>>THIS WEEK ON NEWSNIGHT, FLORIDA'S ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES.

AS THE GOVERNOR APPOINT A NEW CHIEF RESILIENCE OFFICER, WE'LL LOOK AT THE STATE'S PLANS FOR COASTAL RESILIENCY.

MANATEES DIE IN RECORD NUMBERS AS GOVERNOR DESANTIS PLEDGES MORE MONEY TO CLEAN UP FLORIDA'S WATERWAYS, INCLUDING THE INDIAN RIVER LAGOON.

AND WE'LL CHECK IN ON EVERGLADES RESTORATION AS THE ARMY CORPS FINISHES UP WORK ON A NEW PLAN FOR THE RIVER OF GRASS.

NEWSNIGHT STARTS NOW.

♪ MUSIC ♪ >>HELLO, I'M STEVE MORT AND WELCOME TO NEWSNIGHT WHERE WE TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THE BIG STORIES IMPACTING CENTRAL FLORIDA AND HOW THEY AFFECT YOU.

AND WE DO THIS BY BRINGING TOGETHER A TEAM OF JOURNALISTS FROM DIFFERENT LOCAL MEDIA OUTLETS FOR IN DEPTH DISCUSSIONS ON THESE IMPORTANT ISSUES.

JOINING US THIS WEEK IN THE STUDIO, AMY GREEN, WHO COVERS THE ENVIRONMENT FOR 90.7 WMFE AND VIA ZOOM, BRUCE RITCHIE, WHO COVERS THE ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY ISSUES IN FLORIDA FOR POLITICO.

THANK YOU BOTH SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

ALL RIGHT.

FIRST TONIGHT, FLORIDA HAS A NEW CHIEF RESILIENCE OFFICER.

WESLEY BROOKS WILL BE THE THIRD PERSON TO HOLD THE POSITION, WHICH WAS CREATED IN 2019, BUT HAS BEEN VACANT SINCE MAY.

BEFORE WE TALK MORE ABOUT THAT APPOINTMENT, LET'S LISTEN TO PART OF AN INTERVIEW I DID WITH THOMAS WAHL, AN EXPERT IN COASTAL RESILIENCY AT UCF BACK IN JUNE THIS YEAR.

HE SAYS FLORIDA'S LEADERS SHOULD NOT ONLY TACKLE SEA LEVEL RISE, BUT ALSO THE UNDERLYING COURSES.

>>TO ME, THERE ARE TWO THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO IN ORDER TO BECOME RESILIENT IN THE LONG TERM.

ON THE ONE HAND, WE HAVE TO CURB OUR AMBITIONS, BECAUSE WE KNOW WHAT IS CAUSING SEA LEVEL RISE.

ACCEPTING THE FACT THAT SEA LEVEL IS RISING IS VERY IMPORTANT AND AN OBVIOUS THING TO DO WHEN YOU LIVE IN FLORIDA AND YOU SEE THOSE THINGS HAPPENING FIRSTHAND.

BUT WE ALSO KNOW THAT A VERY LARGE AMOUNT OF THE RECENT HIGH TRENDS THAT WE SEE IN SEA LEVEL RISE CANNOT BE EXPLAINED THROUGH ANY KIND OF NATURAL VARIABILITY.

WE KNOW THAT THOSE ARE LINKED TO MANMADE ACTIVITY, IN PARTICULAR, CO2 EMISSIONS.

SO WE NEED TO CURB OUR EMISSIONS IF WE WANT TO MANAGE SEA LEVEL RISE IMPACT IN THE LONG RUN.

SO, THAT IS INEVITABLE.

>>AT THE SAME TIME, THE OCEAN IS A BIG SYSTEM WITH A LOT OF INERTIA, SO WE ARE ALREADY COMMITTED TO A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF SEA LEVEL RISE.

SO EVEN IF WE WERE TO STOP EMITTING CO2 TOMORROW, SEA LEVEL WILL CONTINUE TO RISE FOR PROBABLY HUNDREDS OF YEARS, BUT IT WILL RISE AT A MUCH SLOWER RATE THAT IS MUCH EASIER TO MANAGE FROM A RESILIENCY PERSPECTIVE.

SO WE NEED TO ADAPT AT THE SAME TIME.

I THINK THOSE TWO THINGS HAVE TO HAPPEN HAND IN HAND... CURB THE EMISSIONS AND MITIGATE CLIMATE CHANGE AS A WHOLE, LIMIT GLOBAL WARMING TO IDEALLY, THE TARGETS THAT WERE AGREED ON IN THE PARIS AGREEMENT, BECAUSE THAT WOULD AUTOMATICALLY ALSO LIMIT SEA LEVEL RISE TO A CERTAIN AMOUNT.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, KNOW THAT SEA LEVEL IS GOING TO RISE NO MATTER WHAT WE DO... HOPEFULLY NOT AS MUCH AS SOME OF THE PROJECTIONS ARE SAYING IT COULD, AND WE NEED TO PREPARE FOR THAT BECAUSE IT IS GOING TO COME.

THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT.

SO I THINK THESE TWO THINGS NEED TO HAPPEN SIMULTANEOUSLY.

>>THOMAS WAHL THERE.

WELL, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE MAN THAT'S GOING TO BE IN CHARGE OF ALL OF THESE ISSUES, WESLEY BROOKS.

WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT HIM, AMY?

>>RIGHT.

WELL, WESLEY BROOKS IS FLORIDA'S NEW CHIEF RESILIENCE OFFICER, AND HE PREVIOUSLY HAD BEEN DIRECTOR OF FEDERAL AFFAIRS AT THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION.

BEFORE THAT HE HAD WORKED FOR US SENATOR MARCO RUBIO AND REPRESENTATIVE BRIAN MAST.

HE IS THE SECOND OR THIRD PERSON TO BE IN THAT POSITION, KIND OF DEPENDING ON HOW YOU LOOK AT THE SITUATION.

HE REPLACES JULIA NESHEIWAT, WHO HAD BEEN IN THAT POSITION FOR ONLY ABOUT SIX MONTHS AND SHE LEFT EARLY LAST YEAR FOR THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

SINCE THEN, FORMER SECRETARY OF THE DEP, NOAH VALENSTEIN, HAD BEEN DOING THAT ROLE, KIND OF AS A DUAL ROLE BUT HE LEFT THE GOVERNMENT IN MAY.

>>AND WHAT IS THAT ROLE?

I MEAN, WHAT DOES THE CHIEF RESILIENCE OFFICER DO?

>>RIGHT.

WELL, JULIE NESHEIWAT, WHEN SHE'D BEEN IN THAT ROLE, SHE HAD BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR COORDINATING THESE KIND OF DIVERSE EFFORTS THAT ARE UNDERWAY IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA WHEN IT COMES TO RESILIENCY.

SHE HAD PRODUCED A REPORT THAT KIND OF CONCLUDED THAT, OBVIOUSLY, THERE'S REALLY NO COMPREHENSIVE STATEWIDE PLAN WHEN IT COMES TO CLIMATE CHANGE AND MOVING TO CLEANER ENERGY.

ONE OF THE THINGS SHE HAD PROPOSED WAS GIVING SOME OF THAT RESPONSIBILITY TO THE WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICTS.

SO THAT'S WHAT WESLEY BROOKS WILL BE WORKING ON.

>>YEAH.

BRUCE, LET ME COME TO YOU.

GOVERNOR DESANTIS SAYS HE WANTS LAWMAKERS TO ALLOCATE $550 MILLION FOR COASTAL RESILIENCY IN NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET.

HE'S GOTTEN BIPARTISAN SUPPORT ON THIS ISSUE PREVIOUSLY, RIGHT?

IS HE LIKELY TO GET IT AGAIN, DO YOU THINK?

>>YES, THERE IS BIPARTISAN SUPPORT FOR IT.

IT DEPENDS ON WHERE THE MONEY IS COMING FROM.

AT THIS POINT, WE DON'T KNOW WHERE THE GOVERNOR WANTS TO GET THAT MONEY FROM FOR THE COMING BUDGET YEAR.

>>YEAH.

>>THIS PAST YEAR, THE LEGISLATURE USED $500 MILLION IN FEDERAL CORONAVIRUS STIMULUS FUNDING.

LET'S NOT MENTION MUCH THAT IT WAS FEDERAL MONEY, NOT STATE MONEY, BUT IT WAS, AND THE LEGISLATURE DECIDED THAT'S HOW TO USE IT.

THERE WAS A LOT OF SUPPORT FOR DOING THAT.

THE LEGISLATURE ALSO REALLOCATED MONEY THEY HAD IN THE PAST MARKED FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR BOTH RESILIENCY AND FLOODING.

AND THAT WAS AN UNPOPULAR MOVE AMONG DEMOCRATS, BUT IT STILL PASSED ANYWAY.

>>YEAH.

AND THE GOVERNOR HAS REALLY APPLAUDED IT, HASN'T HE?

FOR HIS WILLINGNESS TO TACKLE CLIMATE ISSUES.

IS DEALING WITH CLIMATE A WINNING ISSUE REGARDLESS OF THE POLITICAL TIDES IN THE STATE?

AND HOW DO GOVERNORS LIKE DESANTIS DEAL WITH TERMS LIKE CLIMATE CHANGE THAT HAVE BECOME POLITICAL?

I MEAN, WE ALL KNOW ABOUT FORMER GOVERNOR SCOTT'S STRUGGLES WITH THAT TERM.

>>WELL, YES.

THE REPUTATION OF THE SCOTT ADMINISTRATION WAS THAT, "WE'RE NOT GOING TO SAY THE WORDS CLIMATE CHANGE."

AND ACTUALLY GOVERNOR DESANTIS DOES NOT TALK ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE EITHER.

THERE CERTAINLY DOESN'T SEEM TO BE A PROHIBITION.

THEY'LL TALK ABOUT FLOODING, RESILIENCY, PROTECTING PROPERTY, PREPARING FOR THE FUTURE, DEALING WITH HARSHER STORMS, BUT YOU DO NOT HEAR HIM TALK ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE.

AND AS HE FAMOUSLY SAID DURING HIS CAMPAIGN, HE'S NOT FROM THE...

HE DOES NOT SIT IN THE PEWS OF THE CHURCH OF GLOBAL WARMING LEFTISTS SO- >>YEAH, AMY, I MEAN, LET'S SORT OF DRILL DOWN WITH THAT A LITTLE BIT.

I MEAN, FLORIDA DOESN'T HAVE A STATEWIDE CLEAN ENERGY PLAN, RIGHT?

