In reply to Audubon Society’s lawsuit regarding sugar farmers, this statement just in from U S Sugar Senior Director of Corporate Communications and Public Affairs, Judy Sanchez:
Once again, it’s obvious that Audubon cannot see the forest for the trees.
It is unfortunate that some people would rather sue repeatedly than work on helping fix the problems. While Audubon is repeatedly delaying restoration with endless litigation, farmers are on the ground every day working to clean the water leaving their farms. The results do not lie: 71 % reductions in phosphorus in 2012, 79% reductions in 2011 and an overall 55% reduction for the past 17 years.
The SFWMD recently ran hundreds of models and determined that the water from the farming area was by far, the CLEANEST water in the system, and recommended augmenting water supply for the Caloosahatchee River and estuary by storing farm water in Lake Okeechobee where possible. Their modeling showed no negative impact on Lake O water quality, as water pouring into the lake from all other sources is much higher in phosphorus than the EAA’s BMP-cleaned farm water.
It makes no sense to single out and punish the “A” students (farmers) because of the regional school system’s performance. Rather than pointing fingers, we need to work together to solve the real problems in the Everglades.
Judy Sanchez, Senior Director of Corporate Communications and Public Affairs,
U. S. Sugar Corporation