Bill Overview
Title: South Florida Ecosystem Enhancement Act of 2022
Description: This bill provides support for ecosystems located within (1) the administrative boundaries of the South Florida Water Management District and adjacent coastal waterbodies, including all coastal water landward of Florida's Coral Reef; and (2) Florida's Coral Reef and the associated patch reef, hard-bottom, and seagrass resources.
Sponsors: Sen. Rubio, Marco [R-FL]
Target Audience
Population: Individuals living in or economically dependent on the South Florida ecosystems
Estimated Size: 8500000
- The bill impacts ecosystems located within the administrative boundaries of the South Florida Water Management District, which encompasses a significant part of South Florida including major urban centers.
- The bill also affects adjacent coastal waterbodies, including Florida's Coral Reef, which is one of the largest coral reef systems in the world.
- Florida's Coral Reef and associated marine resources support a wide range of human activities including tourism, fishing, and boating, directly involving a significant number of people.
- The South Florida Water Management District area supports a population of over 9 million people, and many depend on the ecosystem for clean water, recreation, and economic activities tied to tourism and agriculture.
- Protecting and enhancing ecosystems can lead to improved air and water quality, more robust local economies based on tourism and sustainable fishing, and greater resilience to climate change impacts, all of which can affect a large population.
Reasoning
- Considering the policy is focused on supporting specific ecosystems in South Florida, it's important to capture perspectives from a broad spectrum of residents, including those directly dependent on these ecosystems for their livelihood, like fishermen, tourism operators, and farmers.
- A significant portion of the affected population might not have direct economic dependencies but will still be impacted by the environmental and recreational benefits or constraints the policy introduces.
- Budget constraints mean the policy must achieve its objectives efficiently, focusing on high-impact projects and areas.
- Not every individual in South Florida will be affected or aware of the policy, so it's important to assess a range of impacts, from high to none.
- Given the budget and the extensive area, immediate large-scale visible impact might be limited, but long-term effects could be substantial across environmental, economic, and social domains.
Simulated Interviews
Fisherman (Miami, FL)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm hopeful that this policy will revitalize the marine ecosystems, which are crucial for my fishing business.
- I worry if the funds are not utilized effectively, we may not see immediate benefits.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 4 |
Tourism operator (Fort Lauderdale, FL)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Maintaining beautiful coral reefs is essential for attracting tourists, so this policy could be a game-changer for us.
- I hope the restoration efforts will bring quick results to prevent further declines.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 10 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 10 | 4 |
Retired (West Palm Beach, FL)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I've seen how the ecosystem has declined over the years. A solid policy could bring back the good old days of fishing.
- Pessimistic about policy execution based on past experiences.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 5 |
Environmental scientist (Naples, FL)
Age: 35 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 9
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Funding from this policy could boost our research and restoration projects significantly.
- I am excited to see more community engagement in conservation activities.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 3 | 10 | 9 |
| Year 5 | 10 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 10 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 10 | 7 |
College student (Orlando, FL)
Age: 24 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy is a fantastic step towards sustainable marine ecosystems.
- Unsure about long-term political and economic support for these initiatives.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
Small business owner (Key West, FL)
Age: 40 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Our business thrives on the health of the reef, so I welcome any policy aiming at restoration.
- Tourism has been tough lately, and without healthy coral reefs, we can't sustain.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 4 |
Journalist (Tampa, FL)
Age: 28 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's crucial that media covers the policy's impact; this could educate the public and pressure for better enforcement.
- Skeptical about whether the funds will be efficiently spent.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Retired teacher (Fort Myers, FL)
Age: 55 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I love visiting natural areas, so enhancing the ecosystem is always good news.
- I don't expect drastic changes personally, but it's nice to know efforts are being made.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Nurse (Miami, FL)
Age: 32 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 18/20
Statement of Opinion:
- If ecosystem health improves, it could enhance public health indirectly.
- Worried about the policy's short-term ramifications or possible misallocation of funds.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
IT Professional (Jacksonville, FL)
Age: 29 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 20/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I’m interested in seeing how policy makes travel destinations like Florida more appealing environmentally.
- I don’t see a direct impact on my daily life or work.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $50000000 (Low: $40000000, High: $60000000)
Year 2: $52000000 (Low: $42000000, High: $62000000)
Year 3: $54000000 (Low: $44000000, High: $64000000)
Year 5: $58000000 (Low: $48000000, High: $68000000)
Year 10: $68000000 (Low: $58000000, High: $78000000)
Year 100: $140000000 (Low: $120000000, High: $160000000)
Key Considerations
- Understanding the precise geographic and ecological boundaries of the affected areas is crucial for evaluating direct impacts.
- The tourism industry, which relies heavily on these ecosystems, is significant in South Florida, making environmental policy closely tied to economic outcomes.
- Evaluating the potential impacts of climate change and rising sea levels on these ecosystems is crucial for informed budgeting and planning.