Public Comment to the Governing Board~September 9, 2009

Public Comment Paraphrased on Valuing Ecosystem Services to Agenda Item #18, 9/9/9:

River of Grass Phase 1 Summary/Phase 2 Projections
Introduction, in response to Board Member Mile Collins statement earlier, who said after the Kissimmee Basin presentation: Thirty years ago no one was looking at the total system.

Public comment: John Arthur Marshall, representing the Arthur R. Marshall Foundation; Let me begin by regressing to a remark made by Board Member Collins: Thirty years ago there was a person considering the total system. His name was Art Marshall. He was also throwing verbal hand grenades as the Kissimmee River was being canalized. That is the context from which I speak.
About a month ago [Governing Board] Chairman Buermann got published [in the Palm Beach Post] a Letter to the Editor, regarding the U.S. Sugar Land purchase to revitalize the River of Grass. Relative to costs, the Chairman called the question: What about the Benefits?
We think that is an excellent question. I am here to suggest that benefits be monetized in economic terms, same as costs.
The National Research Council [NRC] has recommended methods to do this that have growing acceptance. We recommend that the approach and methodology be used in the River of Grass Phase for decision-support.
We have also recommended that the NRC approach be incorporated in the Programmatic Regs update. Written comments for the record amplify. Board Member Powers has been provided an advance copy.
We know that [SFWMD] Staffers are working on the Programmatic Regs revision and ROG Phase 2. We ask the Board to give this some consideration.
We have it from reliable sources that Rock Salt is considering the ESV approach for application in USACE processes.
This will also be the subject of a break-out session at the Everglades Coalition Conference; we will invite the top experts to be on the panel.
Thanks for your consideration:

Chairman Buermann response: The Palm Beach Post has indicated they are interested in publishing the benefits. Perhaps we can get you involved.

Followed up with an e-mail: Just point me in the right direction.