1WVERCLADS PIbsD TGR.ICULTURE
by Alex Fanjul
January 1994

Sugar and vegetable farmer withinn tho pvergl.id1o. TqrrJ~u.tu.ral

Area (EAA) are in the uniq'rl- position nf hbecomingq a model of
balancing environmental and econowlic concerns. This region
contains approximately 700,000 acres lying between Lake Okeechobee
and The Everglades. In 1.882 Hamilton Di tton conducted the first
drainage project near Tiake Okcr-chnhie, sptrringu nt many similar
attempts to ditch, dike and drain the Everglades for urban and
agricultural purposeP. Finally, in 1948 congress authorized the
Central and Southern Florida Flood Control Proinct which provided

the infrastructure for contprporary South Florid?.
The govcrnmernal Rverglade'.i policy of "Ditch & Drain" changed
to that of #Eco-system Restoration" just during the last few years.
caught in the squeeze nre the EAA farmers who~"~ livelihood is
intimately linked with thb.t of t.hn adjacent Fverglades. The
Everglades issue to date, has focused on total phosphorous
concentration in the farm runoff while the real issue is one of

hydroperiod including the' n-mont, rtiration & Inr.tion of freshwater
flows. Approximately 700,000 ac-ft/yr are lost to tide from Lake
Okeechobei and a staggering 2,200,000 ac-ft/yr from the urban
regions of South Florida. The EA.M ~ntially irt n nnt contribution
of water to the Rvnrglades with over 800,000 an-ft/yr flowing from

its fields. Water quality origination from Lake Okeechobee has
total phosphorous concentrations far in rv.os, of the 50ppb which
was ietablished by the federal government on th. interim standard
for the Evergqldes.








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A plan to improve winter Tmnliiy and hyrOpirzrio was de".I'ped

by Flo-Sun Tne. xt prt'r.'rnevd to ufr' i-f, 1nnt outiPid4 the

Evodrgmadr, and chei~cnlIy tr-qt-. inf lows to tho .,oxahatchee WtldJ ife

Ref uryq. niibseuh ieni negotiations resulted in the formuteltion of a

technical plan jointly n-Irecrl to by Federal, state and some

itnd'itry pnrtier., int-mliinq Flo-S'.n. Thin plan provides for

treatment mrrshen and cast sharinq with farmers paying up to $322

million over 20 ynrn Miqhilo fr'vninpin-I the ttrms of this

alrmoment, se-.-rn I new isueq stirft ond which caiiqsed these

settlement tnlks to stall. The U.S. EPA announced that it would

require fIPDT!9 permits 1Thi thle trpntnnt. Mnrrthnn esnentially

undorcuLti~r the mdintcd plan. Amo, the U.S. liept. of interior

SM,!entific sub-group dovoloped a plan that at a vninimun would

destroy 200,0oo acres oE farmw lnd, siiqnr mills, several towns and

thousands of jobs. The "IItnntO plan" of Tnterior would eliminate

all MAA farming.



Farmers continue to br' rnndy to nnqntiate in good faith with

those agencies willing to miintaln flhi hal.annc between jobs and

nature.



























(Material to be provided by Kevin L. Erwin)


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