GOVERNOR CRIST UNVEILS HISTORIC PLAN TO REVIVE THE RIVER OF GRASS
South Florida Water Management District to negotiate acquisition of agricultural land to reestablish an historic connection between Lake Okeechobee and the Everglades
On June 24, 2008, Governor Charlie Crist announced that the South Florida Water Management District will begin negotiating an agreement to acquire as much as 187,000 acres of agricultural land owned by the United States Sugar Corporation. The vast tracts of land in the Everglades Agricultural Area would then be used to reestablish a part of the historic connection between Lake Okeechobee and America's Everglades through a managed system of storage and treatment and, at the same time, safeguard the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee rivers and estuaries.
Acquiring the enormous expanse of real estate offers water managers the opportunity and flexibility to store and clean water on a scale never before contemplated to protect Florida's coastal estuaries and to better revive, restore and preserve the fabled River of Grass. Subject to independent appraisals and approval by the District's Governing Board, water managers will invest $1.75 billion in cash and certificates of participation to finance the acquisition of land and assets.
Benefits from the land acquisition would include:
Increases in water storage to reduce harmful freshwater discharges from Lake Okeechobee to Florida's coastal rivers and estuaries.
Improvements in the delivery of cleaner water to the Everglades.
Preventing thousands of tons of phosphorus from entering the Everglades.
Eliminating the need for "back-pumping" water into Lake Okeechobee.
Sustainability of agriculture and green energy production.
Known as the River of Grass for the sawgrass that flourished throughout the marsh, the Everglades is a mosaic of freshwater ponds, prairies and forested uplands that supports a rich plant and wildlife community. Recognized throughout the world for its wading birds and wildlife, the Everglades is home to dozens of federally threatened and endangered species, including the Florida panther, American crocodile, snail kite and wood stork. The mix of salt and freshwater makes it the only place on Earth where alligators and crocodiles exist side by side.
Northern Everglades
Reviving the River of Grass
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