CLEWISTON, FL — August 12, 2004 — Florida sugar farmers have reduced the phosphorus in the water leaving their farms by 64% over the past year and have averaged more than 50% reductions over the past three years. According to a report just released by the South Florida Water Management District, this is the ninth straight year that farmers in the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) have exceeded the 25% reduction required by the 1994 Everglades Forever Act.

This year’s efforts to reduce phosphorus flowing south produced the third highest results on record. Farmers’ Best Management Practices (BMPs) dramatically reduced phosphorus levels to 69 parts per billion (ppb). For comparison, farm water historically averaged 173 ppb and the water flowing south from Lake Okeechobee continues to average over 150 parts per billion.

“The farmers’ efforts are producing cleaner water for the Everglades,” said Robert Coker, Senior Vice President, Public Affairs. “As other agricultural and urban areas implement water quality practices, the ecosystem should continue to improve.”

In addition to the farmers’ success in reducing nutrients in farm water, the South Florida Water Management District operates five Stormwater Treatment Areas (STAs) that further clean farm, lake and urban water before it reaches the Everglades. With the success of the on-farm efforts and with 41,000 acres of filter marshes to remove phosphorus from water flowing south, Everglades restoration is ahead of schedule, under budget and exceeding expectations.
 
“For nearly a decade, continued improvements in our on-farm soil and water management practices have greatly exceeded the expectations of state regulators and farm managers. However, we are committed to being active and responsible partners in Everglades restoration and will continue to fund university research and work to find ways to further reduce the amount of phosphorus leaving the farms,” Coker said.

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