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Florida’s Everglades restoration plan faces a 66 percent cut in the Governor’s budget proposal, but environmentalists say the cut is too step coming on the heels of previous cuts in recent years. The Everglades Foundation commissioned a poll which found widespread support for continued funding. Kirk Fordham, CEO of the Everglades Foundation says a sweeping majority of Floridians believe job creation and protecting drinking water through restoration is very important.

“We’ve already taken a significant hit–from 200 million, to 100 million, down to 50, and now, potentially, down to 17 million annually,” Fordham said. “We believe that everyone needs to share the pain, but again, the Everglades restoration has already taken a disproportionate hit.”

The poll found that a majority of likely 2012 voters believe job creation and economic growth are tied to an abundant supply of clean water. The current restoration project is expected to create 22 thousand jobs.