I MEAN, DESPITE ALL THE TALK OF THE ENVIRONMENT FROM THE GOVERNOR.

ARE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS LIKE ORLANDO, FOR EXAMPLE, ABLE TO ADOPT THEIR OWN PLANS?

>>SURE, YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT.

THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE SEEING IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA.

YOU'RE RIGHT, STEVE.

FLORIDA IS A STATE THAT OBVIOUSLY IS UNIQUELY VULNERABLE TO THE CONSEQUENCES OF BURNING FOSSIL FUELS.

WE'RE OBVIOUSLY VULNERABLE TO SEA LEVEL RISE, AND HURRICANES, AND HOTTER TEMPERATURES AND YET THE STATE DOES NOT HAVE A STATEWIDE PLAN FOR MOVING TOWARD CLEANER SOURCES OF ENERGY.

AND SO YOU'RE SEEING LEADERSHIP ON THAT ISSUE IN THIS STATE COMING FROM LOCAL GOVERNMENTS LIKE ORLANDO, WHICH DOES HAVE A PLAN FOR MOVING TO NET ZERO CARBON EMISSIONS BY 2050.

>>AND I WANTED TO ASK YOU ABOUT COMMISSIONER NIKKI FRIED.

THIS WEEK, SHE OUTLINED THE STATE DEMOCRATS ENVIRONMENTAL PRIORITIES FOR THE OUTGOING LEGISLATION.

I MEAN, WHAT DID WE LEARN FROM THAT?

>>RIGHT.

SO, AS YOU KNOW, SECRETARY FRIED OR COMMISSIONER FRIED IS RUNNING AGAINST GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS IN THE GUBERNATORIAL RACE FOR 2022 AND SO, SHE DID A NEWS CONFERENCE YESTERDAY KIND OF TOUTING SOME OF THE DEMOCRATIC PRIORITIES FOR THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION WHEN IT COMES TO THE ENVIRONMENT.

SHE HIGHLIGHTED TWO BILLS IN THE LEGISLATURE.

ONE THAT IS AIMED AT IMPROVING FARMING PRACTICES THAT WOULD MINIMIZE THEIR IMPACTS ON WATER QUALITY, AND THE OTHER IS IT WOULD SET CLEAN ENERGY GOALS LEADING UP TO 2055.

>>AND WE ARE TAPING THE SHOW BY THE WAY ON THURSDAY MORNING SO YESTERDAY WOULD BE WEDNESDAY.

BRUCE, LET ME COME TO YOU.

CRITICS MIGHT SAY THAT SORT OF TACKLING THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE WHILE NOT HAVING A STATEWIDE EMISSIONS PLAN LIKE OTHER BIG STATES SUCH AS CALIFORNIA, ISN'T A COHERENT STRATEGY.

DOES THE GOVERNOR HAVE AN ANSWER TO THAT?

>>WELL, THE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP IN GENERAL WILL SAY, "WE ARE TAKING ACTION.

LOOK AT US.

WE ARE NOT POINTING FINGERS OVER WHO'S TO BLAME, WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT SOCIALIST'S GREEN NEW DEAL."

THEY'LL THROW THAT UP THERE.

BUT THEY'LL SAY THAT, "WE'RE TAKING ACTION, WE'RE SPENDING MONEY, WE'RE PUTTING OUR MONEY WHERE OUR MOUTH IS, AND WE'RE DOING SOMETHING ABOUT IT."

>>YEAH.

AND BE SURE TO JOIN THIS CONVERSATION ON SOCIAL MEDIA, WE'RE AT WUCF TV ON FACEBOOK, TWITTER, AND ALSO ON INSTAGRAM.

WELL, WHILE FLOODING AND CLIMATE ISSUES ARE KEY ISSUES FOR OUR STATE, SO TOO IS THE RESILIENCY OF FLORIDA'S WATERWAYS.

LOCALLY, ONE OF THE BIGGEST ISSUES OF COURSE, IS THE INDIAN RIVER LAGOON.

WE'VE REPORTED ON THIS PROGRAM ABOUT EFFORTS TO CLEAN UP THE LAGOON.

WELL, THOSE EFFORTS WILL NOW BENEFIT FROM MORE THAN $50 MILLION IN NEWLY ANNOUNCED GRANT MONEY, WHICH WILL FUND 13 WASTEWATER INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS.

>>THE INDIAN RIVER LAGOON IS BY NO MEANS ALONE IN ITS TROUBLES, BUT WASTEWATER POLLUTION FROM SEPTIC TANKS, OVERFLOWING SEWAGE, AGRICULTURAL RUNOFF, AND LAWN FERTILIZERS HAVE DEVASTATED THIS WATERWAY, ONE OF THE MOST DIVERSE ECOSYSTEMS IN THE COUNTRY.

WORK ON CLEANING UP THE LAGOON WHICH HAS BEEN POLLUTED BY NUTRIENTS LIKE PHOSPHORUS AND NITROGEN HAS BEEN A LONG HAUL.

LAWMAKERS PASSED THE INDIAN RIVER LAGOON ACT TO TACKLE THE PROBLEM WAY BACK IN 1990.

EFFORTS INCLUDE DREDGING VAST QUANTITIES OF MUCK AND GETTING PROPERTIES THAT USE SEPTIC TANKS HOOKED UP TO THE SEWER SYSTEM.

