“Nothing about the Everglades is average.”
With that observation, Lt. Col. Jennifer Reynolds of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers urged her listeners go move beyond generalities and bone-up on some specifics of Everglades restoration projects that are under way.
Reynolds was among the early featured expert speakers at The News-Press Media Group’s annual "Save Our Water" summit this morning at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point in Bonita Springs.
The mission of this sold-out event with an audience of about 400 is to educate the public with the help of authoritative speakers from around the region and the state.
There also will be a moderated panel discussion focusing on solutions going forward.
Reynolds noted that the 24-mile stretch of restored Kissimmee River enhanced wildlife by increasing the wading bird population five-fold and tripling the fish species.
Moreover, following Hurricane Irma, the bigger river flood plain “slowed down all of that water flowing into Lake Okeechobee,” giving the Corps the flexibility to better manage the water.
"The completed projects work," Reynolds said. "We just need to do more of them."
The water summit’s speakers list includes include representatives from the South Florida Water Management District, FGCU, Lee County, the Everglades Foundation, the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Council and the Southwest Florida Regional Planning Council.
They’ll share news on a variety of water projects, including the C-43 reservoir in Hendry County, the Herbert Hoover Dike restoration, what is going on in the Everglades with the Picayune Strand and more.