Senate Bill 1512

    Florida Senate - 1999        (NP)                      SR 1512

    By Senator Thomas





    3-1608-99

  1                    Senate Resolution No.     

  2         A resolution recognizing the year 2000 as The

  3         Year of the River.

  4

  5         WHEREAS, the Chattahoochee and Apalachicola Rivers are

  6  among the most important natural resources in Florida, and

  7         WHEREAS, the Chattahoochee and Apalachicola Rivers have

  8  played an important role in the cultural and historical

  9  development of Florida and the neighboring states of Alabama

10  and Georgia, and

11         WHEREAS, the Chattahoochee and Apalachicola Rivers have

12  contributed to recreational opportunities, economic

13  development, and the tourism potential of communities in the

14  tri-state area of Florida, Alabama, and Georgia, and

15         WHEREAS, the states of Alabama, Georgia, and Florida

16  can transcend state boundaries to promote the conservation of

17  the Chattahoochee and Apalachicola Rivers and the economic

18  development and improvement of the tri-state area, and

19         WHEREAS, the development of environmentally friendly

20  tourism in the Chattahoochee-Apalachicola watershed has the

21  potential to bring economic benefits to some of the poorest

22  counties in Florida, Alabama, and Georgia while at the same

23  time providing an economic justification for preserving,

24  protecting, and improving the rivers, and

25         WHEREAS, the preservation of historic sites and folk

26  cultures and the development of parks, greenways, trails, and

27  other environmentally sensitive recreational facilities can

28  contribute to economic development and the creation of

29  employment opportunities in the region, NOW, THEREFORE,

30

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

                                  1

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    Florida Senate - 1999        (NP)                      SR 1512
    3-1608-99




  1         That the year from January 1, 2000, to December 31,

  2  2000, is recognized as The Year of the River with regard to

  3  the Chattahoochee and Apalachicola.

  4         BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Florida Senate

  5  encourages Floridians and visitors to Florida in the areas

  6  surrounding the Chattahoochee and Apalachicola Rivers to

  7  participate in activities to develop the recreational,

  8  tourism, and economic potential of these resources in

  9  coordination with the states of Georgia and Alabama.

10         BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Florida Senate calls

11  upon communities, civic groups, businesses, and individuals in

12  the three states as well as the agencies of the state

13  government and other statewide organizations in Florida,

14  Alabama, and Georgia to adopt specific activities for

15  developing recreation, eco-tourism, and heritage tourism

16  during The Year of the River.

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

                                  2