MY VIEW: The Danger of Endangered Species Act

In 2011, environmental activists successfully sued the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, forcing it to evaluate more than 750 more species for listing under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). In Florida, that list includes 115 species, which means the coming years will likely see a doubling of the number or species in Florida listed.

The maps shown here give you the before and after picture. Almost all of Florida is substantially affected, and most of the Gulf Coast will see many more species listed under the ESA.

But the impact on all of us will be even greater than the maps show, because all of the species in Florida newly identified in the lawsuit live in freshwater aquatic habitat and thus measures to protect them will be most likely on a watershed basis.