Florida - Crist Cuts Area Of Everglades Restoration Plan By More Than 50% - NYT

MIAMI — The Everglades have become yet another victim of the shrinking economy.

Gov. Charlie Crist announced Wednesday that Florida would significantly scale back its $1.34 billion deal to restore the Everglades by buying 180,000 acres from the United States Sugar Corporation.

At a news conference in Tallahassee, Mr. Crist outlined a far more modest proposal: $530 million for 72,500 acres, with an option to buy the rest by 2019. "We feel this is the best opportunity, the best financial scenario we can present," Mr. Crist said, adding, "The economy has been what it has been, and we have to deal with the parameters we are given."

The new proposal, if approved by the South Florida Water Management District and the board of United States Sugar, would amount to the second major revision of a plan that began last June as a purchase of United States Sugar, all assets included, for $1.75 billion.

EDIT

http://www.enn.com/ecosystems/article/39572

$530 million for 72,500 acres!? :crazy: Thats more than $7,000 an acre! There is a sweetheart f***ing deal if I ever saw one. I wonder how much US Sugar Co donated to the the Florida GOP...