.com/270488/EvergladesNP.pdf
Document for Comment: http://parkplanning.nps.gov/showFile.cfm?projectId=26159&docTyp...
Finally where you can comment (dead line June 29th): http://parkplanning.nps.gov/commentForm.cfm?parkID=374&projectI...
Newsletter:
The East Everglades Expansion Area
Alternative D calls for the eventual phasing out of small private airboats (no permits other than by owners of record as of 1989 - no new permitting); the buyout by the National Park Service of three commercial airboat operations which run tours within the boundaries of ENP; and the creation of a new 106,000 acre wilderness area just west of Krome Avenue and south of Tamiami Trail less than an hour from downtown Miami. New access and camping opportunities are to be provided for paddlers.
As this area is in the heart of Shark River Slough, the main source of water for most of ENP, airboat trails are not to conflict with the terms of the Everglades Expansion and Protection Act which calls for the restoration of "the natural hydrological conditions within the park." The elimination of airboats from this area will greatly facilitate a return of the natural vegetation and hydrological flows (a study conducted in the adjacent Big Cypress National Preserve found that airboat trails increased water flow five times over surrounding areas regardless of their directional orientation); decrease stress on animal life (commercial airboats are enormous and loud twin engine 'buses'); and provide visitors with a tranquil experience of the natural ecosystem that is very near and accessible to the dense urban populations of the east coast of Florida. Fishing opportunities and access to fishing spots south of Tamiami trail would improve as well as a result of this decision.
It is also absolutely essential that designated airboat trails for private airboat owners be established and laid out so that paddlers can have safe and tranquil access to this easily accessible area without the noise or danger of an airboat encounter. Given the proximity to Miami, we can expect this area to receive heavy use from paddlers once access is provided. Routes should be created for those who want access to the natural soundscape of East Everglades and the wildlife viewing opportunities the quiet atmosphere will facilitate. Freedom to paddle without worrying about a collision with an airboat in the dense sawgrass of this area is also a major consideration in the establishment of routes for both types of users.
East Everglades is a great representation of the 'classic Everglades' sawgrass and alligator marsh habitat and ridge and slough topology (low wet areas interspersed with higher tree hammocks). In extremely wet seasons, it allows for a canoe/kayak route from Tamiami Trail to Florida Bay through the historical waters of Shark River Slough. New visitor access in terms of canoe and kayak rental concessions, walking trails and boardwalks should be constructed to allow for non-damaging usages of the area by tourists and residents alike. Currently there is no public access to this area for paddling activities as the private concessions do not permit passage through their properties. The L67 Canal extension runs along the western boundary of the expansion area and does allow access to the park. However, it is a completely confined north-south channel offering no paddling access to the surrounding Everglades for the first 7 miles south of Tamiami Trail.
The buyout of the airboat concessions will also make it easier for the eventual construction of the Tamiami Trail Skyway. This eleven mile elevated roadway has been identified by the Army Corps of Engineers as the optimal method for restoring sheetflow into the main body of Everglades National Park. This project will bring in much needed water to vast areas of ENP.
Completed in 1928, Tamiami Trail (US 41) is a convenient way to cross the state, a scenic highway, an engineering marvel, and unfortunately a dam across the Everglades. Now, with an administration in Washington taking a truly active interest in the plight of south Florida’s unique ecosystem, the National Park Service has been given funding and authority to raise sections of the trail and once again allow the waters of the Everglades a free run across the ‘Sea of Grass’ to the estuaries of Florida Bay and Ten Thousand Islands.
What can you do? Six alternatives have been presented to the public providing varying amounts of raised roadway. This allows for maximum bridging across Tamiami Trail and is closest to the Army Corps of Engineers original recommendation of an 11 mile bridge to allow for sufficient water flow into the park. When completed, it will provide the greatest environmental benefits to an ecosystem containing a mix of plants and animals found nowhere else on the planet - including 36 species listed as threatened or endangered. These include the manatee, green sea turtle, American Crocodile, and the critically endangered Florida panther.
"The newsletter (below) is from the 2007 alternatives which covered that part of the park. The power point describes the current options for the trail. Alternative 6 would remove the airboat concessions and return the Shark River Slough to a more natural state. It would also be a paradise for us paddlers.
