Everglades draft plan gets major reworking

A new Everglades National Park management plan that could add boating rules to Florida Bay likely will spend most of the coming year being reworked, a park planner says. Read about the updates to the Everglades National Park General Management Plan.

Controversy over Florida Bay had nothing to do with delaying the plan, which was expected to be released in 2010, said Fred Herling, Chief Everglades Planner. Concern over the federal budget and national economy do.

As part of its new management plan, Everglades National Park said it would consider rules that may restrict boating in Florida Bay shallows to protect seagrass beds. No preferred alternative has been released, but discussion at local workshops suggested it would likely include some shallow areas where access could be restricted.

Read complete details at the Keynoter news website.

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