Released on = December 22, 2006, 9:07 am

Press Release Author = South Florida Water Management District

Industry = Environment

Press Release Summary = South Florida Water Management District announced completion
of more than 5,000 acres of additional treatment of wetlands to clean water ahead of
schedule.

Press Release Body =
FLORIDA COMPLETES TREATMENT WETLANDS AHEAD OF SCHEDULE

Acceler8 expansions add 5,120 acres of treatment to further improve Everglades water
quality

West Palm Beach, FL - As a part of Florida's ongoing commitment to restore America's
Everglades, the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and South Florida Water
Management District announced today completion of more than 5,000 acres of
additional treatment wetlands to clean water flowing into the famed River of Grass.
Three weeks ahead of schedule, water managers finished expanding three stormwater
treatment areas (STAs) in the Everglades Agricultural Area, adding the equivalent of
3,878 football fields of wetlands to an existing network of treatment areas.

"Florida has broken ground on six projects in the last two years to restore wetlands
and expand water treatment areas years ahead of schedule," said DEP Secretary
Colleen M. Castille. "These stormwater treatment area expansions go above and beyond
legal requirements, demonstrating the State's success in instituting green
technologies, which are today improving water quality in the Everglades."

Florida is enhancing stormwater treatment areas as part of its $1.8 billion Acceler8
initiative. The three initial STA upgrades - at STA-2 in Palm Beach County and STA-5
and STA-6 in Hendry County - add 5,120 acres to the State's 36,000 acres of existing
treatment wetlands. When complete, the Acceler8 upgrades will provide an additional
18,000 acres of treatment wetlands in the Everglades Agricultural Area.

"Acceler8 is a shining example of state and regional government level collaboration
at its best," said Kevin McCarty, SFWMD Governing Board Chairman. "Together, we're
turning dirt and getting projects in the ground at an aggressive pace to restore the
Everglades ecosystem. Our fast-tracked restoration work is serving as a model for
the nation."

The constructed wetlands contain aquatic plants that naturally cleanse phosphorus
from water before it enters the Everglades. Since 1994, constructed wetlands
together with improved farming practices have prevented 2,200 tons of phosphorus
from entering the Everglades - cutting phosphorus loads to the River of Grass by 71
percent.

"Our commitment to Everglades restoration is as strong as ever,\" said Carol Ann
Wehle, South Florida Water Management District executive director. \"And these are
not just words. Our commitment is demonstrated in the tremendous action and
progress we\'ve made over the past 24 months. We\'ve spent $90 million to date and
contracted $508 million more to substantially complete five super critical
restoration projects and start construction on three more -- all aimed at bringing
environmental benefits to the Everglades ecosystem as soon as possible.\"

Announced by Governor Jeb Bush in October 2004, the Acceler8 initiative is stepping
up the pace of funding, design and construction to complete eight important
Everglades restoration projects over five years. At substantial savings to
taxpayers, the projects will restore 100,000 acres of wetlands, expand water
treatment areas by close to 29,000 acres, including the 18,000 acres in the
Everglades Agricultural Area. It will provide 418,000 acre-feet of additional water
storage for Everglades restoration a decade ahead of schedule.

Under the leadership of Governor Bush, Florida has forged ahead to implement the
$10.9 billion, state-federal Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan. Since 2000,
Florida has invested more than $2 billion of the committed $3.3 billion through the
end of the decade to clean up and restore the famed River of Grass. For more
information on Acceler8, visit www.evergladesnow.org.
# # #
The South Florida Water Management District is a regional, governmental agency that
oversees the water resources in the southern half of the state - 16 counties from
Orlando to the Keys. It is the oldest and largest of the state's five water
management districts. The agency mission is to manage and protect water resources of
the region by balancing and improving water quality, flood control, natural systems
and water supply.






Web Site = http://

Contact Details = Jesus Rodriguez - jerodrig@sfwmd.gov
South Florida Water Management District
Office: (561) 682-6060 Cellular: (561) 568-8025