Florida water board approves new Everglades plan

Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, second from right, shakes hands with United States Sugar Corp. CEO Bob Buker on Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2008, in Miami after announcing the state has reached a deal to buy land from United States Sugar Corp., moving the Everglades protection proposal from broad concept toward reality. Also shown are Eric Buermann,second from left, South Florida Water Management District chairman and Mike Sole, Florida Department of Environmental Protection secretary. The announcement was outside the historic home of Everglades activist Marjory Stoneman Douglas.

By: The Associated Press | JCFloridan.com
Published: November 13, 2008

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WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) - The board of the South Florida Water Management District has approved changes to a deal to buy U.S. Sugar Corps' land in the Everglades.

Gov. Charlie Crist announced the less expensive plan on Wednesday and the district approved it Thursday. The state now plans to pay $1.34 billion for land farmed by U.S. Sugar. That's less than the original price tag of $1.75 billion when it was announced in June.

The lower price comes because the state will not buy the company's mill, railroad or citrus processing plant. The company will keep them and continue production for now. The state plans to use most of the 181,000 acres to help the dying wetlands recover from years of pollution from farming and development.

The state will now move forward with negotiations.