The Sugar Industry and Its Life Threat to the Everglades
Our Legislature decided not to buy the Sugar
The Need is critical
- U.S. Sugar agreed to sell 46,700 acres of land south of Lake Okeechobee to Florida five years ago. The option expires in September, but we must act by May 1.
- Manatees, dolphins, birds are dying in rivers poisoned by waters released from Lake Okeechobee. We need to buy thousands of acres of wetlands to restore natural balance. We need another reservoir to provide drinking water to 350,000 new people moving to Florida in the next 15 years.
- 75% of voters passed Amendment 1 to force lawmakers to buy wetlands and other areas and clean up Okeechobee.
- "Sugar" changed its mind and didn't want to sell. They and lawmakers let the clock runs out. .
- The Governor and lawmakers had other plans for the money, none of it included plans for tomorrow.
A TAD DEEPER INTO THE ISSUE
The Need
The Conservancy of Southwest Florida, The Everglades Foundation, the Everglades Trust are pleading with Florida to buy the land. It is critically needed to restore the flow of water to the south and reduce the amount of lake water being released east and west through the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee rivers.
The Money
Amendment 1 reserves some $750 million a year in tax revenue from real estate transactions to be used for environmental preservation. The 46,800 acres are expected to cost $500 million. The amendment language specifically named the purchase of land in the Everglades Agricultural Area.
The Sugar- Land Deal
Florida’s opportunity to buy the 46,800 acres stems from a 2010 land deal between U.S. Sugar and the water management district. That deal meant the district would pay $197 million to acquire 26,800 acres from U.S. Sugar for Everglades restoration. It also gave the district a 10-year option to buy Sugar’s remaining 153,200 acres.
Or - instead of buying all of that remaining land – the district could buy just the 46,800 acres. That option ends October 1.
It would have cost $350 million if bought at the same per-acre price as the 2010 deal. Right now, the estimate is that the price would be $500 million dollars.
Problem – The Legislature Ran Out of Time
The option expires October 1. The legislative session ends May 1. In order to act by October 1, it must have land appraisals and other work in hand. Making this happen in time, says Jennifer Hecket of the Conservancy, “starts with the governor, and we haven’t been able to get the governor to publicly support this.”
The South Florida Water Management District governing board in West Palm Beach, “. . .turned a deaf ear,” said Ray Judah with Florida Coastal
and Ocean Coalition. He added, “they have an “addiction to sugar. Both sides of the legislature want to spend the money on administrative costs.
Why Did They Wait?
The speculation is that U. S. Sugar wants to build a reservoir on their land with the proviso that they own the water(and will sell to Florida). There is also information that they want to build a city that will accommodate 18,000 people. Apart from using resources, it would interfere with the idea of moving water to the south and allow it to flow down through the Everglades.
Although there are five senators that supported fully funding Florida Forever, every lawmaker but one has taken money from Big Sugar in the form of campaign support, entertaining (including the governor and Agriculture Secretary being entertained at King Ranch), and having fawning attention.
The Conservancy of Southwest Florida, The Everglades Foundation, the Everglades Trust are pleading with Florida to buy the land. It is critically needed to restore the flow of water to the south and reduce the amount of lake water being released east and west through the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee rivers.
The Money
Amendment 1 reserves some $750 million a year in tax revenue from real estate transactions to be used for environmental preservation. The 46,800 acres are expected to cost $500 million. The amendment language specifically named the purchase of land in the Everglades Agricultural Area.
The Sugar- Land Deal
Florida’s opportunity to buy the 46,800 acres stems from a 2010 land deal between U.S. Sugar and the water management district. That deal meant the district would pay $197 million to acquire 26,800 acres from U.S. Sugar for Everglades restoration. It also gave the district a 10-year option to buy Sugar’s remaining 153,200 acres.
Or - instead of buying all of that remaining land – the district could buy just the 46,800 acres. That option ends October 1.
It would have cost $350 million if bought at the same per-acre price as the 2010 deal. Right now, the estimate is that the price would be $500 million dollars.
Problem – The Legislature Ran Out of Time
The option expires October 1. The legislative session ends May 1. In order to act by October 1, it must have land appraisals and other work in hand. Making this happen in time, says Jennifer Hecket of the Conservancy, “starts with the governor, and we haven’t been able to get the governor to publicly support this.”
The South Florida Water Management District governing board in West Palm Beach, “. . .turned a deaf ear,” said Ray Judah with Florida Coastal
and Ocean Coalition. He added, “they have an “addiction to sugar. Both sides of the legislature want to spend the money on administrative costs.
Why Did They Wait?
The speculation is that U. S. Sugar wants to build a reservoir on their land with the proviso that they own the water(and will sell to Florida). There is also information that they want to build a city that will accommodate 18,000 people. Apart from using resources, it would interfere with the idea of moving water to the south and allow it to flow down through the Everglades.
Although there are five senators that supported fully funding Florida Forever, every lawmaker but one has taken money from Big Sugar in the form of campaign support, entertaining (including the governor and Agriculture Secretary being entertained at King Ranch), and having fawning attention.
Tell your Representatives:
Senator Garrett Richter, President Pro Tempore
Email: [email protected]
850- 487-5023
239-417-6205
Representative Kathleen Passidomo
Email: [email protected]
850-717-5106
239-417-6200
Visit them at the district office they share:
3299 Tamiami Trail East
Naples , FL 34112-5746
Senator Garrett Richter, President Pro Tempore
Email: [email protected]
850- 487-5023
239-417-6205
Representative Kathleen Passidomo
Email: [email protected]
850-717-5106
239-417-6200
Visit them at the district office they share:
3299 Tamiami Trail East
Naples , FL 34112-5746
- Governor Scott: www.flgov.com. Click contact button. Email or call him.
- The Conservancy has a link to contact the governor. www.conservancy.org.
- The Everglades Trust has an online petition to purchase: www.evergladestrust.org