Background
The Everglades is recognized both nationally and internationally as one of the world’s most unique natural and cultural resources. Encompassing nearly 4 million acres of the southern tip of the Florida peninsula the Everglades and the greater Everglades ecosystem (spanning from the Kissimmee River basin north of Lake Okeechobee all the way south to Florida Bay) are also the focus of the world’s largest intergovernmental watershed restoration effort. Together, federal, state, tribal and local governments, and stakeholders are implementing numerous projects that are intended to restore the quantity, quality, timing and distribution of fresh water in an effort to reverse decades of unintended environmental decline as well as provide for future water-related needs of the region.
The Department of the Interior (DOI) has a number of important responsibilities in the management, restoration and preservation of this unique ecosystem. The National Park Service (NPS) manages four national park units, including Everglades, Dry Tortugas and Biscayne National Parks and Big Cypress National Preserve, and the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) manages 16 National Wildlife Refuges, including the A.R.M. Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge. The FWS is also responsible for the management of species protected by laws such as the Endangered Species Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. In addition, DOI’s U.S. Geological Survey provides key scientific research and support to DOI as well as to our restoration partners. Furthermore, DOI has specific responsibilities to coordinate the restoration effort. The Department’s Office of Everglades Restoration Initiatives (OERI) located in Miami, Florida is responsible for coordinating DOI’s restoration responsibilities with its federal and non-federal partners as well as facilitating coordination among DOI bureaus involved in the restoration effort. The Director of the Office of Everglades Restoration Initiatives draws in these coordination efforts to represent DOI as a whole on restoration issues. It is important to note that the Office of Everglades Restoration Initiatives does not manage or oversee the regulatory responsibilities of DOI bureaus.
DOI responsibilities include:
The Department of the Interior (DOI) has a number of important responsibilities in the management, restoration and preservation of this unique ecosystem. The National Park Service (NPS) manages four national park units, including Everglades, Dry Tortugas and Biscayne National Parks and Big Cypress National Preserve, and the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) manages 16 National Wildlife Refuges, including the A.R.M. Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge. The FWS is also responsible for the management of species protected by laws such as the Endangered Species Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. In addition, DOI’s U.S. Geological Survey provides key scientific research and support to DOI as well as to our restoration partners. Furthermore, DOI has specific responsibilities to coordinate the restoration effort. The Department’s Office of Everglades Restoration Initiatives (OERI) located in Miami, Florida is responsible for coordinating DOI’s restoration responsibilities with its federal and non-federal partners as well as facilitating coordination among DOI bureaus involved in the restoration effort. The Director of the Office of Everglades Restoration Initiatives draws in these coordination efforts to represent DOI as a whole on restoration issues. It is important to note that the Office of Everglades Restoration Initiatives does not manage or oversee the regulatory responsibilities of DOI bureaus.
DOI responsibilities include:
- South Florida Ecosystem Restoration Task Force: In the Water Resources Development Act of 1996, Congress established the South Florida Ecosystem Restoration (Task Force) and designated the Secretary of the Interior as Chair. DOI provides staff assistance for the Task Force and two of its three advisory bodies, including its Florida-based Working Group (WG) and Science Coordination Group (SCG). The Task Force consists of 14 members, who coordinate the development of consistent policies, strategies, plans, programs, projects, activities, and priorities addressing the restoration, preservation, and protection of the South Florida ecosystem. DOI bureaus serve as members of the WG and the SCG. DOI serves as a representative to the Water Resource Advisory Commission, an advisory body to the Task Force.
- Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan Implementation: In 2000, Congress approved the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration (CERP) as a framework for modifications and operational changes to the Central and Southern Florida Project that are needed to restore, preserve and protect the South Florida Ecosystem, while providing for other water- related needs of the region. The statutory authorization for the CERP, the Water Resources Development Act of 2000, provides the Secretary of the Interior (DOI) with a series of specific duties that are performed and facilitated by the Office of Everglades Restoration Initiatives including developing with the Secretary of the Army (Army) the Joint Report to Congresson the implementation of CERP and developing with the Army and the Governor of the State of Florida (Governor) an independent scientific review panel , such as the National Academy of Sciences, to provide independent peer review of the CERP. DOI has a concurrency role, by federal regulation, on revisions to the programmatic regulations and on development of the six program – wide guidance memoranda as well as a consultation role on many CERP products. Also by federal regulation, DOI, with the Army and the Governor, is tasked with executing an Interim Goals Agreement establishing interim goals. In addition to the statutory and regulatory requirements described above, DOI and its bureaus participate in project delivery teams to develop the products necessary to implement the CERP projects. Also, the OERI coordinates bureau comments on CERP implementation through the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process. As the Army and the South Florida Water Management District proceed to implement the Central Everglades Planning Project, the Task Force Working Group is hosting a series of public participation workshops to enhance public input during the planning process.
Task Force/Working Group Members
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
- U.S. Department of the Interior
- National Park Service
- Executive Office of the Governor of Florida
- U.S. Geological Survey
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
- DOI Bureau of Indian Affairs
- South Florida Water Management District
- Florida Department of Environmental Protection
- U.S. Department of the Army
- Miami-Dade County
- Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida
- Palm Beach County
- U.S. Department of Transportation
- U.S. Department of Agriculture
- U.S. Department of Justice
- U.S. Department of Commerce
- Seminole Tribe of Florida
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
- Florida Department of Transportation
- Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration