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Corrected Everglades Forever Act: Florida Statute 373.4592

(April 26, 2011)

(1) FINDINGS AND INTENT.—

(a) The Legislature finds that the Everglades ecological system not only contributes to South 

Florida's water supply, flood control, and recreation, but serves as the habitat for diverse species 

of wildlife and plant life. The system is unique in the world and one of Florida's great treasures. 

The Everglades ecological system is endangered as a result of adverse changes in water quality, 

and in the quantity, distribution, and timing of flows, and, therefore, must be restored and 

protected.

(b) The Legislature finds that, although the district and the department have developed plans and 

programs for the improvement and management of the surface waters tributary to the Everglades 

Protection Area, implementation of those plans and programs has not been as timely as is 

necessary to restore and protect unique flora and fauna of the Everglades, including the 

Everglades National Park and the Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge. 

Therefore, the Legislature determines that an appropriate method to proceed with Everglades 

restoration and protection is to authorize the district to proceed expeditiously with 

implementation of the Everglades Program.

(c) The Legislature finds that, in the last decade, people have come to realize the tremendous 

cost the alteration of natural systems has exacted on the region. The Statement of Principles of 

July 1993 among the Federal Government, the South Florida Water Management District, the 

Department of Environmental Protection, and certain agricultural industry representatives 

formed a basis to bring to a close 5 years of costly litigation. That agreement should be used to 

begin the cleanup and renewal of the Everglades ecosystem.

(d) It is the intent of the Legislature to promote Everglades restoration and protection through 

certain legislative findings and determinations. The Legislature finds that waters flowing into the 

Everglades Protection Area contain excessive levels of phosphorus. A reduction in levels of 

phosphorus will benefit the ecology of the Everglades Protection Area.

(e) It is the intent of the Legislature to pursue comprehensive and innovative solutions to issues 

of water quality, water quantity, hydroperiod, and invasion of exotic species which face the 

Everglades ecosystem. The Legislature recognizes that the Everglades ecosystem must be 

restored both in terms of water quality and water quantity and must be preserved and protected in 

a manner that is long term and comprehensive. The Legislature further recognizes that the EAA 

and adjacent areas provide a base for an agricultural industry, which in turn provides important 

products, jobs, and income regionally and nationally. It is the intent of the Legislature to preserve 

natural values in the Everglades while also maintaining the quality of life for all residents of 

South Florida, including those in agriculture, and to minimize the impact on South Florida jobs, 
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including agricultural, tourism, and natural resource-related jobs, all of which contribute to a 

robust regional economy.

(f) The Legislature finds that improved water supply and hydroperiod management are crucial 

elements to overall revitalization of the Everglades ecosystem, including Florida Bay. It is the 

intent of the Legislature to expedite plans and programs for improving water quantity reaching 

the Everglades, correcting long-standing hydroperiod problems, increasing the total quantity of 

water flowing through the system, providing water supply for the Everglades National Park, 

urban and agricultural areas, and Florida Bay, and replacing water previously available from the 

coastal ridge in areas of southern Dade County. Whenever possible, wasteful discharges of fresh 

water to tide shall be reduced, and the water shall be stored for delivery at more optimum times. 

Additionally, reuse and conservation measures shall be implemented consistent with law. The 

Legislature further recognizes that additional water storage may be an appropriate use of Lake 

Okeechobee.

(g) The Legislature finds that the Statement of Principles of July 1993, the Everglades 

Construction Project, and the regulatory requirements of this section provide a sound basis for 

the state's long-term cleanup and restoration objectives for the Everglades. It is the intent of the 

Legislature to provide a sufficient period of time for construction, testing, and research, so that 

the benefits of the Everglades Construction Project will be determined and maximized prior to 

requiring additional measures. The Legislature finds that STAs and BMPs are currently the best 

available technology for achieving the interim water quality goals of the Everglades Program. A 

combined program of agricultural BMPs, STAs, and requirements of this section is a reasonable 

method of achieving interim total phosphorus discharge reductions. The Everglades Program is 

an appropriate foundation on which to build a long-term program to ultimately achieve 

restoration and protection of the Everglades Protection Area.

(h) The Everglades Construction Project represents by far the largest environmental cleanup and 

restoration program of this type ever undertaken, and the returns from substantial public and 

private investment must be maximized so that available resources are managed responsibly. To 

that end, the Legislature directs that the Everglades Construction Project and regulatory 

requirements associated with the Statement of Principles of July 1993 be pursued expeditiously, 

but with flexibility, so that superior technology may be utilized when available. Consistent with 

the implementation of the Everglades Construction Project, landowners shall be provided the 

maximum opportunity to provide treatment on their land.