>>EAST OF US 1 >>THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION WILL PAY FOR THE REMOVAL OF SOME 3000 SEPTIC TANKS AND UPDATE THREE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANTS.

THE IMPACTS OF LAGOON POLLUTION ARE WIDE RANGING, INCLUDING FISH KILLS AND ALGAE BLOOMS THAT HAVE KILLED VAST SWATHS OF SEAGRASS.

THAT'S LED TO A RECENT DRAMATIC INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF MANATEES STARVING TO DEATH.

SEAGRASS IS A VITAL SOURCE OF FOOD FOR MANATEES.

MORE THAN A THOUSAND OF THE CREATURES HAVE DIED IN FLORIDA SO FAR THIS YEAR, MOSTLY IN BREVARD COUNTY.

THAT'S A NEW RECORD.

FEDERAL AND STATE AGENCIES ARE SEARCHING FOR SOLUTIONS, POSSIBLY INCLUDING SUPPLEMENTAL FEEDING.

>>ALL RIGHT, WELL, AMY, LET'S START THERE WITH THE MANATEE DEATHS, IF WE CAN.

PUT THIS IN CONTEXT FOR US.

I MEAN, HOW MUCH OF THE POPULATION DOES THIS DIE OFF ACCOUNT FOR?

>>RIGHT.

WELL, STEVE, THIS IS AN UNPRECEDENTED CRISIS SITUATION FOR FLORIDA'S MANATEES.

I JUST CHECKED THE NUMBERS AGAIN YESTERDAY AND A RECORD 1017 MANATEES HAVE DIED THIS YEAR IN FLORIDA.

THIS IS NEARLY DOUBLE THE ANNUAL AVERAGE WHEN IT COMES TO MANATEE MORTALITIES IN THE STATE, AND IT ALSO REPRESENTS ABOUT 10% OF THE ANIMALS POPULATION IN FLORIDA.

IT'S THE LATEST THOUGH, IN A STRING OF MORTALITY EVENTS FOR MANATEES IN FLORIDA.

THE PREVIOUS RECORD HAD BEEN 800 AND SOME MANATEES IN 2013.

>>I MEAN, WE TALKED JUST THERE ABOUT SOME OF THE POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS INCLUDING SUPPLEMENTAL FEEDINGS.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE SOLUTIONS THAT ARE BEING LOOKED AT, SORT OF CERTAINLY IN THE NEAR TERM, WHEN WE'VE GOT THIS CRISIS HAPPENING?

>>RIGHT.

SO THIS SITUATION HAS PROMPTED AN URGENT FEDERAL STATE EFFORT TO BRACE POTENTIALLY FOR MORE DEATHS THIS WINTER, WHICH IS WHEN MANATEES ARE MOST VULNERABLE BECAUSE THEY'RE SENSITIVE TO COLD WATER.

AND A LOT OF THE PROBLEMS THAT MANATEES ARE FACING WILL NOT BE SOLVED OVERNIGHT.

AND SO THE WILDLIFE AGENCIES ARE MEETING REGULARLY TO TALK ABOUT HOW TO MAXIMIZE RESOURCES AND COORDINATE EFFORTS SHOULD ANOTHER MORTALITY EVENT HAPPEN AGAIN THIS WINTER.

AND AS YOU SAID, ONE OF THE THINGS THEY'RE DISCUSSING IS SUPPLEMENTAL FEEDINGS, WHICH OBVIOUSLY IS A VERY CONTROVERSIAL MEASURE AND LOGISTICALLY CHALLENGING WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT, WHAT WOULD BE INVOLVED IN FEEDING AN ANIMAL THAT CONSUMES HUNDREDS OF POUNDS OF VEGETATION DAILY.

>>WHAT'S CONTROVERSIAL ABOUT IT?

>>WELL, USUALLY THE LAST THING YOU WANT IS A WILD ANIMAL TO BE DEPENDENT ON HUMANS FOR FOOD.

>>I SEE.

YEAH.

I MEAN, IT'S CERTAINLY A VERY TRICKY ECOLOGICAL QUESTION.

BRUCE, THE US FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE DOWN LISTED MANATEES FROM ENDANGERED TO THREATENED A FEW YEARS AGO.

AMID THE BOOMING NUMBERS THAT WE WERE SEEING THEN, I MEAN, WHAT WENT WRONG HERE?

AND COULD THE STATUS CHANGE POSSIBLY?

>>WELL, THE ENVIRONMENTALISTS CERTAINLY WERE OPPOSED TO DOWN LISTING THE BELOVED MANATEE.

THEY BELIEVED THAT ITS STATUS WAS TOO PERILOUS AS IT WAS ALREADY DESPITE POPULATION GROWTHS OVER THE YEAR.

AND AS IT TURNED OUT, SEAGRASSES HAVE BEEN WIPED OUT IN INDIAN RIVER LAGOON AND IN MANY PLACES AROUND THE STATE.

AND MANY OF OUR ESTUARIES, AND HARBORS HAVE BEEN POLLUTED OVER THE YEARS, HAVE BECOME COVERED IN ALGAE FROM NUTRIENTS, FROM RUNOFF, FROM FARMS, SEPTIC TANKS, FERTILIZER.

