FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  April 29, 2004
CONTACT: Randy Smith, Office: 561-682-6197
                                        Cellular: 561-389-3386

Florida Moves Forward with Everglades Reservoir and Treatment Areas

-- U.S. Sugar agrees to vacate Talisman land --

The South Florida Water Management District announced that it is accelerating construction of a massive reservoir and stormwater treatment areas as part of the $8 billion plan to restore America’s Everglades after reaching agreement with the U.S. Sugar Corporation. The company agreed to vacate leased land just south of Lake Okeechobee where water managers plan to build 50,000 acres for water storage.

“This is another significant milestone in our journey to restore the Everglades,” said South Florida Water Management District Executive Director Henry Dean. “Construction of the Everglades Agricultural Area treatment marshes will greatly enhance our ability to store excess water, as well as further improve the quality of water flowing into the Everglades.”

Florida and the federal government purchased 50,000-acres known as Talisman five years ago. As part of a leaseback agreement, the state allowed sugar growers to farm a large area of the tract until the land was needed for Everglades restoration. Florida now plans to build thousands of acres of water storage and treatment marshes to naturally cleanse excess nutrients from water flowing into the Everglades.

“We appreciate the cooperation and support of the U.S. Sugar Corporation to work with us on this key project to provide increased water storage capacity for the region,” said Dean.

The South Florida Water Management District has marked the construction of three major reservoirs as a top agency priority. Slated to be operational by the end of 2008, the Talisman treatment areas will also capture flow from Lake Okeechobee to reduce harmful discharges of lake water to coastal estuaries.

As part of its intensive schedule to improve water quality in America’s Everglades, Florida is now operating more than 40,000 acres of constructed wetlands. Together with improved farming practices, stormwater treatment areas have prevented nearly 1,400 tons of phosphorus from entering the Everglades over the last decade.

Florida’s share of Everglades restoration is ahead of schedule and under budget. Since 2000, Governor Jeb Bush has committed more than $2.5 billion through the end of the decade to clean up and restore the famed River of Grass. Florida has already acquired more than 50 percent of the land needed to complete the 30-year project.

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