Congresswoman Gwen
Graham was in Franklin County Tuesday for a workday with oystermen and to announce
legislation designed to increase fresh water flows to the Apalachicola Bay.
The Congresswoman started the day on an Oyster
boat with Shannon Hartsfield and Ricky Banks where she was able to take part in
the ongoing shelling program and later harvest some oysters from an area that
had been reshelled a few years ago.
Afterward Gwen Graham held a press conference
at Lynn’s Quality Oysters in Eastpoint where she was joined by local and state
leaders including State representative Halsey Beshears and State Senator Bill
Montford.
Apalachicola Mayor Van Johnson also attended as
did County Commissioner Cheryl Sanders.
Representative
Graham used the event to announce the Apalachicola Bay Restoration Act – a bill
that would require the Army Corps of Engineers to consider fresh water flow to
the Apalachicola Bay in their water management plans.
Under
the bill, any water control manual would be reviewed to insure that it protects
downstream users while maintaining a system-wide balance of water use.
Graham
said that when the legislation was created in 1945 that gave the Corps control
of the river system there was no language requiring them to consider downstream
users and this bill addresses that problem.
The
legislation has 21 Florida co-sponsors – both republicans and democrats.
Graham
said “The Apalachicola Bay represents
the heart and soul of North Florida. This isn’t just a fight over water – we’re
fighting to save a way of life.
At the
press conference, Apalachicola Riverkeeper Dan Tonsmeire added, “Representative
Graham has been at work on the Apalachicola since the early days of her
campaign and has not slowed down since.”
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