Senate Bill sb0144

    Florida Senate - 2005        (NP)                       SR 144

    By Senator Saunders





    37-59B-05

  1                    Senate Resolution No. ____

  2         A resolution recognizing the contributions of

  3         Ann Olesky to the restoration of Lake Trafford

  4         in Collier County, Florida.

  5  

  6         WHEREAS, campaigns to preserve the vigor and beauty of

  7  the state's natural heritage are often inspired and led by

  8  aware and dedicated state residents, and

  9         WHEREAS, an outstanding example of environmental

10  activism was demonstrated through the leadership of Ann Olesky

11  in establishing and sustaining the effort to save Lake

12  Trafford, the largest natural lake south of Lake Okeechobee,

13  and

14         WHEREAS, Lake Trafford sustained massive environmental

15  damage in 1996 as a result of oxygen-depletion in the lake

16  caused by algae blooms from years of die-off of the exotic

17  hydrilla plant that thrived there, and

18         WHEREAS, living and working on the shore of Lake

19  Trafford, Ann Olesky was dismayed by the destruction of the

20  lake's ecosystem and, with her husband, Edward Olesky, at her

21  side, undertook an 8-year grassroots campaign to save the

22  lake, and

23         WHEREAS, faced with muck-removal estimates that

24  escalated to $20 million, Ann began coordinating local

25  fundraising projects in the community of Immokalee which

26  raised $32,000 for the lake's dredging, and

27         WHEREAS, Ann Olesky realized that ongoing involvement

28  by the community would be imperative to bring the necessary

29  governmental resources to the cleanup of the lake, therefore

30  she formed "Friends of Lake Trafford" in order to raise the

31  necessary support in Congress and in state government, and

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    Florida Senate - 2005        (NP)                       SR 144
    37-59B-05




 1         WHEREAS, Ann Olesky's tireless efforts led Congress in

 2  1998 to include the lake in an authorization for critical

 3  restoration projects by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, but

 4  the funding for those projects was depleted before Lake

 5  Trafford's restoration could be begun, and

 6         WHEREAS, refusing to give up the campaign to save the

 7  lake, Ann continued her lobbying efforts to reach out to

 8  officials at every level of government and ultimately achieved

 9  the commitment of funds needed from the state and the South

10  Florida Water Management District, and

11         WHEREAS, a contract for the dredging of Lake Trafford

12  was finally signed just 2 days before the unanticipated death

13  of Ann Olesky on June 13, 2004, and

14         WHEREAS, the loss of this vibrant and outstanding

15  community leader is deeply felt by thousands of Florida

16  residents and officials who witnessed her inspired efforts to

17  save Lake Trafford, and

18         WHEREAS, her community has recognized and memorialized

19  Ann Olesky's service and leadership by renaming Lake Trafford

20  Park in Immokalee in her memory, NOW, THEREFORE,

21  

22  Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida:

23  

24         That this body does pause in its deliberations to pay

25  its respects to the dedicated efforts and example of Ann

26  Olesky in her successful campaign to restore the environmental

27  health of Lake Trafford for present and future generations of

28  Floridians and to recognize the exemplary value of her work to

29  preserve Florida's ecosystem.

30  

31  

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