1st Piece of Rick Scott's Everglades Plan Cleared for Construction

Gov. Rick Scott's Everglades Restoration Strategies plan is set to get on its way.

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection Wednesday granted a permit to the South Florida Water Management District for the construction of a 15 billion-gallon storage structure that is designed to ultimately deliver clean water to the Everglades.

The water agency, which is responsible for Everglades restoration, was given the go-ahead to build the L-8 Flow Equalization Basin, located in Palm Beach County.The project will act as a reservoir and will be able to store stormwater instead of releasing it to tide, according to DEP. The 53 foot-deep reservoir that can hold 15 billion gallons of water -- equal to 22,500 Olympic-sized swimming pools --will also give water managers an option to hold water before treating it and sending it to the Everglades.

After years of restoration gridlock in the courts and political sphere, Everglades Restoration Strategies, led by Scott, was part of a landmark bill that resulted in a settlement between the state and the Obama administration. It was approved by the Florida Legislature this year, sponsored by Rep. Matt Caldwell, R-Lehigh Acres, and Sen. Wilton Simpson, R-Trilby.

Announcing the approval,DEP Secretary Herschel Vinyard, said, "The department and the South Florida Water Management District continue to move forward with Everglades restoration projects with the support of Governor Scott. This project will allow for additional water storage and cleaner water moving south, which will ensure the proper nourishment of the River of Grass."

Read the full story.