(2) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this section:

(a) "Best available phosphorus reduction technology" or "BAPRT" means a combination of 

BMPs and STAs which includes a continuing research and monitoring program to reduce 

outflow concentrations of phosphorus so as to achieve the phosphorus criterion in the Everglades 

Protection Area.
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(b) "Best management practice" or "BMP" means a practice or combination of practices 

determined by the district, in cooperation with the department, based on research, field-testing, 

and expert review, to be the most effective and practicable, including economic and 

technological considerations, on-farm means of improving water quality in agricultural 

discharges to a level that balances water quality improvements and agricultural productivity.

(c) "C-139 Basin" or "Basin" means those lands described in subsection (16).

(d) "Department" means the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

(e) "District" means the South Florida Water Management District. 

(f) "Everglades Agricultural Area" or "EAA" means the Everglades Agricultural Area, which 

are those lands described in subsection (15).

(g) “Everglades Construction Project" means the project described in the February 15, 1994, 

conceptual design document together with construction and operation schedules on file with the

South Florida Water Management District, except as modified by this section and further 

described in the Long-Term Plan.

(h) "Everglades Program" means the program of projects, regulations, and research provided by 

this section, including the Everglades Construction Project.

(i) "Everglades Protection Area" means Water Conservation Areas 1, 2A, 2B, 3A, and 3B, the 

Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge, and the Everglades National Park.

(j) "Long-Term Plan" or "Plan" means the district's "Everglades Protection Area Tributary 

Basins Conceptual Plan for Achieving Long-Term Water Quality Goals Final Report" dated 

March 2003, as modified herein."

(k) “Master permit" means a single permit issued to a legally responsible entity defined by rule, 

authorizing the construction, alteration, maintenance, or operation of multiple stormwater 

management systems that may be owned or operated by different persons and which provides an 

opportunity to achieve collective compliance with applicable department and district rules and 

the provisions of this section.

(l) "Optimization" shall mean maximizing the potential treatment effectiveness of the STAs 

through measures such as additional compartmentalization, improved flow control, vegetation 

management, or operation refinements, in combination with improvements where practicable in 

urban and agricultural BMPs, and includes integration with Congressionally authorized 

components of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan or "CERP".

(m) "Phosphorus criterion" means a numeric interpretation for phosphorus of the Class III 

narrative nutrient criterion.
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(n) "Stormwater management program" shall have the meaning set forth in s. 403.031(15).

(o) "Stormwater treatment areas" or "STAs" means those treatment areas described and depicted 

in the district's conceptual design document of February 15, 1994, and any modifications as 

provided in this section.

(p) "Technology-based effluent limitation" or "TBEL" means the technology-based treatment 

requirements as defined in Rule 62-650.200, Florida Administrative Code.

(3) EVERGLADES LONG TERM PHOSPHORUS CONTROL PLAN.—

(a)The Legislature finds that the Everglades Program required by this section establishes more 

extensive and comprehensive requirements for surface water improvement and management 

within the Everglades than the SWIM plan requirements provided in ss. 373.451-373.456. In 

order to avoid duplicative requirements, and in order to conserve the resources available to the 

district, the SWIM plan requirements of those sections shall not apply to the Everglades 

Protection Area and the EAA during the term of the Everglades Program, and the district will 

neither propose, nor take final agency action on, any Everglades SWIM plan for those areas until 

the Everglades Program is fully implemented. Funds under s. 259.101(3)(b) may be used for 

acquisition of lands necessary to implement the Everglades Construction Project, to the extent 

these funds are identified in the Statement of Principles of July 1993. The district's actions in 

implementing the Everglades Construction Project relating to the responsibilities of the EAA and 

C-139 Basin for funding and water quality compliance in the EAA and the Everglades Protection 

Area shall be governed by this section. Other strategies or activities in the March 1992 

Everglades SWIM plan may be implemented if otherwise authorized by law.

