The restoration effort encompasses so much territory that the managing agency, the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD), is coordinating with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Florida Legislature and municipalities in 16 counties.
These groups are plotting the course for returning the Everglades to its health of years past. There are also plans to provide additional flood control and water supply options, and the potential to create recreational opportunities.
Plans for the fast-tracked restoration got off the ground in late 2004, when Gov. Jeb Bush initiated the Acceler8 program, designed to complete eight Everglades restoration projects by 2022.
SFWMD Director of Public Information Jo Ann Hyres realized the agency needed a dynamic system for gathering public opinion that could handle the earth's biggest environmental project. Millions of people -- from residents and tourists to farmers and developers -- would feel the effects of restoring the subtropical preserve.
"We wanted to effectively communicate and collaborate with the vast demographics in our region," said Rhonda Haag, outreach supervisor for the district.
The problem was solved by Public Comment, a collaboration of IBM and Neighborhood America Public Comment. The two companies developed software for collecting and organizing public opinions from agency Web sites and other means, such as letters. The companies also provide round-the-clock technological services for the SFWMD Web site.
"Public Comment allowed the public to have easy access to our project," Haag said.
Without it, stakeholders and the public would have only two choices for making comments: attending public meetings and sending signed letters to the committee. Though the SFWMD still uses these methods for gathering the public's thoughts, the online poll is more practical.
"If they choose not to attend a meeting, or if they don't want to comment in a letter, this gives them another option for communicating with us," Haag said.
Creating convenience for the public and the agencies that serve them is what convinced Kim Patrick Kobza, president and founder of Naples, Fla.-based Neighborhood America, to develop the Public Comment software with IBM.
"It's next to impossible for most people to participate in the public opinion process -- it's costly commenting in person," he said. "This Web-based solution allows them to comment any time of day."
The SFWMD's Web site prominently displays a Public Comment box on its home page. Users can click on the link to participate in the Public Comment survey regarding Acceler8. Users can also leave comments on one of the specific eight projects via different Web pages outfitted with several survey questions.
One such question is, "Which of the following Acceler8 priorities is most important to you?" Under this question, visitors can choose from "remaining on budget," "remaining on schedule," "providing recreational opportunities," "providing environmental benefits," "providing water supply for people" or "providing water supply for environment." Visitors can also use the survey forms to indicate one of six preferences for a particular priority, ranging from "very important" to "not applicable."
For the SFWMD, the commenting Web site serves as a tool for managing data, and providing queries and reports on demand for the project's public outreach team.
"It streamlines the process," Haag said. "It's more efficient for us."
Efficiency is paramount for the agency to gauge the public's ideas and concerns about correcting the ecological wrongs of this national jewel.
The Everglades is home to six million people, encompassing 1.5 million acres of south Florida and stretching from Lake Okeechobee to Florida Bay -- approximately 120 miles long and more than 50 miles wide. The water level is about 1 foot deep in most spots. For centuries, storks, alligators, panthers and birds called this swatch of wetland home, living freely and vibrantly.
In 1948, the Central and Southern Florida Project was authorized to bring fresh water and provide flood protection to south Florida, making it habitable for humans. Soon, more people -- and fewer birds -- began flocking to the area, and the stability of the Everglades has declined tremendously since that time.
Water industry experts and environmentalist knew the Everglades' critical condition required expedient improvements. That's when Acceler8 was born, and Neighborhood America's Public Comment came in.
"Neighborhood America is a great match for Acceler8," said Kobza. "Its system enables a small project team to manage a very large public involvement project -- the Everglades Restoration -- cost-effectively."
He said it does this without requiring SFWMD to make significant software and hardware outlays. He did not divulge how much the Florida system cost, but said his company charges about $25,000 for most systems.
Established in 1999, Neighborhood America has taken on public projects of national importance throughout the United States. The company worked with a team to build memorials at the World Trade Center and for Flight 93 in Pennsylvania and also provides service to the Statue of Liberty National Monument and Ellis Island projects.
The Flight 93 project team had approximately 1,000 memorial designs to sift through before it came up with five finalists, Kobza said.
The team dealt with government agencies from all levels, and the families of those killed during the attack. He said the project was complex and sensitive, and managed by a small team that had little technical experience.
"Neighborhood America collected comments at each stage of the project and made their jobs easier," Kobza said.
The IBM-Neighborhood America Public Comment Service can be purchased as a complete solution for managing team collaboration and public communications needs, or it can be purchased
