November 14, 2017

Mr. Ernie Marks, Executive Director
South Florida Water Management District
3301 Gun Club Road
West Palm Beach, FL 33416
Dear Mr. Marks:
In response to inquiries by the South Florida Water Management District pursuant to Chapter
No. 2017-010, Laws of Florida, the undersigned landowners of more than 2,500 acres in the
Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) reaffirm our previous letter stating that we are not willing
sellers of our farmland to the government.
Farmers in the EAA are committed to and have been a part of a collaborative process to restore
the Everglades for more than 20 years. Over the last two decades, farmers south of Lake
Okeechobee have met stringent water-quality standards and at the same time we have lost
more than 120,000 acres of productive farmland to the government for restoration. Taking
further farmland out of production would have devastating economic effects on our farming
communities and eliminating more of the nation’s most productive farmland would dramatically
reduce our local food supply.
Chapter No. 2017-010, Laws of Florida provides a step-by-step process to use land already in
public ownership to optimize the Congressionally approved Central Everglades Planning Project
storage reservoir in the EAA under very tight planning and authorization timeframes. We are
confident that the storage and treatment goals outlined in the law will be achieved on the
existing identified public lands.
The EAA is a treasure for Florida generating over $3 billion in economic activity. The region is the
nation's largest grower and supplier of winter vegetables, including sweet corn, radishes, green
beans, lettuce and other leafy greens. We are also the Southeast's largest producer of rice and
the nation's top producer of sugarcane. The undersigned landowners are committed to
continuing to supply American tables with homegrown fruits, grains, vegetables and sweeteners
that are grown in the most environmentally sustainable way possible.

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 Mr. Ernie Marks, Executive Director
South Florida Water Management District
November 14, 2017

Florida wouldn’t be what it is today without the farms that grow wholesome, delicious food and
we want to ensure that our productive farmland continues to supply homegrown foods for
Americans.
Sincerely,

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 Mr. Ernie Marks, Executive Director
South Florida Water Management District
November 14, 2017

cc:

Mr. Dan O'Keefe, SFWMD Governing Board Chairman
Mr. James Moran, SFWMD Governing Board Member
Mr. Sam Accursio, SFWMD Governing Board Member
Mr. Rick Barber, SFWMD Governing Board Member
Mr. Federico Fernandez, SFWMD Governing Board Member
Mr. Clarke Harlow, SFWMD Governing Board Member
Ms. Melanie Peterson, SFWMD Governing Board Member
Mr. Brandon Tucker, SFWMD Governing Board Member
Mr. Jaime Weisinger, SFWMD Governing Board Member

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