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U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham on the floor of Congress fighting for Apalachicola Bay
Photo from YouTube Screenshot
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WASHINGTON, D.C. - On Tuesday U.S. Representative Gwen Graham successfully amended the House Energy and Water Appropriations Bill to help address water flow issues hurting the Apalachicola Bay.
Rep. Graham’s amendment
allocates $3 million to perform a study requested by the
Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint (ACF) Stakeholders, a diverse group of
citizens who live and work in the ACF Basin. They’ve requested the study to
research fundamental scientific and technical information that is still unknown
about the ACF Basin, in order to more effectively manage this unique and vital
natural resource.
“Despite their
different interests and diverging opinions on some issues, the ACF Stakeholders
have been able to agree on a number of substantial recommendations to restore
the ACF Basin,” Rep. Graham said. “This
study is one of those recommendations. And I’m proud, like the ACF
Stakeholders, we were able to come together in Congress to pass this amendment.”
In addition to
successfully passing this amendment, Rep. Graham has also introduced the
Apalachicola Bay Restoration Act, which would require the Army Corps of
Engineers to consider fresh water flow to the Apalachicola Bay in their
management plans. Rep. Graham rallied 21 members of the Florida delegation to
support the bill, an unprecedented sign of unity and statewide support to save
the bay.
“The Apalachicola Bay
is a critically important asset to Florida’s ecology, economy and heritage. I
believe this amendment and the resulting study will move us a step closer
toward working with the Army Corps of Engineers to recognize the needs of
downstream users and restore the bay,” Rep. Graham said.
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