EVERGLADES, Private help considered

[Judi Lynn]

Posted on Fri, Nov. 14, 2003

EVERGLADES
Private help considered
South Florida water managers are debating whether to hand a good deal of Everglades restoration projects over to private companies.
BY ROBERT P. KING
Palm Beach Post

Water managers Wednesday embraced the possibility of handing private enterprise a major portion of their $8.4 billion Everglades restoration, without offering details.

The idea could lead to companies building, operating or even owning more than 140 billion gallons worth of reservoirs meant to replenish the Everglades, protect Lake Okeechobee and expand South Florida's water supply.

That's a sharp change from the practice of the past half-century, in which federal engineers built the projects and handed the reins to water managers. But private businesses could finish the desperately needed projects faster than government can, said Henry Dean, executive director of the South Florida Water Management District.

And, he said, partnerships with companies could help his agency do more with limited dollars. (snip)

(snip) Four years ago, the Enron spinoff Azurix Corp. alarmed environmentalists and some lawmakers when it offered to pay for much of the restoration in return for control of the water. Company executives spoke to Gov. Jeb Bush's aides about the idea, but Azurix collapsed before it could go anywhere. (snip/...)

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/state/7257108.htm

:eyes:

[JCMach1]

1. This is VERY dangerous

Don't let them privatize the water!!!