(b) The Legislature finds that the most reliable means of optimizing the performance of STAs 

and achieving reasonable further progress in reducing phosphorus entering the Everglades 

Protection Area is to utilize a long-term planning process. The Legislature finds that the LongTerm Plan provides the best available phosphorus reduction technology based upon a 

combination of the BMPs and STAs described in the Plan provided that the Plan shall seek to 

achieve the phosphorus criterion in the Everglades Protection Area. The pre-2006 projects 

identified in the Long-Term Plan shall be implemented by the district without delay, and revised 

with the planning goal and objective of achieving the phosphorus criterion to be adopted 

pursuant to subparagraph (4)(e)2. in the Everglades Protection Area, and not based on any 

planning goal or objective in the Plan that is inconsistent with this section. Revisions to the

Long-Term Plan shall be incorporated through an adaptive management approach including a 

process development and engineering component to identify and implement incremental 

optimization measures for further phosphorus reductions. Revisions to the Long-Term Plan shall 

be approved by the department. In addition, the department may propose changes to the LongTerm Plan as science and environmental conditions warrant.
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(c) It is the intent of the Legislature that implementation of the Long-Term Plan shall be 

integrated and consistent with the implementation of the projects and activities in the 

Congressionally authorized components of the CERP so that unnecessary and duplicative costs 

will be avoided. Nothing in this section shall modify any existing cost share or responsibility 

provided for projects listed in s. 528 of the Water Resources Development Act of 1996 (110 Stat. 

3769) or provided for projects listed in section 601 of the Water Resources Development Act of 

2000 (114 Stat. 2572). The Legislature does not intend for the provisions of this section to 

diminish commitments made by the State of Florida to restore and maintain water quality in the 

Everglades Protection Area, including the federal lands in the settlement agreement referenced in 

paragraph (4)(e). 

(d) The Legislature recognizes that the Long-Term Plan contains an initial phase and a 10-year 

second phase. The Legislature intends that a review of this act at least 10 years after 

implementation of the initial phase is appropriate and necessary to the public interest. The review 

is the best way to ensure that the Everglades Protection Area is achieving state water quality 

standards, including phosphorus reduction, and the Long-Term Plan is using the best technology 

available. A 10-year second phase of the Long-Term Plan must be approved by the Legislature 

and codified in this act prior to implementation of projects, but not prior to development, review, 

and approval of projects by the department.

(e) The Long-Term Plan shall be implemented for a initial 13-year phase (2003-2016) and shall 

achieve water quality standards relating to the phosphorus criterion in the Everglades Protection 

Area as determined by a network of monitoring stations established for this purpose. Not later 

than December 31, 2008, and each 5 years thereafter, the department shall review and approve 

incremental phosphorus reduction measures.

(4) EVERGLADES PROGRAM.—

(a) Everglades Construction Project.—The district shall implement the Everglades Construction 

Project. By the time of completion of the project, the state, district, or other governmental 

authority shall purchase the inholdings in the Rotenberger and such other lands necessary to 

achieve a 2:1 mitigation ratio for the use of Brown's Farm and other similar lands, including 

those needed for the STA 1 Inflow and Distribution Works. The inclusion of public lands as part 

of the project is for the purpose of treating waters not coming from the EAA for hydroperiod 

restoration. It is the intent of the Legislature that the district aggressively pursue the 

implementation of the Everglades Construction Project in accordance with the schedule in this 

subsection. The Legislature recognizes that adherence to the schedule is dependent upon factors 

beyond the control of the district, including the timely receipt of funds from all contributors. The 

district shall take all reasonable measures to complete timely performance of the schedule in this 

section in order to finish the Everglades Construction Project. The district shall not delay 

implementation of the project beyond the time delay caused by those circumstances and 

conditions that prevent timely performance. The district shall not levy ad valorem taxes in excess 
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of 0.1 mill within the Okeechobee Basin for the purposes of the design, construction, and 

acquisition of the Everglades Construction Project. The ad valorem tax proceeds not exceeding 

0.1 mill levied within the Okeechobee Basin for such purposes shall also be used for design, 

construction, and implementation of the initial phase of the Long-Term Plan, including operation 

and maintenance, and research for the projects and strategies in the initial phase of the LongTerm Plan, and including the enhancements and operation and maintenance of the Everglades 

Construction Project and shall be the sole direct district contribution from district ad valorem 

taxes appropriated or expended for the design, construction, and acquisition of the Everglades 

Construction Project unless the Legislature by specific amendment to this section increases the 

0.1 mill ad valorem tax contribution, increases the agricultural privilege taxes, or otherwise 

reallocates the relative contribution by ad valorem taxpayers and taxpayers paying the 

agricultural privilege taxes toward the funding of the design, construction, and acquisition of the 

Everglades Construction Project. Notwithstanding the provisions of s. 200.069 to the contrary, 

any millage levied under the 0.1 mill limitation in this paragraph shall be included as a separate 

entry on the Notice of Proposed Property Taxes pursuant to s. 200.069. Once the STAs are 

completed, the district shall allow these areas to be used by the public for recreational purposes 

in the manner set forth in s. 373.1391(1), considering the suitability of these lands for such uses. 

