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Everglades Land Acquisition Project Overview

Learn about the historic Everglades land acquisition project between SFWMD and U.S. Sugar Corporation, enhancing water storage, flood control, and environmental sustainability. Includes financial framework, opportunities, public process, and economic transition.

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Everglades Land Acquisition Project Overview

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  1. Everglades Land Acquisition Project Carol Ann Wehle SFWMD Executive Director

  2. History in the Making • A proposed real estate transaction of historic proportions • Announced and witnessed by Governor Crist, negotiations are underway between the South Florida Water Management District and United States Sugar Corporation

  3. Statement of Principles STATEMENT PROVISIONS: • NON-BINDING framework for negotiations • Parties will use best efforts to bring negotiated contract back to Governing Board for approval w/in 75 days; targeted closing by November 30, 2008 • Purchase agreement is contingent on SFWMD financing, appraisals and assessments • Agreement may include 3rd parties

  4. Statement of Principles • Approximately 187,000 acres • Palm Beach County – 107,316 • Hendry County – 74,889 • Glades County – 5,656 • Gilchrist County – 80 • Improvements include • Sugar Mill/Refinery in Clewiston • Citrus Processing Plant in Hendry County • Internal Railroad System • External Rail System from south of Lake Okeechobee to Sebring and Ft. Pierce

  5. Governing Board Action – June 30 • Ratified Statement of Principles and authorized staff negotiations to effectuate a successful acquisition of properties necessary to restore the River of Grass • Up to 75 days to negotiate purchase agreement • Directed staff to commence due diligence on: • Appraisals • Environmental assessments • Surveys and other real-estate associated needs

  6. Project Goals & Objectives • Increases the availability of water storage • Significantly reducing the potential for harmful discharges from Lake Okeechobee to south Florida’s coastal rivers and estuaries • Providing water to help meet the environmental needs of the Everglades and Florida Bay • Relieving some pressures on the Herbert Hoover Dike while the federal government undertakes repairs

  7. Project Goals & Objectives • Increases the ability to deliver cleaner water to the Everglades • Eliminates the need for backpumping to Lake Okeechobee • Flood control & drought management • Supports the sustainability of agriculture and green energy production

  8. Financial Framework • Final purchase price subject to appraisal, swaps, negotiations • Long-term debt • Funded from Certificates of Participation with annual debt service

  9. Opportunities & Issues • Opportunities • Larger land footprint provides new opportunities for additional storage and water quality treatment • Wide-range of configuration and capacity options available • Issues • Existing conditions • Changed topography – soil subsidence • Existing facilities • Roads, railroads, processing facilities • Downstream limitations

  10. Public Process • Extensive public process to develop and vet potential options • Public workshops • Identification of goals & objectives • Development of facility options • Evaluation of alternatives • Estimate of performance and costs • Water Resources Advisory Commission review • Governing Board direction • Continued Federal coordination

  11. Economic Transition • Governor’s Office of Tourism, Trade and Economic Development to provide transition assistance through its Rural Economic Development Initiative (REDI) • REDI serves and assists rural communities with economic opportunities by coordinating efforts of more than 20 state and regional agencies • Includes SFWMD, Depts. of Agriculture, Workforce Innovation, Enterprise Florida, Visit Florida, others • REDI convening discussions with local communities and agencies; workshops in August

  12. Questions?

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