AND SO THERE IS A LONG ROAD BACK TO GETTING THE STATE WATERS HEALTHY AND CLEAN AGAIN, AND TO MAKE IT SO THAT YOU CAN HAVE THE SEAGRASS MEADOWS, THAT MANATEES DEPEND ON.

AND AS WELL AS RIVERS AND SPRINGS THAT ARE CLEAN AND FRESH AND HAVE HEALTHY VEGETATION.

>>IT JUST SEEMS LIKE SUCH A DRAMATIC TURNAROUND IN FORTUNES.

AND BRUCE, THE STATE IS RAMPING UP FUNDING FOR WASTEWATER IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS AROUND FLORIDA... NOT JUST IN BREVARD, WHY IS THIS BEING SEEN AS A PRIORITY?

IS IT JUST BECAUSE OF THESE VERY VISIBLE IMPACTS, DO YOU THINK?

>>WELL, IT'S ESPECIALLY THE VISIBLE IMPACTS WHEN YOU HAVE DEAD FISH WASHING UP ON THE BEACHES OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA AS WAS THE CASE IN 2018 DURING A RED TIDE THERE DURING THE GOVERNOR'S RACE.

AND THAT HAD QUITE AN EFFECT ON THE POLITICAL SEASON AT THAT TIME AND HELPED GET RON DESANTIS IN OFFICE BECAUSE HE PROMISED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT, AND APPOINTED THE HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOM TASK FORCE, REINSTITUTED THE STATE'S RED TIDE EFFORTS.

SO TACKLING WASTEWATER IS THE PRIORITY ISSUE THAT LEGISLATORS SEE.

IT HELPS CITIES AND AREAS THAT HAVE BEEN HAMPERED BY INSUFFICIENT INFRASTRUCTURE OVER THE YEARS CATCH UP.

>>YEAH, AMY, YOU'VE COVERED THE SORT OF SAVE OUR LAGOON EFFORT IN BREVARD PRETTY EXTENSIVELY.

SO, I MEAN, LET'S DRILL DOWN A LITTLE BIT ON THOSE EFFORTS THERE AS THEY STAND.

I MEAN, WHAT DO WE KNOW, FIRST OF ALL, ABOUT THOSE 13 INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS THAT THE GOVERNOR TALKED ABOUT AROUND THE LAGOON AND THAT WE REFERRED TO IN OUR STORY?

>>YEAH.

SO A LOT OF THESE PROJECTS HAVE TO DO WITH WATER QUALITY IN THE INDIAN RIVER LAGOON.

THE INDIAN RIVER LAGOON IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT HABITATS IN THE WORLD FOR MANATEES.

IT'S AN ESTUARY WHERE MANATEES CAN ENJOY SOME WARMER WATER DURING THE WINTER MONTHS.

THERE'S A POWER PLANT THERE IN TITUSVILLE WHERE A LOT OF MANATEES SPEND THE WINTER MONTHS.

BUT WHAT WE'VE SEEN IN THE INDIAN RIVER LAGOON... AND BRUCE TALKED ABOUT THIS A LITTLE BIT TOO, IS JUST WIDESPREAD WATER QUALITY PROBLEMS THAT HAVE LED TO A WIDESPREAD LOSS OF SEAGRASS, WHICH IS THE MANATEES FAVORITE FOOD AND THAT'S WHY YOU'RE SEEING A LOT OF THESE MANATEES JUST STARVING.

AND SO A LOT OF THESE WATER QUALITY PROBLEMS ARE AIMED AT CURBING THAT NUTRIENT POLLUTION THAT FEEDS THOSE HARMFUL ALGAE BLOOMS AND AFFECTS THE SEAGRASS.

>>AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE TRYING TO TAKE MORE PEOPLE OFF SEPTIC, RIGHT?

THAT'S ONE OF THE BIGGEST- >>[CROSSTALK] THAT'S ONE OF THE GOALS, YEAH.

>>BECAUSE SOME OF THOSE SEPTIC TANKS SORT OF- >>MM-HMM (AFFIRMATIVE).

>>LEAK WHEN THOSE RESIDENTIAL AREAS ARE NEXT TO THE LAGOON.

>>EXACTLY.

>>I MEAN, THE INDIAN RIVER LAGOON CLEANUP HAS SORT OF FACED DELAYS OVER THE YEARS, IT'S FACED SETBACKS IN VARYING DEGREES OF SUCCESS.

I MEAN, GIVE US A PROGRESS REPORT ABOUT WHERE WE ARE NOW WITH THE CLEANUP FROM YOUR REPORTING.

ARE THINGS GOING AS PLANNED, DO YOU THINK?

>>YEAH.

SO THE CHALLENGE FOR THE INDIAN RIVER LAGOON IS THAT IT'S UNLIKE OTHER RESTORATION PROJECTS LIKE THE EVERGLADES, WHICH HAS A SET ESTABLISHED STREAM OF FUNDING TO SUPPORT THOSE PROJECTS.

>>MM-HMM (AFFIRMATIVE).

>>THE INDIAN RIVER LAGOON...

THEY'VE KIND OF HAD TO DO PROJECTS WHEN THEY HAVE THE FUNDING.

RESIDENTS IN BREVARD COUNTY PASSED A SALES TAX INCREASE TO SUPPORT SOME OF THOSE PROJECTS.