These lands shall be made available for recreational use unless the district governing board can 

demonstrate that such uses are incompatible with the restoration goals of the Everglades 

Construction Project or the water quality and hydrological purposes of the STAs or would 

otherwise adversely impact the implementation of the project. The district shall give preferential 

consideration to the hiring of agricultural workers displaced as a result of the Everglades 

Construction Project, consistent with their qualifications and abilities, for the construction and 

operation of these STAs. The following milestones apply to the completion of the Everglades 

Construction Project as depicted in the February 15, 1994, conceptual design document:

1. The district must complete the final design of the STA 1 East and West and pursue STA 1 

East project components as part of a cost-shared program with the Federal Government. The 

district must be the local sponsor of the federal project that will include STA 1 East, and STA 1 

West if so authorized by federal law;

2. Construction of STA 1 East is to be completed under the direction of the United States Army 

Corps of Engineers in conjunction with the currently authorized C-51 flood control project;

3. The district must complete construction of STA 1 West and STA 1 Inflow and Distribution 

Works under the direction of the United States Army Corps of Engineers, if the direction is 

authorized under federal law, in conjunction with the currently authorized C-51 flood control 

project;

4. The district must complete construction of STA 3/4 by October 1, 2003; however, the district 

may modify this schedule to incorporate and accelerate enhancements to STA 3/4 as directed in

the Long-Term Plan;
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5. The district must complete construction of STA 6;

6. The district must, by December 31, 2006, complete construction of enhancements to the 

Everglades Construction Project recommended in the Long-Term Plan and initiate other pre2006 strategies in the plan; and 

67. East Beach Water Control District, South Shore Drainage District, South Florida 

Conservancy District, East Shore Water Control District, and the lessee of agricultural lease 

number 3420 shall complete any system modifications described in the Everglades Construction 

Project to the extent that funds are available from the Everglades Fund. These entities shall divert 

the discharges described within the Everglades Construction Project within 60 days of 

completion of construction of the appropriate STA. Such required modifications shall be deemed 

to be a part of each district's plan of reclamation pursuant to chapter 298.

(b) Everglades water supply and hydroperiod improvement and restoration.—

1. A comprehensive program to revitalize the Everglades shall include programs and projects to 

improve the water quantity reaching the Everglades Protection Area at optimum times and 

improve hydroperiod deficiencies in the Everglades ecosystem. To the greatest extent possible, 

wasteful discharges of fresh water to tide shall be reduced, and water conservation practices and 

reuse measures shall be implemented by water users, consistent with law. Water supply 

management must include improvement of water quantity reaching the Everglades, correction of 

long-standing hydroperiod problems, and an increase in the total quantity of water flowing 

through the system. Water supply management must provide water supply for the Everglades 

National Park, the urban and agricultural areas, and the Florida Bay and must replace water 

previously available from the coastal ridge areas of southern Dade County. The Everglades 

Construction Project redirects some water currently lost to tide. It is an important first step in 

completing hydroperiod improvement.

2. The district shall operate the Everglades Construction Project as specified in the February 15, 

1994, conceptual design document, to provide additional inflows to the Everglades Protection 

Area. The increased flow from the project shall be directed to the Everglades Protection Area as 

needed to achieve an average annual increase of 28 percent compared to the baseline years of 

1979 to 1988. Consistent with the design of the Everglades Construction Project and without 

demonstratively reducing water quality benefits, the regulatory releases will be timed and 

distributed to the Everglades Protection Area to maximize environmental benefits.

3. The district shall operate the Everglades Construction Project in accordance with the February 

15, 1994, conceptual design document to maximize the water quantity benefits and improve the 

hydroperiod of the Everglades Protection Area. All reductions of flow to the Everglades 

Protection Area from BMP implementation will be replaced. The district shall develop a model 

to be used for quantifying the amount of water to be replaced. The timing and distribution of this 
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replaced water will be directed to the Everglades Protection Area to maximize the natural 

balance of the Everglades Protection Area.

