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Mirasol - Background and How you can help In combination with adjacent projects’ 1150 acres of wetland destruction (!!), Mirasol will jeopardize the continued existence of endangered wood storks at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary – the largest stork rookery in the US. The state permit was approved last October by the South Florida Water Management District even after over 1000 emails and letters were sent to the Governing Board (some response!) Collier Audubon and its coalition partners (including Florida Wildlife Fed, Audubon of Fla, Nat’l Wildlife Fed, and the Conservancy of SW Fla) legally challenged that state approval and we’re in front of a judge now. Now, the Army Corps is reviewing the federal permit re-application and the project is no better than it was the first time – the only difference is they took out the regional drainage ditch and substituted a smaller one – this one project is still proposing to directly dig up and/or fill over 650 acres of wetlands! It must be denied. It is also important to note that an effort to identify water, wetland and habitat restoration needs in the Western Everglades, called the Southwest Florida Feasibility Study, recently ground to a halt because the same Army Corps ran out of money. Among the prioritized restoration areas identified is the Cocohatchee Slough, right where Mirasol and these other projects are!! The Army Corps must find the money to finish that effort before Mirasol and many other projects eliminate these ecosystem opportunities. (Document) HOW YOU CAN HELP: Send a letter, fax or email to the Mirasol project manager for the Army Corps, urging Mirasol Permit Denial and that the Army Corps must find the money to finish the Southwest Florida Feasibility Study. A suggested letter is below:
RE: Mirasol Application #2000-1926, revised Dear Mr. Bergmann: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is reviewing the above referenced Mirasol project which proposes to destroy over 650 acres of wetlands in one watershed adjacent to Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary. In combination with other approved and pending permits, this action may eliminate the endangered wood stork rookery at Corkscrew Swamp. I ask that you deny this revised permit, as you did in December, 2005. In addition, it is troubling that the Army Corps has not completed the Southwest Florida Feasibility Study which has already identified the Mirasol area for restoration importance, rather than development. I also urge the Army Corps to finish this vital study and get it implemented before other projects like Mirasol eliminate these dwindling opportunities.
Sincerely, Brad Cornell Big Cypress Ecosystem Policy Associate Collier County Audubon Society/Audubon of Florida 660 Tamiami Trail, North #32A Naples, FL 34102 239-643-7822 millercornell@mindspring.com
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