Everglades Law Center is dedicated to protecting the natural resources of South Florida, and one of our most important battles today is the legal fight over the Everglades Agricultural Area Reservoir, a key component of Everglades restoration. The Everglades ecosystem depends on a consistent flow of clean water to survive, yet restoration efforts are under threat from a lawsuit by South Florida’s sugar industry, which claims the reservoir’s water should be used to preserve the industry’s bloated historic allocations rather than restoring flow to the Everglades.
“Everglades restoration was never intended to ensure agricultural water supplies remain at 2000 levels,” ELC Policy Director Lisa Interlandi explains. “What the sugar companies are really trying to do is shift the burden of maintaining their water supply onto the restoration process—something that could completely derail efforts to protect this fragile ecosystem.”
ELC and our allies prevailed at the lower court level, and we weighed in again on behalf of 5 environmental NGO’s, 4 municipalities, and 2 chambers of commerce when the sugar industry appealed. Oral arguments before the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals are scheduled for November 20. Tune in here and check out this article for more information.