AND SO, THAT'S SUPPORTED THOSE PROJECTS IN RECENT YEARS, BUT AGAIN, THEY HAVEN'T HAD A STEADY STREAM OF FUNDING TO SUPPORT SOME OF THAT WORK.

>>YEAH.

AND OF COURSE SO MUCH GROWTH IN CENTRAL FLORIDA, AND THAT OF COURSE OFTEN CONTRIBUTES TO THESE ISSUES THAT WE'RE SEEING NOW WITH THE ENVIRONMENT.

WHILE EFFORTS TO RESTORE THE INDIAN RIVER LAGOON INTERSECT WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE EVERGLADES RESTORATION PLAN AUTHORIZED BY CONGRESS IN 2000, THE US ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS IS MOVING CLOSER NOW TO FINALIZING ITS NEW REGULATION PLAN FOR LAKE OKEECHOBEE.

THE RESULTS OF YEARS OF NEGOTIATIONS WITH STAKEHOLDERS, INCLUDING COASTAL COMMUNITIES AND OF COURSE, THE SUGAR INDUSTRY.

IT'LL HAVE AN IMPACT ON ESTUARIES WHICH HAVE EXPERIENCED TOXIC ALGAE BLOOMS CAUSED BY POLLUTED STORM WATER RUNOFF.

>>IN NOVEMBER, THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS FINISHED WORK ON THIS RESERVOIR AND STORMWATER TREATMENT FACILITY IN MARTIN COUNTY.

IT FORMS PART OF A DECADES LONG EFFORT TO REPAIR DAMAGE TO THE EVERGLADES FROM HUMAN ACTIVITY.

THE C-44 FACILITY WILL COLLECT AND CLEAN BILLIONS OF GALLONS OF WATER RELEASED FROM LAKE OKEECHOBEE BEFORE IT ENDS UP IN THE ST. LUCIE RIVER, AND EVENTUALLY THE INDIAN RIVER LAGOON.

NUTRIENT POLLUTED FRESH WATER RELEASES FROM LAKE O ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR FOUL ALGAE BLOOMS THAT HAVE POPPED UP AROUND FLORIDA'S COASTLINE.

THE ARMY CORPS HASN'T HAD A NEW PLAN FOR WHERE STORM WATER FLOW THROUGHOUT THE STATE SINCE 2008.

THIS ONE AIMS TO ALLOW MORE WATER TO FLOW SOUTH OVER THE EVERGLADES, SOME OVERLANDS ONE'S DRAIN TO MAKE WAY FOR SUGAR FARMS.

WITH MORE WATER FLOWING SOUTH, LESS WILL NEED TO BE DISCHARGED TO FLORIDA'S EAST AND WEST COAST WHEN LAKE OKEECHOBEE FILLS UP WITH STORM WATER IN THE SUMMERTIME.

THE C-44 CANAL WHICH DIVERTS THAT WATER TO THE ST. LUCIE RIVER COULD SEE THOSE DISCHARGES REDUCED BY SOME 50 BILLION GALLONS A YEAR.

BUT CRITICS SAY THE PLAN DOESN'T RESOLVE KEY ISSUES AROUND WATER FLOW AND STILL ALLOCATES TOO MUCH WATER TO THE SUGAR INDUSTRY.

>>NOW WE'RE FINALLY DOING SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

>>SOME FLORIDA REPUBLICANS ARE CRITICAL OF THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION FOR NOT INCLUDING EVERGLADES RESTORATION AND THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL PASSED BY CONGRESS- >>IT MAKES THE EVERGLADES MUCH HEALTHIER- >>WHILE PRAISING GOVERNOR DESANTIS FOR INCREASING INVESTMENT IN THE COMPREHENSIVE EVERGLADES RESTORATION PLAN.

THE GOVERNOR RECENTLY ANNOUNCED HE'D PUSH FOR MORE THAN $600 MILLION FOR EVERGLADES RESTORATION IN THE NEXT BUDGET SAID TO BE DEBATED BY LAW MAKERS IN THE UPCOMING LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

>>THEY SAY UNDER PROMISE AND OVER DELIVER, WELL, I THINK WHAT WE DID, I THINK WE OVER PROMISED, BUT WE STILL OVER DELIVERED AND THAT'S EVEN HARDER TO DO.

WE'RE PUTTING OUR MONEY WHERE OUR MOUTH IS.

WE'RE MAKING THE INVESTMENTS.

WE WILL HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE IN PLACE.

IT JUST DOESN'T HAPPEN OVERNIGHT.

SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THAT TO WHERE WE CAN MITIGATE THESE DISCHARGES TO THE CALOOSAHATCHEE AND ST. LUCIE, AND WE'LL GET MORE WATER MOVING SOUTH.

AND ACTUALLY SOUTH FLORIDA WATER MANAGEMENT, THEY'RE MOVING A LOT MORE WATER SOUTH THAN THEY USED TO BE ABLE TO DO.

AND WE'RE GOING TO DO MORE- >>GOVERNOR DESANTIS THERE.

AMY, YOU PRODUCED A PODCAST SERIES ABOUT THE TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS OF THE EVERGLADES.

I MEAN, GIVE US A BROAD OVERVIEW OF HOW WE GOT TO THIS POINT WITH THE GLADE SYSTEM AS A WHOLE.

