Repeat after me: Florida’s water does not belong to the sugar industry.  It’s a simple fact, but the sugar industry refuses to accept reality.  They continue to pull every trick they can in an attempt to keep their iron grip on our state’s waterways.

Earlier this year, a judge made it clear that their latest effort was complete BS.  The lawsuit filed by three companies attempted to twist a decades-old law in order to halt construction of the EAA Reservoir and keep Lake Okeechobee at an artificially high level.  Not just that, but it would jeopardize the implementation of the Lake Okeechobee System Operating Manual (LOSOM).

Thankfully, the judge ruled in favor of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, making it clear that the wants of the sugar industry do not trump Everglades restoration and efforts to end toxic discharges into our community.

But they still aren’t getting it.  The sugar industry is appealing the ruling.  They truly will stop at nothing to derail Everglades restoration and hoard Florida’s natural resources to line their own pockets.

While the sugar industry believes that it’s their water - not ours - I’ll continue to fight 24-7, 365 to protect our waterways and our communities.  And I’ll keep you updated every step of the way.