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1. INTRODUCTORY COMMENTS
No individual or organization holds the Everglades National Park (Park) and its unique environment in higher regard than CCA and its members. We urge the National Park Service (NPS) to recognize that the vast majority of the anglers and boaters that use the Park recognize this National treasure and are true conservationists. The NPS must also acknowledge that recreational fishing is an historic use which was in existence long before the Park was established.
CCA members attended each of the Public Workshops held by the NPS and it was clearly evident that the overwhelming majority of the attendees supported only one alternative, Alternative A. The attendees also urged the NPS to use education, signage and cooperation as opposed to exclusion to resolve any user issues or resource problems which may exist. Furthermore, the attendees asked the NPS to produce data to document the need for any restrictions on use.
We encourage the NPS to engage those individuals with local knowledge in the planning process and to help develop solutions. The current public hearing process used by the NPS does not provide such opportunity.
2. ALTERNATIVE A IS ACCEPTABLE WITH MODIFICATION
- Alternative A should be revised to reflect all restrictions presently in place, including existing No Wake Zones in the Flamingo, Everglades City and Key Largo areas, the no motor zones in designated canoe trails and no landing areas in Florida Bay.
- The Park should provide access for boats in Joe and Little Maderia Bays.
- The Park should engage an active program to educate all users in proper vessel operation, courteous operation and respect for the Park’s resources.
- The NPS should provide signage for channels and transit areas around the grass flats in the more commonly used areas.
- Increased law enforcement by personnel experienced in the Park’s waters is essential.
- An alternative Wilderness Waterway for paddlers with slow speed cross-transit for motor boats is acceptable.
- The NPS should rebuild the facilities at Flamingo, including a lodge, with sustainable building construction.
- The Visitor Center and ramps in Everglades City should be completed.
3. ALTERNATIVES B, C, AND D ARE UNACCEPTABLE
- CCA does not support any large area “Management by Water Depth,” “Backcountry,” “Research,” “Management by Vessel Length” or other such zones which exclude normal or traditional access by motorized recreational fishing boats. We have requested the NPS to provide documentation such as boat strandings data, aerial photos of grass bed damage or other such evidence which may indicate a need for additional protection measures. The seagrass information should be over a specific time period and in the context of total seagrasses within the park. CCA will participate with the NPS, when such information is provided, to help establish effective channel marking, public education and enforcement measures to solve any resource problems.
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