DEC. 11, 1998

TO: MR. JACK MOLLER	TOM SHIRLEY
610 N.W.93 AVE	5120 S.W. 172 AVE.
PEMBROKE PINES, Fla.	33331
33024
	PH. 954 4348416
DEAR MR. MOLLER:

IN 1955 I BECAME EMPLOYED BY THE GAME AND FRESH WATER FISH COMMISSION. I RETIRED 30 YEARS LATER IN 1985. I NOW OWN AND OPERATE TOM SHIRLEY'S EVERGLADE TRAVEL TOURS INC. DURING MY EMPLOYMENT WITH THE COMMISSION I WAS IN CHARGE OF THE EVERGLADES, BIG CYPRESS, 10,000 ISLANDS AND THE FLORIDA KEYS. DURING THIS PERIOD I HAVE WITNESS MUCH DESTRUCTION WHICH WAS NOT NECESSARY. DURING THE PAST 48 YEARS I HAVE GAINED MUCH EXPERIENCE CONCERNING THE VARIATIONS OF THE SEASONAL WATER TABLES AND THE EFFECT IT HAS ON THE ENVIRONMENT. WHEN THE WATER RISES 18 INCHES OR ABOVE, IT HAS A DRASTIC EFFECT ON THE MANY MAMMALS, REPTILES, AND BIRD LIFE. UNDER THESE STRESS CONDITIONS OF SIX WEEKS YOU CAN EXPECT SOME OF THE WILDLIFE TO BEGIN DYING OFF SUCH AS DEER, RACCOON, BOBCAT, POSSUM, OTTER, RODENTS AND SNAKES. THE GROUND LOSES ITS SOLID BODY BECOMING SOFT TO SUPPORT THE TREE. THE ROOTS ROT FROM BENEATH AND THE TREE FALLS AND DIE

 

THIS CONDITION MENTIONED ABOVE IS NOW TAKING PLACE THROUGHOUT THE CONSERVATION AREA THREE BECAUSE OF THE STRESS CAUSED BY THE EXCEPTIONAL HIGH WATER TABLE.

WHILE REVIEWING THE RESTUDY TEAM RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINE­ERS DRAFT PLAN ALT DI3R IT BECAME VERY OBVIOUS THAT THE WATER SCHEDULE WAS ENTIRELY T00 HIGH WITH-IN THE EVERGLADES. IF THIS SCHEDULE IS FOLLOWED THROUGH IT WILL DESTROY THE WILDLIFE THE ECOLOGY AND THE BEAUTIFUL ISLAND HAMMOCKS THROUGHOUT CONSERVATION AREA THREE. THIS MISTAKE WAS MADE IN AREA TWO AND THERE ARE NO TREE ISLANDS LEFT. AREA TWO HAD MORE TREE ISLANDS THAN AREA THREE BUT ALL TREE ISLANDS WERE DESTROYED FOR EVER. LET US HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE TO NOT DESTROY ANOTHER LARGE SECTION OF OUR NATURES WONDER OF THE EVERGLADES. ON DECEMBER THE NINTH AND TENTH MYSELF AND OTHERS MADE A TRIP INTO AREA THREE TO SEE WHAT SUCH A SCHEDULE WOULD HAVE ON THE ISLANDS. OUR USE OF A TRANSIT AND VARIOUS MEASUREMENTS REVEALED THAT MOST ALL OF THE ISLANDS WOULD BE UNDER WATER. WE SURVEYED SEVEN ISLANDS WORKING FROM THE NORTH SOUTHWARD.

 

ISLAND N0.	1	RECORDS	ISLAND 13 INCHES UNDER WATER AT HIGH PERIODS.
ISLAND N0.	2	RECORDS	ISLAND 14 INCHES UNDER WATER AT HIGH PERIODS.
ISLAND N0.	3	THE HIGHEST ISLAND IN THE AREA RECORDS 2 INCH ABOVE WATER.
ISLAND N0.	4	RECORDS	ISLAND 4%2 INCHES UNDER WATER AT HIGH PERIODS.
ISLAND N0.	5	RECORDS	ISLAND 5 INCHES UNDER WATER AT HIGH PERIODS.
ISLAND N0.	6	RECORDS	ISLAND 8 INCHES UNDER WATER AT HIGH PERIODS.
ISLAND N0.	7	RECORDS	ISLAND 10 INCHES UNDER WATER AT HIGH PERIODS.

 

THE GOVERNMENT HAS AUTHORIZED THE CUTTING UP THE EVERGLADES IN PIECES WHICH ONLY DESTROYED THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT ECOLOGY OF THE EVERGLADES. I WAS A WITNESS TO THIS BECAUSE I WAS THERE DURING ALL THE CRISIS. WITH $9 BILLION BUDGET REQUEST I ONLY HOPE THE U.S. ARMY OF ENGINEERS WILL NOT AGAIN DESTROY ANOTHER PARTIAL BUT RETURN THE ECOSYSTEM BACK THE WAY IT WAS. OUR EVERGLADES IS THE ONLY ONE IN THE WORLD. THIS WATER SCHEDULE REQUEST WILL DESTROY THE AREA THREE EVERGLADES AND ONLY TO BE READ ABOUT IN OUR HISTORY BOOKS.

THE VARIOUS AGENCIES NOW HAVE THE POWER AGAIN TO DESTROY OR TO SAVE IT FOR OUR FUTURE GENERATIONS AND GRANDCHILDREN. I HOPE THAT HISTORY WILL NOT REPEAT ITSELF AGAIN.

 

IF I CAN BE ANY ASSISTANCE, I AM A PHONE CALL AWAY.   SINCERELY YOURS,