4. The Legislature recognizes the complexity of the Everglades watershed, as well as legal 

mandates under Florida and federal law. As local sponsor of the Central and Southern Florida 

Flood Control Project, the district must coordinate its water supply and hydroperiod programs 

with the Federal Government. Federal planning, research, operating guidelines, and restrictions 

for the Central and Southern Florida Flood Control Project now under review by federal agencies 

will provide important components of the district's Everglades Program. The department and 

district shall use their best efforts to seek the amendment of the authorized purposes of the 

project to include water quality protection, hydroperiod restoration, and environmental 

enhancement as authorized purposes of the Central and Southern Florida Flood Control Project, 

in addition to the existing purposes of water supply, flood protection, and allied purposes. 

Further, the department and the district shall use their best efforts to request that the Federal 

Government include in the evaluation of the regulation schedule for Lake Okeechobee a review 

of the regulatory releases, so as to facilitate releases of water into the Everglades Protection Area 

which further improve hydroperiod restoration.

5. The district, through cooperation with the federal and state agencies, shall develop other 

programs and methods to increase the water flow and improve the hydroperiod of the Everglades 

Protection Area.

6. Nothing in this section is intended to provide an allocation or reservation of water or to 

modify the provisions of part II. All decisions regarding allocations and reservations of water 

shall be governed by applicable law.

7. The district shall proceed to expeditiously implement the minimum flows and levels for the 

Everglades Protection Area as required by s. 373.042 and shall expeditiously complete the 

Lower East Coast Water Supply Plan.

(c) STA 3/4 modification.—The Everglades Program will contribute to the restoration of the 

Rotenberger and Holey Land tracts. The Everglades Construction Project provides a first step 

toward restoration by improving hydroperiod with treated water for the Rotenberger tract and by 

providing a source of treated water for the Holey Land. It is further the intent of the Legislature 

that the easternmost tract of the Holey Land, known as the "Toe of the Boot," be removed from 

STA 3/4 under the circumstances set forth in this paragraph. The district shall proceed to modify 

the Everglades Construction Project, provided that the redesign achieves at least as many 

environmental and hydrological benefits as are included in the original design, including 

treatment of waters from sources other than the EAA, and does not delay construction of STA 

3/4. The district is authorized to use eminent domain to acquire alternative lands, only if such 

lands are located within 1 mile of the northern border of STA 3/4.

(d) Everglades research and monitoring program.—
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1. The department and the district shall review and evaluate available water quality data for the 

Everglades Protection Area and tributary waters and identify any additional information 

necessary to adequately describe water quality in the Everglades Protection Area and tributary 

waters. The department and the district shall also initiate a research and monitoring program to 

generate such additional information identified and to evaluate the effectiveness of the BMPs 

and STAs, as they are implemented, in improving water quality and maintaining designated and 

existing beneficial uses of the Everglades Protection Area and tributary waters. As part of the 

program, the district shall monitor all discharges into the Everglades Protection Area for 

purposes of determining compliance with state water quality standards.

2. The research and monitoring program shall evaluate the ecological and hydrological needs of 

the Everglades Protection Area, including the minimum flows and levels. Consistent with such 

needs, the program shall also evaluate water quality standards for the Everglades Protection Area 

and for the canals of the EAA, so that these canals can be classified in the manner set forth in 

paragraph (e) and protected as an integral part of the water management system which includes 

the STAs of the Everglades Construction Project and allows landowners in the EAA to achieve 

applicable water quality standards compliance by BMPs and STA treatment to the extent this 

treatment is available and effective.

3. The research and monitoring program shall include research seeking to optimize the design 

and operation of the STAs, including research to reduce outflow concentrations, and to identify 

other treatment and management methods and regulatory programs that are superior to STAs in 

achieving the intent and purposes of this section.

4. The research and monitoring program shall be conducted to allow the department to propose a 

phosphorus criterion in the Everglades Protection Area, and to evaluate existing state water 

quality standards applicable to the Everglades Protection Area and existing state water quality 

standards and classifications applicable to the EAA canals. In developing the phosphorus 

criterion, the department shall also consider the minimum flows and levels for the Everglades 

Protection Area and the district's water supply plans for the Lower East Coast.

5. Beginning January 1, 2000, the district and the department shall annually issue a peerreviewed report regarding the research and monitoring program that summarizes all data and 

findings. The department shall provide copies of the report to the Governor, the President of the 

Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The report shall identify water quality 

parameters, in addition to phosphorus, which exceed state water quality standards or are causing 

or contributing to adverse impacts in the Everglades Protection Area. 

