This news release just in from U.S. Sugar Corporation:
CLEWISTON—October 12, 2010—U.S. Sugar Corporation and the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) today closed on the initial River of Grass land acquisition which provides nearly 27,000 acres of land in areas of critical need for improving water quality and ecosystem restoration.
“Although the economy threw them a wicked curve, the SFWMD stayed on course and managed to initially acquire 26,790 acres of critically needed land and still preserved its option to acquire the remaining property from U.S. Sugar,” Sanchez said.
“We are proud to partner with the State of Florida and the South Florida Water Management District in providing land to significantly increase the water quality treatment capacity in the S-4 and C-139 basins,” said Judy Sanchez, director of corporate communications. “Our land in the L-8 Basin will enable the SFWMD to improve water quality in the Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge and our Southern Citrus Grove is conveniently located immediately adjacent to STA expansion/construction already underway to improve water quality in that area.”
Sanchez said this property, plus what the State owns and plans to acquire in the future, can ultimately provide the water storage and water treatment necessary to revive Lake Okeechobee, the coastal estuaries and the Florida Everglades and to ensure continued water supply to millions of South Florida residents.