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Restoring the Everglades and a summit on water policy was the focus of a lunch and afternoon panel that included US Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, Governor Rick Scott, legislative leaders and Former US Senator Bob Graham. Funding for restoration was cut dramatically last year and decision making sent to Tallahassee. Bob Graham says the focus for the day was public awareness of why the Everglades need to function.

“The Everglades took some heavy shots at the 2011 session. What we are trying to do today is educate people about the consequences of those, ask the legislators not to do any more damage, and to consider reversing some of the decisions” says Graham.

Graham and others also want to resume land purchases for water reclamation that were halted when the economy soured. The state is in the process of potentially selling some properties and using the money to buy more environmentally sensitive lands.