Big Sugar is suing over a critical Everglades restoration project, the EAA Reservoir, threatening the project and the future of South Florida’s waters.
Prioritizes the status-quo water management that favors the sugar industry and harms all other stakeholders.
Changes the use of the reservoir from restoration (relieving devastating coastal discharges and sending water to the Everglades) to water supply (Big Sugar’s personal, taxpayer-funded irrigation reservoir).
Inflicts more multi-billion-dollar economic impacts to Florida’s coastal communities due to harmful water-quality events like those in 2018.
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Subject: Petition to Drop Lawsuit Against EAA Reservoir
To: United States Sugar Corporation, Okeelanta Corporation (Florida Crystals), and the Sugar
Cane Growers Cooperative of Florida
Re: Case 9:21-cv-81505-DMM — Sugar Industry vs. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
“We, the undersigned — a national community of outdoor enthusiasts, businesses, anglers,
conservationists, and concerned Americans — come together regarding the future of Florida’s economy, environment, and public health, and we urge you to drop your lawsuit over the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) Reservoir project.
As the keystone project of Everglades Restoration, the EAA Reservoir is a critical restoration project designed to restore the natural flow of water south from Lake Okeechobee to the Everglades. In doing so, this project will help maintain the lake at lower, healthier levels; restore the ecology of the Everglades; balance salinities in Florida Bay; recharge the aquifer that provides drinking water for millions of Floridians; and mitigate the harmful lake discharges that devastate Florida’s coastal ecosystems.
By restoring the flow of water south, the EAA Reservoir plays a pivotal role in restoring America’s Everglades and represents a sustainable solution that benefits the economy, the environment, and the quality of life for all Americans.
If successful, your lawsuit could establish the EAA Reservoir as your personal taxpayer-funded water supply, upending years of restoration progress and sealing the fate of Florida’s future to include more damaging discharges, more toxic algae blooms, and more economic and environmental peril.
We are eager to see Everglades Restoration, including the EAA Reservoir, expedited as state and national priorities and we cannot afford to accept further delays in this process. We urge you to drop your lawsuit against the EAA Reservoir, demonstrating your industry’s commitment to being a productive part of the solution in the effort to protect Florida’s natural resources, public health, and Florida’s residents and visitors alike.“
Signed,
TAKE ACTION
Subject: Petition to Drop Lawsuit Against EAA Reservoir
To: United States Sugar Corporation, Okeelanta Corporation (Florida Crystals), and the Sugar
Cane Growers Cooperative of Florida
Re: Case 9:21-cv-81505-DMM — Sugar Industry vs. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
“We, the undersigned — a national community of outdoor enthusiasts, businesses, anglers,
conservationists, and concerned Americans — come together regarding the future of Florida’s economy, environment, and public health, and we urge you to drop your lawsuit over the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) Reservoir project.
As the keystone project of Everglades Restoration, the EAA Reservoir is a critical restoration project designed to restore the natural flow of water south from Lake Okeechobee to the Everglades. In doing so, this project will help maintain the lake at lower, healthier levels; restore the ecology of the Everglades; balance salinities in Florida Bay; recharge the aquifer that provides drinking water for millions of Floridians; and mitigate the harmful lake discharges that devastate Florida’s coastal ecosystems.
By restoring the flow of water south, the EAA Reservoir plays a pivotal role in restoring America’s Everglades and represents a sustainable solution that benefits the economy, the environment, and the quality of life for all Americans.
If successful, your lawsuit could establish the EAA Reservoir as your personal taxpayer-funded water supply, upending years of restoration progress and sealing the fate of Florida’s future to include more damaging discharges, more toxic algae blooms, and more economic and environmental peril.
We are eager to see Everglades Restoration, including the EAA Reservoir, expedited as state and national priorities and we cannot afford to accept further delays in this process. We urge you to drop your lawsuit against the EAA Reservoir, demonstrating your industry’s commitment to being a productive part of the solution in the effort to protect Florida’s natural resources, public health, and Florida’s residents and visitors alike.“
Signed,
Case 9:21-cv-81505-DMM — Sugar Industry vs. U.S. Army Corps of EngineersTHE SITUATION
WHO IS SUING?
United States Sugar Corporation, Okeelanta Corporation (Florida Crystals), The Sugar Cane Growers Cooperative of Florida
WHAT ARE THEY SUING FOR?
Big Sugar wants all of the water in the EAA Reservoir for themselves. Like saying, “You can build the EAA Reservoir, but you must give us the water in it.” They claim they are owed a specific amount of public water for irrigation from Lake Okeechobee and that the EAA Reservoir could serve exclusively to fulfill that demand—rather than what the project was designed for to restore the Everglades and reduce harmful discharges.
WHY SHOULD I CARE ABOUT THE EAA RESERVOIR?
The EAA Reservoir is the most critical Everglades Restoration project for restoring and protecting south Florida’s waters. It will provide large-scale relief from devastating Lake O discharges and restore the flow of water south to the Everglades and Florida Bay. It will also help maintain the lake at lower, healthier levels and recharge the aquifer that provides drinking water for millions of Floridians.
WHAT'S THE STATUS OF THE LAWSUIT?
Big Sugar lost in a trial court and filed an appeal. In 2023, a federal judge ruled in favor of the Everglades. The sugar companies filed an appeal, and the case is now pending before the US Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit.
WHAT'S NEXT?
Awaiting the court’s decision on whether oral arguments will be heard. The sugar companies submitted their final reply briefs in December 2023.
WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCES OF BIG SUGAR WINNING?
If Big Sugar wins, they could push to use the EAA Reservoir as their personal taxpayer-funded water supply, upending years of restoration progress and sealing the fate of Florida’s future to include more damaging discharges, more toxic algae blooms, and more economic and environmental peril. It could also set a dangerous precedent, forcing Everglades Restoration projects to prioritize Big Sugar’s interests and replace their historical water supply over benefits to South Florida’s waters—regardless of how and when Sugar lost water supply since December 2000.
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Special Interest's Greed
Buying politicians and policy to benefit their water supply.
Pulling middle-of-the-night maneuvers to sneak in legislation that secures their status quo.
…and now, as this critical project to restore the Everglades and alleviate damaging Lake Okeechobee discharges is finally under construction, they are attempting to hijack the entire project to be used as their personal, taxpayer-funded water supply.
Small Actions, Big Impact: sign to make a difference
The proof is in the progress...
What are they actually suing for?
Simply put, Big Sugar is suing over water supply. They claim they are owed a specific amount of free water for irrigation from Lake Okeechobee and that the EAA Reservoir should serve exclusively to fulfill that demand—rather than what the project was designed to provide in restoring flow to the the struggling Everglades. They basically want the project as their personal water supply.
I OBJECT!
We’re done dealing with Lake O discharges—with the ecological impacts to our waters, the economic impacts to our livelihoods, and the everyday impacts to our way of life.
…and we’re done dealing with roadblocks to progress that serve a single privileged entity at the expense of other stakeholders.
The sugar industry needs to stop throwing spike strips across this unifying national effort to save an American treasure. They need to get out of the way of progress and get behind the movement to restore the Everglades.