from tcpalm.com, story by Isadora Rangel
Lawmakers are having talks about creating an Indian River Lagoon delegation in the Florida House to help come up with solutions to clean the polluted waterway.
State Rep. Rene Plasencia, a Republican who represents Brevard and Orange counties, came up with the idea to organize other members from the six counties that border the lagoon, extending from Volusia to about a mile into Palm Beach County.
The delegation would meet periodically during the March session to discuss what needs to happen to clean the lagoon and complement efforts by local governments, Plasencia said. That includes looking into what scientists say needs to happen, policy changes and state money for local projects. He plans to have a meeting when lawmakers go to Tallahassee for committee meetings, possibly next week.
“If we’re going to be successful in increasing the health of the Indian River Lagoon, not only do we need to be communicating … we also need to communicate with counties and governments so not to duplicate efforts,” said Plasencia, who until this year represented an inland Orange County district.
There are 10 Florida House districts that cover the lagoon, and Plasencia has spoken to several of their representatives, including Republicans Erin Grall of Vero Beach, Gayle Harrell of Stuart and MaryLynn Magar of Tequesta.
Plasencia also wants to reach out to the state senators who represent the lagoon, including Republican Senate President Joe Negron of Stuart, Debbie Mayfield of Vero Beach and Dorothy Hukill of Port Orange. Democratic Sen. Bobby Powell’s district covers the small Palm Beach County portion of the lagoon off Jupiter Island.
One of the issues the delegation could ponder is Negron’s plan to reduce Lake Okeechobee discharges into the St. Lucie River by buying land south of the lake and building a reservoir for excess water at a $1.2 billion cost to the state. The river is an Indian River Lagoon tributary.
Plasencia, a high school teacher, said he supports the purchase of 60,000 acres for the plan if there’s a willing seller. The sugar industry, which owns most of the land Negron has identified, has been critical of the proposal.