I MEAN, IS THIS JUST DOWN TO ALL THIS DITCHING AND DIKING THAT WE'VE DONE OVER THE DECADES TO MAKE WAY FOR FARMING AND RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT?

>>YEAH.

WELL, IF YOU CAN IMAGINE A CENTURY AGO, MOST OF THE FLORIDA PENINSULA WAS UNDERWATER, AND OF COURSE, A LOT OF THAT WAS DRAINED TO MAKE WAY FOR THE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT AND THE AGRICULTURE THAT WE IN FLORIDA TODAY.

AND IT'S REALLY MADE FLORIDA THE STATE THAT WE KNOW TODAY, BUT THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF OBVIOUS ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH ALL THAT DRAINING.

WHAT WE HAVE NOW IN FLORIDA IS SOME OF THE MOST COMPLICATED WATER MANAGEMENT INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE WORLD.

IN THE EVERGLADES AND AT THE HEART OF THE EVERGLADES, LAKE OKEECHOBEE, THESE ARE VERY MANAGED SYSTEMS.

AND SO, WHAT WE HAVE THIS YEAR IN THE EVERGLADES IS THIS VERY COMPLICATED DISCUSSION OVER THE RULES THE US ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS USE TO MANAGE LAKE OKEECHOBEE, WHICH IS CONSIDERED BY MANY TO BE KIND OF THE WATERY HEART OF THE EVERGLADES.

>>AND FOR THOSE OF US WHO HAVE BEEN DOWN TO SEE THOSE ARMY CORPS PROJECTS, I MEAN, IT'S AN INCREDIBLY COMPLICATED ENGINEERING FEAT THAT THEY HAVE TO DO ON AN ONGOING BASIS.

I MEAN, BRUCE, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE NEW LAKE OKEECHOBEE PLAN FOR A MOMENT IF WE COULD.

I MEAN, HOW HAS THE ARMY CORPS COME UP WITH ITS DECISION ABOUT HOW MUCH WATER TO RELEASE AND WHERE TO RELEASE IT?

IT'S A REAL BALANCING ACT.

>>IT IS, IT'S VERY TRICKY.

THEY HAVE RUN HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF MODEL RUNS... COMPUTER MODELS, TO SIMULATE LAKE LEVELS, FLOWS, RAINFALL, TIMES OF YEAR, WATER NEEDS.

THEY'VE ALSO HELD MANY MEETINGS, BOTH ONLINE AND IN PERSON TO GET PUBLIC INPUT AND THEY HAVE A TEAM OF STAKEHOLDERS FROM ALL SORTS IN THE INDUSTRY TO COME UP WITH A PLAN THAT THE ARMY CORPS SAYS WILL ALLOW THE LAKE OKEECHOBEE TO STAY HIGHER, TO AVOID RELEASES OR DISCHARGES TO THE COASTAL ESTUARIES.

THERE WILL STILL BE RELEASES, BUT THEY'RE SAYING THAT IT'S JUST GOING TO GIVE MORE FLEXIBILITY, ESPECIALLY ALONG WITH A STRENGTHENED HERBERT HOOVER DIKE AROUND THIS MASSIVE LAKE THAT'S IN THE MIDDLE OF SOUTH FLORIDA.

>>YEAH.

AND OF COURSE, AMY, THE ARMY CORP SEEMS HAPPY WITH THIS PLAN AS IT IS, BUT THERE ARE CRITICISMS OF IT, RIGHT?

AND I MEAN, WHAT ARE THE MAIN ISSUES THAT STAKEHOLDERS HAVE?

I MEAN, IT'S GOT TO BE HARD TO GET ALL THOSE PARTIES FROM ENVIRONMENTALISTS TO THE SUGAR INDUSTRY ON THE SAME PAGE.

>>ABSOLUTELY.

SO, YOU MENTIONED THAT THIS IS A BALANCING ACT.

IT'S AN INCREDIBLE BALANCING ACT THAT THE US ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS FACES THERE.

ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS WANT MORE WATER FOR THE EVERGLADES FROM LAKE OKEECHOBEE, FARMERS IN THAT REGION WANT MORE WATER FOR THEIR CROPS.

>>MM-HMM (AFFIRMATIVE).

>>COASTAL RESIDENTS ARE EXTRAORDINARILY FATIGUED BY THESE LARGE DISCHARGES OF FRESH WATER FROM LAKE OKEECHOBEE THAT CAN THREATEN THE DELICATE ESTUARIES ON THE COAST AND BRING WITH IT NUTRIENT POLLUTION THAT CAN TRIGGER THESE TERRIBLE TOXIC ALGAE BLOOMS- >>[CROSSTALK] THAT EVENTUALLY AFFECT US LATER.

>>THAT WE'VE SEEN IN THE STATE.

SURE.

RIGHT.

BRUCE MENTIONED THAT THE LATEST PLAN KEEPS THE WATER LEVEL A LITTLE HIGHER IN LAKE OKEECHOBEE AND SOME PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED THAT THAT COULD PREVENT SUNLIGHT FROM REACHING THE BOTTOM OF THE LAKE AND AFFECT THE SEAGRASS AND THE WILDLIFE THAT LIVES THERE.

SO THESE ARE VERY COMPLICATED DISCUSSIONS THAT WILL CONTINUE FOR SOME TIME.

