Florida environmental groups are paying close attention to a lawsuit filed by the sugar industry recently because it may slow down a critical Everglades restoration project south of Lake Okeechobee. The sugar industry is suing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers over what's called the Everglades Agricultural Area, or EAA, reservoir, saying agriculture interests deserve water allotments they were promised decades ago. Army Corps Colonel Andrew Kelly said Friday that the agency was moving forward in a typical fashion and that he doesn't expect the lawsuit to slow down the construction of the EAA reservoir. Southwest Florida environmental groups, though, worry that a lawsuit could draw Army Corps resources into the courtroom rather than using that staffing power and money to restore the ailing Everglades.

Florida environmental groups are paying close attention to a lawsuit filed by the sugar industry recently because it may slow down a critical Everglades restoration project south of Lake Okeechobee. The sugar industry is suing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers over what's called the Everglades Agricultural Area, or EAA, reservoir, saying agriculture interests deserve water allotments they were promised decades ago. Army Corps Colonel Andrew Kelly said Friday that the agency was moving forward in a typical fashion and that he doesn't expect the lawsuit to slow down the construction of the EAA reservoir. Southwest Florida environmental groups, though, worry that a lawsuit could draw Army Corps resources into the courtroom rather than using that staffing power and money to restore the ailing Everglades.

News briefs from the state of Florida.

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News Briefs from the state of Florida.