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| Volume XXIII Number 2 | February 1, 2002 |
Big Cypress Groundbreaking
By Janice BillieBIG CYPRESS - The official groundbreaking ceremony for Phase I of the Big Cypress Seminole Indian Water Conservation Plan Critical Restoration Project (WCP) was held on the afternoon of Jan. 15. Chairs, flags and a podium were arranged on the edge of Mary Jumper’s cow pasture, with Cypress tree hammocks in the background and blue skies overhead, it was a picturesque setting for the momentous occasion.
As reported in the previous issue of the Seminole Tribune, the WCP is part of a joint effort between the Seminole Tribe and the Army Corp of Engineers in a restoration and conservation initiative. It is the largest joint effort ever between the Corps and a Native American Tribe.
The WCP will include a large canal and four water- storage areas to sustain tribal agriculture enterprises and improve some 14,000 acres of swamp, hardwood hammocks, and cypress sloughs, prairie and pine flatwoods. Called the "Native Area," it contains some of the last remaining old growth swamp in South Florida and is home to a variety of birds and wildlife.
On a list of projects deemed critical to successful implementation of Everglades restoration, this project was ranked sixth by the Working Group of the South Florida Ecosystem Restoration Task Force and the Governor’s Commission for a Sustainable South Florida.
Seminole Tribal citizen and resident poet Moses Jumper Jr. was the emcee for the ceremony. Moses welcomed the gathering of Tribal officials and guests to Big Cypress and invited Reverend Salaw Hummingbird to give the invocation. Members of the Seminole Tribe’s Color Guard posted the colors as students from the Ahfachkee Elementary School led the gathering in the "Pledge of Allegiance". The students then recited the Seminole Pledge and read their essays titled, "What the Everglades Means To Me".
In his welcoming remarks, Acting Chairman Mitchell Cypress praised the Seminole Tribal employees, Army Corp of Engineers and South Florida Water Management District for their dedication and hard work to bring this historic program to fruition. He also acknowledged David Jumper and Lorene Gopher for their long term involvement on the Water Resource Committee.
Big Cypress Councilman, David Cypress also took his turn to welcome everyone to this milestone in the continuing survival of the Seminole and the Everglades. Reading from a written speech and joking that he sounded like Paul Harvey, David recognized the committed effort of everyone who participated in the project. He acknowledged the importance of this plan to bring about positive improvements to the Big Cypress Reservation.
"Not only will it help cattle ranching, citrus and tourism in Big Cypress but it is design to restore and improve our environment as well," said Cypress.
Craig Tepper, Director of Seminole Water Resource Management, took the podium next to share his comments. He explained that the initial construction will begin with Phase I: the East Conveyance Canal beginning at Confusion Corner on the east end of the reservation and eventually reaching the west end.
This new canal, and the subsequent canal network, will supply pastures and cattle on the east side of the Reservation and a new water supply westward to the Feeder Canal System and on to the fields and groves on the western side of the Reservation.
Tepper expressed his satisfaction at "finally seeing this project leaving paper and becoming a reality". He acknowledged and thanked the Army Corps of Engineers of Jacksonville for their "sustained investment."
Following Craig Tepper was Col. Greg May, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Colonel May reiterated the significance of this extended project in, not only improving the water supply to Big Cypress, but improving environmental conditions overall.
"Everyone involved has a great deal to be proud of "it is a critical step down the long path towards complete restoration of the Everglades," said Colonel May.
In many Seminole Tribal occasions, Moses Jumper Jr. composes poems to read and this one was no different. During the program, he read two poems titled "Everglades" and "Winter in the Big Cypress." Afterwards, came the symbolic groundbreaking.
Acting Chairman Mitchell Cypress, Colonel Greg May, Big Cypress Board of Directors Representative Paul Bowers and Big Cypress Councilman David Cypress lifted their shovels to signify the beginning of Phase I. Construction is planned to start in February with completion estimated at 9 to 12 months. The remaining phases of the WCP will be built over the next five years.
A reception was held at the new Big Cypress Community Center. Finger foods, including gator nuggets, were served up with the distinctive sounds of Paul Buster’s Cowbone Band in the background.
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