UF LVL Committee Set to Approve Destruction of Hundreds of Graham Woods Trees for Stormwater Project
At the University of Florida (UF) Lakes Vegetation and Landscaping (LVL) Committee meeting tomorrow around 10:00 a.m., officials are expected to approve a stormwater improvement project that will destroy approximately 1,168 trees located at Graham woods. 67 are classified as heritage trees, a designation given to trees of a large size or diameter. 221 are exotic or invasive trees.
Local environmental activist Derek LaMontagne told GnvInfo that the meeting will be held online but if members of the public want to watch or comment they’re required to go in person to the Planning Design & Construction Conference Room, Stadium 225.
Campus organization FL4EverGreen sent out a news release stating UF “has restricted public access to watch or comment remotely by refusing to share the Zoom link for the meeting.”
FL4EverGreen encouraged members of the public to speak against the project, stating, “These practices which limit transparency and public participation are not only unfair, but hurt our campus environment and our institution because of less oversight and collaboration. Please comment to the LVL Committee and ask them to hold off on approving such a massive project without getting more public input, and to restore the common sense practice of allowing the public to watch/attend/comment via Zoom, especially since that is how the committee is meeting and voting. It is short notice, but if you can attend in person, feel free to do that too.”
The LVL Committee members have contact emails on their website.
A presentation on the project says it will enhance water quality, support compliance with the Florida Clean Waterways Act and create recreational opportunities "within the redesigned Graham Woods area."
LaMontagne said UF is not treating Graham Woods like the conservation area it is and that they could do more low impact adjustments. "This is just destroying history and environmental function," he said. "They are doing too many construction projects and the environment is suffering... [They] could use other areas for stormwater, not forests."
Project Information:
