January 2022

The Restoration of America’s Everglades

January 20, 2022January 21, 2022

Since 1989, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) has maintained a singleness of purpose that has guided the organization to become the most respected and trusted sportsmen’s organization in the political arena. CSF’s mission is to work with Congress, governors, and state legislatures to protect and advance hunting, angling, recreational shooting and trapping. Read the letter below sent to the President.

December 23, 2021
President Joe Biden
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, DC 20500
Dear President Biden,

On behalf of the undersigned members of the sportfishing, boating, and greater outdoor
industry, we write to you in support of recent bi-partisan congressional letters requesting
that your administration allocate at least $1.5 billion towards turnkey Everglades
restoration projects (i.e., the South Florida Ecosystem Restoration program) from
funding made available to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) through the
bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).

Over four million of the nation’s 55 million anglers reside in or frequent Florida as do almost
one million registered boat owners, with many of these focusing on the iconic fishing and
boating opportunities in the southern part of the state where ongoing water quality
impacts have highlighted the need to expedite Everglades restoration activities. In Florida,
the Fishing Capital of the World, the sportfishing industry is a $13.8 billion economic
engine supporting almost 120,000 jobs, making clean waters and abundant fisheries
of paramount importance to us not only in the state, but nationally. Florida’s $33
billion outdoor recreation economy, driven by fishing, boating, hunting, and other
outdoor pursuits, has a robust impact on both jobs and GDP.

With the passage of the IIJA legislation, Congress has provided the USACE with historic
funding to improve critical infrastructure and invest in measures to protect against the
immediate and future impacts of climate change. Not only does restoring America’s
Everglades provide an unmatched opportunity to accomplish both goals, but it also will be
a banner example of USACE’s (and America’s) ability to restore the environment on a
massive scale and serve as a legacy defining investment for your administration. A
generational investment now will undoubtedly be recognized as a galvanizing moment
that ensured the future of a national and global treasure.

Passed by the U.S. Congress in 2000, the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan
(CERP) is a model for shared investment and boasts a 50-50 cost shared program between
Washington and Florida. America’s Everglades doesn’t just impact Florida. Beyond the
climate and economic benefits to the country, best practices from Everglades restoration
can be harnessed for future ecosystem restoration projects and the completion of
Everglades restoration will enhance the prominence and funding potential for needed
restoration investment across the country.

America’s Everglades has significant momentum, a well-earned track record, and a
rewarding future. Everglades restoration is a multi-purpose project with multi-benefit
impacts, including restoring critical ecosystems, increasing carbon sequestration capacity,
recharging a critical aquifer, providing resilience against storms and salt water intrusion,
creating tens of thousands of jobs, and protecting communities and economies that are
exceptionally vulnerable to climate change. The Everglades provides drinking water to 9
million Floridians and is home to 78 threatened or endangered species. The Everglades
encompasses the tribal lands of two Native American Tribes, includes 14 national wildlife
refuges, four national parks (including Everglades National Park – a World Heritage Site), an
International Biosphere Reserve, and a Wetland of International Importance.

We also support the bipartisan congressional requests that your FY23 budget fund
Everglades restoration at $725 million to keep on schedule to complete restoration
efforts this decade, as originally envisioned when CERP was passed, and to realize an
estimated $2 billion in savings off the overall price tag. As noted in those letters, we
believe that supplemental funding from IIJA should be in addition to the federal
obligations reflected in the Integrated Delivery Schedule, which should be fulfilled by
regular budget requests to Congress and appropriations. Given the dire status of the
Everglades ecosystem and the multitude of benefits of restoration, all of this funding is
critically needed. USACE has confirmed the ability to carry out $5 billion worth of projects
over the next five years. These investments would accelerate the Everglades Agricultural
Area reservoir, a key component that will create synergies across the complex system of
Everglades restoration projects as it sends clean water south and reduces damaging
discharges to the east and west coasts.

Thank you for your continued support and we urge you to ensure generational funding
from bipartisan infrastructure legislation is used for a deserving and historically bipartisan
cause – restoring America’s Everglades.

Sincerely,

Glenn Hughes
President
American Sportfishing Association
Casey Shedd
Chief Executive Officer
AFTCO – American Fishing Tackle Company
Al Perkinson
Chief Executive Officer
Bajio Sunglasses
Chris Edmonston
President
BoatU.S. Foundation
Chris Edmonston
Vice President, Government Affairs
Boat Owners Association of The United States
Jim McDuffie
President and CEO
Bonefish and Tarpon Trust
Aine Denari
President
Brunswick Boat Group
Daniel Andrews
Co-Founder & Executive Director
Captains For Clean Water
Jeff Angers
President
Center for Sportfishing Policy
Pat Murray
President
Coastal Conservation Association
Brian Gorski
Executive Director
Coastal Conservation Association Florida
Jeff Crane
President and CEO
Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation
Mark Nichols
Chief Executive Officer
DOA Lures
Mike Dixon
Vice President
Engel Coolers
Eric Eikenberg
Chief Executive Officer
The Everglades Foundation
Far Bank Enterprises
Fly Water Travel
Redington
RIO Products
Sage
Guy Harvey
Chairman
Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation
Chris Peterson
President
Hell’s Bay Boat Works
Jason Schratwieser
President
International Gamefish Association
Matt Gruhn
President
Marine Retailers Association of the Americas
Charlie Johnson
Director of Marketing
Maverick Boat Company
David Anderson
Partner
Natural Resource Results
Frank Hugelmeyer
President
National Marine Manufacturers Association
Collin O’Mara
President & CEO
National Wildlife Federation
Simon Perkins
President
The Orvis Company
Dave Bulthuis
President
Pure Fishing, Inc.
Brad Befus
President
Scientific Anglers
Chuck Yates
Vice President
SeaDek Marine Products
David Pfeiffer
President
Shimano
Casey Sheahan
Chief Executive Officer
Simms Fishing
Whit Fosburgh
President and CEO
Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership
Ben Speciale
President
Yamaha U.S. Marine Business Unit
Matthew J. Reintjes
Chief Executive Officer
YETI Holdings, Inc

The Waterman Fly Tournament

January 19, 2022July 27, 2022

The Waterman Fly Fishing Tournament Feb 26th & 27th fly fishing-only, catch & release redfish tournament benefiting Tampa Bay Water Keepers. To find out more information and to register for the tournament follow the link below. www.tampabaywaterkeeper.org

Guadalupe River Troutfest, TX

January 18, 2022July 27, 2022

Dates: Feb. 18th -20th, 2022 Troutfest Expo

Location: Lazy L and L, New Braunfels, TX, right on the Guadalupe River

Follow the link below for more information on the event.

https://grtu.org/troutfest/

Expo
• FREE Fly Casting Lessons on land and the river
• Presentations from guides, outfitters and experts
from around the world
• Kids events: casting pond, archery and airguns
• Booths guides, shops, artists, gear manufacturers
• On water watercraft demos

FKFGA 32nd Annual Swamp Guides Ball

January 18, 2022July 27, 2022

All Release – Redfish, Snook, Bonefish
Feb 4th -5th, 2022 Angler House Marina, Islamorada

The FKFGA is also one of the main fundraising organizations for the Guides Trust Foundation (GTF). The GTF mission is to assist guides or persons related to the local fishing industry in times of need. Our biggest fundraiser is the annual Swamp Guides Ball. To sign up follow the link below.

Swamp Guides Ball

Guide – Justin Price

January 5, 2022January 5, 2022