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U.S. Senator
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U.S. Senator Marco Rubio
Write or Call Senator Rubio
DIRKSEN SENATE OFFICE BUILDING WASHINGTON DC 20510
(202) 224-3041

U.S. Representative
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your representative in Congress


Florida Governor Rick Scott
rick.scott@eog.myflorida.com

 
  Sierra Club Florida Chapter
Sierra Club Miami Group
Miami Sierra Yahoo! group listserve
Sierra Club national website
 
  info@buildtheskyway.com
 


 

 
 
  December 23, 2011 - President Obama signs legislation authorizing the bridging!


Please join the Sierra Club in celebrating a great milestone for Everglades Restoration. On December 23 the President signed the 2012 Appropriations Act, including authorization for the elevation of Tamiami Trail, to restore the flow of the River of Grass.

Thanks go to the many scientists, volunteers, government agency staff, elected officials and environmental leaders who participated in the campaign for the Skyway over the past decade. Your phone calls, letters, advocacy and activism led to this historic event.

The signing of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2012, (HR2055) to bridge 5.5 more miles of Tamiami Trail (US Highway 41) will help to restore fresh water flow through America's Everglades and into Florida Bay. The new bridges will join a one-mile bridge already under construction. The Everglades Skyway, the term coined for the 6.5 miles of bridging is now supported by Congress, the President and a strong coalition of Florida municipalities, and civic and business organizations. Besides restoring the water flow, the project will create jobs and increase tourism.

The thousands of activists and allies who have brought us to this day must be commended. Additional thanks go to Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, Congressional Rep Bill Young (R-Seminole), Debbie Wasserman-Schultz(D-Fort Lauderdale), and US Senator Bill Nelson.

Now that the project has Congressional authorization it must also receive funding from the Congress before construction can begin.Stay tuned for how you can help make this happen.

Nonetheless, this is an historic event. After 83 years, Congress has moved to restore water flow across Tamiami Trail.
-Jonathan Ullman,Everglades Senior Representative, and Frank Jackalone, Senior Organizing Manager, Sierra Club



Let the water flow!
Tamiami Trail (US highway 41) cuts through Shark River Slough, one of the Everglades' deepest and most important water passageways. Scientists say flow must be restored by elevating Tamiami Trail if Everglades restoration is to succeed. The Everglades Skyway Coalition supports the National Park Service's proposal to build 5.5 miles of bridging in addition to a one-mile bridge now under construction. These bridges, which we cumulatively refer to as the "Everglades Skyway," are key to returning the historic water sheet flow through parched Everglades National Park and into Florida Bay. The Skyway will be beneficial to wildlife by reducing habitat fragmentation and preventing road kill. The project will create jobs and increase tourism while raising Everglades awareness at the same time. Best yet, the cumulative 6.5-mile Skyway will serve as a visible symbol of Everglades restoration. The Everglades Skyway Coalition believes that Everglades restoration cannot happen without the full 6.5-mile Skyway.

Read more about the National Park Service's Tamiami Trail Next Steps plan here.
 
Supporters of the Skyway

City of Coral Gables
City of Miami
City of Miami Beach
City of Miami Gardens
City of North Miami
Town of Miami Lakes
Miami-Dade County Metropolitan Planning Organization
Monroe County
1000 Friends of Florida
Audubon of Florida
Biscayne Gardens Civic Association
Builders Association of South Florida
Chamber South
Clean Water Action
Council of Garden Club Presidents of Dade County
Dade Heritage Trust
Defenders of Wildlife
Izaak Walton League
Everglades Coalition
Everglades Foundation
Everglades Law Center
Everglades Trust
Florida Biodiversity Project
Florida Federation of Garden Clubs
Florida Keys Fishing Guides Association
Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council
Friends of the Everglades
Miami-Dade Citizens Transportation Advisory Council
Miami-Dade Green Party
Miami Lakes Garden Club
National Parks Conservation Association
National Resources Defense Council
Operation Green Leaves
Soroptimist International of Coral Gables
Tropical Audubon Society
Urban Environment League
World Wildlife Fund
Surfrider Foundation, Miami Chapter
South Beach Hotel and Restaurant Association
SpiritSingles.com

 
 
 
 
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