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1 <br /> 17:•E ca SOUTH FLORIDA WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT <br /> ps ..x.....17`;. <br /> 1 February 9, 2009 <br /> • <br /> 1 Mr. Marc Lefebvre <br /> ECT <br /> 1 6300 NE 1't Ave #100 <br /> Fort Lauderdale, FL 33334 <br /> 1 Dear Mr. Lefebvre: <br /> On December 16, 2008, the South Florida Water Management District's (District) <br /> 1 Governing Board voted to accept a proposal to acquire more than 180,000 acres of <br /> agricultural land for Everglades restoration from the United States Sugar Corporation. <br /> An extensive and thorough environmental assessment was crucial to the Governing <br /> 1 Board's decision, and I thank you for your work that supported this historic <br /> accomplishment. <br /> 1 The purchase will allow the District to restore a more natural flow of the water from Lake <br /> Okeechobee to the remnant Everglades. Restoring this historic flow will provide <br /> immense benefits throughout South Florida, protecting coastal estuaries, expanding <br /> 1 wildlife habitat and revitalizing America's River of Grass. <br /> The amount of work required to sample 150,000 acres of sugar cane and 32,000 acres <br /> 1 of citrus, analyze each sample and prepare an environmental assessment report was <br /> staggering. Remarkably, the five-volume assessment was delivered to District senior <br /> management less than 120 days after Governor Crist's announcement of the purchase <br /> 1 plan. This achievement is a testimony to the hard work of a very dedicated team of <br /> professionals. <br /> 1 The River of Grass acquisition will endure as one of the State's great environmental <br /> achievements. It is something of which we can all be proud. <br /> 1 Thank you again for your extraordinary efforts. <br /> Sincerely, <br /> 1 <br /> gaideQ,,, tatgof <br /> 1 Carol Ann Weide <br /> Executive Director <br /> 1 CAW/cb <br /> 3301 Gun Club Road,West Palm Beach Florida 33406 • (561)686-8800 • FL WATS 1-800-432-2045 <br /> 1 Mailing Address: P.O.Box 24680,West Palm BeachFL 33416-4680 • wwwsfwmd.gov <br />