Help Save Florida's Aquatic Preserves!
Your help is needed NOW to prevent State budget cuts from severely impacting the Florida Department of Environmental Protection's capacity to protect our 41 Florida Aquatic Preserves; over 2 million acres of Florida's finest coastlines!
The budget recently approved by the Florida Legislature cuts $1.7 million from the Office of Coastal and Aquatic Managed Areas. If the Governor approves this budget, this cut will:
? Eliminate 17 state employees, including 9 permanent positions, currently engaged in education, research and stewardship of our state's coastal gems.
? Close Aquatic Preserve field offices that provide the State's only programs to ensure that our Aquatic Preserves remain healthy, and continue to contribute hundreds of millions of dollars to our State's economy through tourism, boating, sport fishing, and recreation.
? Significantly reduce protection of sea grass and coastal wetlands, water quality, and wildlife including coastal birds, manatees, sea turtles, and hundreds of other marine species.
ACTION ALERT
Help Save Florida's Aquatic Preserves!
Your help is needed NOW to prevent State budget cuts from severely impacting the Florida Department of Environmental Protection's capacity to protect our 41 Florida Aquatic Preserves; over 2 million acres of Florida's finest coastlines!
What you can do to help:
? Contact Florida Governor Charlie Crist and urge him to VETO the funding cuts to Florida's Aquatic Preserves in the FDEP budget. The Governor will make a final decision within the next two weeks. Send your email message TODAY urging prompt action to help save our Aquatic Preserves and sustain our economy. Contact him at: Charlie.Crist@MyFlorida.com, or 850-488-7146
Please copy your email to FDEP's Secretary Michael Sole at: Michael.Sole@dep.state.fl.us
? Your action is urgently needed NOW to make a difference. Please send your message no later than Friday, May 15.