This happened quickly due to bill that went through congress so we have very little time to act." See link below for related article.
http://www.miamiherald.com/569/story/922184.html
I cannot stress how very important this is to us as a paddling community. This may be our one chance to open up the East Everglades for canoes and kayaks in our lifetime without the fear of being run down by airboats!
Below I have included links to the documents and data on the Expansion plan.
Power point with alternatives: http://files.meetup.com/270488/ENP%20Alternatives.jpg
Everglades expansion plan: http://files.meetup.com/270488/EvergladesNP.pdf
Document for Comment: http://parkplanning.nps.gov/showFile.cfm?projectId=26159&docTyp...
Finally where you can comment (dead line June 29th): http://parkplanning.nps.gov/commentForm.cfm?parkID=374&projectI...
Newsletter:
The East Everglades Expansion Area
Alternative D calls for the eventual phasing out of small private airboats (no permits other than by owners of record as of 1989 - no new permitting); the buyout by the National Park Service of three commercial airboat operations which run tours within the boundaries of ENP; and the creation of a new 106,000 acre wilderness area just west of Krome Avenue and south of Tamiami Trail less than an hour from downtown Miami. New access and camping opportunities are to be provided for paddlers.
As this area is in the heart of Shark River Slough, the main source of water for most of ENP, airboat trails are not to conflict with the terms of the Everglades Expansion and Protection Act which calls for the restoration of "the natural hydrological conditions within the park." The elimination of airboats from this area will greatly facilitate a return of the natural vegetation and hydrological flows (a study conducted in the adjacent Big Cypress National Preserve found that airboat trails increased water flow five times over surrounding areas regardless of their directional orientation); decrease stress on animal life (commercial airboats are enormous and loud twin engine 'buses'); and provide visitors with a tranquil experience of the natural ecosystem that is very near and accessible to the dense urban populations of the east coast of Florida. Fishing opportunities and access to fishing spots south of Tamiami trail would improve as well as a result of this decision.
It is also absolutely essential that designated airboat trails for private airboat owners be established and laid out so that paddlers can have safe and tranquil access to this easily accessible area without the noise or danger of an airboat encounter. Given the proximity to Miami, we can expect this area to receive heavy use from paddlers once access is provided. Routes should be created for those who want access to the natural soundscape of East Everglades and the wildlife viewing opportunities the quiet atmosphere will facilitate. Freedom to paddle without worrying about a collision with an airboat in the dense sawgrass of this area is also a major consideration in the establishment of routes for both types of users.
East Everglades is a great representation of the 'classic Everglades' sawgrass and alligator marsh habitat and ridge and slough topology (low wet areas interspersed with higher tree hammocks). In extremely wet seasons, it allows for a canoe/kayak route from Tamiami Trail to Florida Bay through the historical waters of Shark River Slough. New visitor access in terms of canoe and kayak rental concessions, walking trails and boardwalks should be constructed to allow for non-damaging usages of the area by tourists and residents alike. Currently there is no public access to this area for paddling activities as the private concessions do not permit passage through their properties. The L67 Canal extension runs along the western boundary of the expansion area and does allow access to the park. However, it is a completely confined north-south channel offering no paddling access to the surrounding Everglades for the first 7 miles south of Tamiami Trail.
The buyout of the airboat concessions will also make it easier for the eventual construction of the Tamiami Trail Skyway. This eleven mile elevated roadway has been identified by the Army Corps of Engineers as the optimal method for restoring sheetflow into the main body of Everglades National Park. This project will bring in much needed water to vast areas of ENP.
Views: 24
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by Keith W on
-
Ted, thank you for posting this! Only two days left for comment, that doesn't leave much time.
This whole thing raises some interesting economic and political issues, especially for the Miccosukee, who will probably fight this tooth and nail, as they did the 1-mile bridge project. On the other hand, I don't see them crying over the loss of competition for the airboat concession, so it isn't all bad for them. I expect that lawyers for both sides will have their hands full in the coming months.
About
Welcome to
Everglades Exploration Network
© 2024 Created by Keith W.
Powered by
