The governing board of the South Florida Water Management District voted 4-3 to accept the terms of the US Sugar land buyout, “subject to amendment.” While we’re not quite sure what the legal status of that phrase is, one thing is clear: the possibility of recreating sheet flow south of Lake Okeechobee is still alive.

The Palm Beach Post had this to say about the deal:

Congratulations, South Florida taxpayers: You’re buying an empire of sugarcane fields south of Lake Okeechobee nearly the size of New York City. …

But they did it with a caveat: Water managers slipped in a clause that would let them back out of the deal if the massive expense threatens to cripple either their budget or their ability to fulfill their core mission of water management and flood control.

This land deal, while not enabling restoration of sheet flow, is a necessary precursor to it. Without this land, sheet flow is impossible. With it, and with the proper care and attention to detail in future swaps and acquisitions, it just might be possible for agriculture and the Everglades to come to a peaceful coexistence. And wouldn’t that be a great Christmas present for south Florida?

For the record:

Shannon Estenoz, Eric Buermann, Melissa Meeker, and Jerry Montgomery were the yes votes.

Patrick Rooney Jr., Mike Collins, and Charles Dauray voted no. Paul Huck recused himself, according to the Post, because of his firm’s involvement in a lawsuit against U.S. Sugar.

Congratulations to those members of the board who have courage and vision.