I THINK, IT'S ALSO INTERESTING AND KIND OF EXCITING TO TAKE A STEP BACK AND CONSIDER THE BIG PICTURE, AND CONSIDER HOW THE SITUATION WITH LAKE OKEECHOBEE FITS INTO THIS BIGGER PICTURE.

YOUR PIECE MENTIONED THE C-44 STORMWATER TREATMENT AREA THAT'S RECENTLY BEEN COMPLETED.

WE TALKED RECENTLY ABOUT THE KISSIMMEE RIVER AND A MAJOR RESTORATION COMPLETE THERE.

AND SO, WE'RE 20 YEARS NOW INTO EVERGLADES RESTORATION.

WE'RE REACHING A POINT WHERE WE'RE MOVING BEYOND A PLANNING PHASE TO A COMPLETION AND IMPLEMENTATION PHASE OF SOME OF THESE PROJECTS AND IT GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE HOW THESE PROJECTS ARE GOING TO WORK TOGETHER IN CONCERT TOWARD IMPROVING THE SITUATION IN THE EVERGLADES AS A WHOLE.

>>FOR SURE.

BRUCE, LET ME JUST ASK YOU A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE SUGAR INDUSTRY, IF I COULD.

I MEAN, THE SUGAR INDUSTRY HAS GIVEN UP QUITE A LOT OF LAND OVER THE YEARS FOR EVERGLADES RESTORATION, RIGHT?

BUT IT'S GOTTEN CRITICISM FOR THE ROLE IT'S PLAYED IN THIS PROCESS WITH THE NEW EVERGLADES PLAN.

I MEAN, WHAT IS THE THRUST OF THAT CRITICISM AND HOW DOES THE INDUSTRY RESPOND?

>>WELL, MANY PEOPLE VIEW THE LATEST VERSION OF THE LAKE OKEECHOBEE PLAN AS BEING A BENEFIT TO THE SUGAR INDUSTRY AND TO FARMING AROUND THE LAKE.

IT'S MORE THAN JUST SUGAR.

AND I'M NOT SURE ABOUT MANY PEOPLE, BUT CERTAINLY REPRESENTATIVE BRIAN MAST FROM THE AREAS WAS VERY CRITICAL OF THE PLAN FOR HE SAID WAS A GIVEAWAY TO SUGAR.

IT DOESN'T TAKE THE LAKE DOWN AS FAR AS SOME ENVIRONMENTALISTS AND COASTAL RESIDENTS WOULD LIKE, IT PRESERVES SOME WATER IN THE LAKE FOR WATER SUPPLY, AND THAT'S ALSO FOR CITIES ALONG THE COAST.

SO IT PREVENTS THE... ONCE YOU GET A LAKE THAT GOES DOWN, THERE'S FEARS THAT THEN YOU'LL GET INTO A DROUGHT AND THE LAKE WOULD GO EVEN FURTHER AND CUT OFF WATER SUPPLIES.

THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS IS SAFEGUARDING, TO SOME DEGREE, AGAINST THAT HAPPENING.

AND SOME OF THE COASTAL RESIDENTS THAT REPRESENTED MAST DON'T LIKE THE FACT THAT, WELL, THAT COULD MEAN THERE'S TOO MUCH WATER IN THE LAKE LATER AND SO THERE WILL HAVE TO BE DISCHARGES.

>>YEAH.

AND JUST VERY BRIEFLY, IF YOU CAN, AMY... AND IT'S NOT A BRIEF QUESTION, BUT THE GOVERNOR SAYS HE'S OVER PROMISED AND OVER DELIVERED.

IS THAT FAIR?

I MEAN, HOW DOES HIS ADMINISTRATION SHAPE UP IN TERMS OF THE EVERGLADES COMPARED TO PREVIOUS?

>>HIS ADMINISTRATION CERTAINLY HAS MADE EVERGLADES AND WATER QUALITY ISSUES A CENTRAL ISSUE OF HIS ADMINISTRATION, HE'S PUT MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TOWARD EVERGLADES RESTORATION.

HE'S REVAMPED THE BOARD OF THE SOUTH FLORIDA WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT, WHICH IS THE STATE AGENCY OVERSEEING EVERGLADES RESTORATION AND REPLACED THOSE MEMBERS WITH MEMBERS WHO ARE SEEN BY ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS AS A LOT MORE ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY.

ON OTHER ISSUES, I THINK THE ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE LEADERSHIP FROM HIM LIKE CLIMATE CHANGE, FOR EXAMPLE.

BUT I THINK A LOT OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS WOULD SAY THIS IS AN EXCITING TIME FOR EVERGLADES RESTORATION.

>>AND IT'S A STORY THAT WE'LL CERTAINLY CONTINUE TO FOLLOW HERE ON NEWSNIGHT.

YOU CAN FIND A LINK TO THE WMFE PODCAST THAT AMY HAS PUT TOGETHER AS PART OF A PROJECT WITH THE FLORIDA CENTER FOR INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING ON OUR WEBSITE.

IT'S WUCF.ORG/NEWSNIGHT.

WELL, THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR THIS WEEK.

MY THANKS TO BRUCE RITCHIE OF POLITICO AND AMY GREEN OF 90.7 WMFE, AND WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT FRIDAY NIGHT AT 8:30 HERE ON WUCF.

FROM ALL OF US HERE AT NEWSNIGHT, TAKE CARE AND HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.