6. The district shall continue research seeking to optimize the design and operation of STAs and 

to identify other treatment and management methods that are superior to STAs in achieving 

optimum water quality and water quantity for the benefit of the Everglades. The district shall 

optimize the design and operation of the STAs described in the Everglades Construction Project 
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prior to expanding their size. Additional methods to achieve compliance with water quality 

standards shall not be limited to more intensive management of the STAs.

(e) Evaluation of water quality standards.—

1. The department and the district shall employ all means practicable to complete by December 

31, 1998, any additional research necessary to:

a. Numerically interpret for phosphorus the Class III narrative nutrient criterion necessary to 

meet water quality standards in the Everglades Protection Area; and

b. Evaluate existing water quality standards applicable to the Everglades Protection Area and 

EAA canals.

2. In no case shall such phosphorus criterion allow waters in the Everglades Protection Area to 

be altered so as to cause an imbalance in the natural populations of aquatic flora or fauna. The 

phosphorus criterion shall be 10 parts per billion (ppb) in the Everglades Protection Area in the 

event the department does not adopt by rule such criterion by December 31, 2003. However, in 

the event the department fails to adopt a phosphorus criterion on or before December 31, 2002, 

any person whose substantial interests would be affected by the rulemaking shall have the right, 

on or before February 28, 2003, to petition for a writ of mandamus to compel the department to 

adopt by rule such criterion. Venue for the mandamus action must be Leon County. The court 

may stay implementation of the 10 parts per billion (ppb) criterion during the pendency of the 

mandamus proceeding upon a demonstration by the petitioner of irreparable harm in the absence 

of such relief. The department's phosphorus criterion, whenever adopted, shall supersede the 10 

parts per billion (ppb) criterion otherwise established by this section, but shall not be lower than 

the natural conditions of the Everglades Protection Area and shall take into account spatial and 

temporal variability. The department's rule adopting a phosphorus criterion may include 

moderating provisions during the implementation of the initial phase of the Long-Term Plan 

authorizing discharges based upon BAPRT providing net improvement to impacted areas. 

Discharges to unimpacted areas may also be authorized by moderating provisions, which shall 

require BAPRT, and which must be based upon a determination by the department that the 

environmental benefits of the discharge clearly outweigh potential adverse impacts and 

otherwise comply with antidegradation requirements. Moderating provisions authorized by this 

section shall not extend beyond December 2016 unless further authorized by the Legislature 

pursuant to paragraph (3)(d).

3. The department shall use the best available information to define relationships between 

waters discharged to, and the resulting water quality in, the Everglades Protection Area. The 

department or the district shall use these relationships to establish discharge limits in permits for 

discharges into the EAA canals and the Everglades Protection Area necessary to prevent an 

imbalance in the natural populations of aquatic flora or fauna in the Everglades Protection Area, 

and to provide a net improvement in the areas already impacted. During the implementation of 
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the initial phase of the Long-Term Plan, permits issued by the department shall be based on 

BAPRT, and shall include technology-based effluent limitations consistent with the Long-Term 

Plan. Compliance with the phosphorus criterion shall be based upon a long-term geometric 

mean of concentration levels to be measured at sampling stations recognized from the research to 

be reasonably representative of receiving waters in the Everglades Protection Area, and so 

located so as to assure that the Everglades Protection Area is not altered so as to cause an 

imbalance in natural populations of aquatic flora and fauna and to assure a net improvement in 

the areas already impacted. For the Everglades National Park and the Arthur R. Marshall 

Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge, the method for measuring compliance with the 

phosphorus criterion shall be in a manner consistent with Appendices A and B, respectively, of 

the settlement agreement dated July 26, 1991, entered in case No. 88-1886-Civ-Hoeveler, United 

States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, that recognizes and provides for 

incorporation of relevant research.

4. The department's evaluation of any other water quality standards must include the 

department's antidegradation standards and EAA canal classifications. In recognition of the 

special nature of the conveyance canals of the EAA, as a component of the classification process, 

the department is directed to formally recognize by rulemaking existing actual beneficial uses of 

the conveyance canals in the EAA. This shall include recognition of the Class III designated uses 

of recreation, propagation and maintenance of a healthy, well-balanced population of fish and 

wildlife, the integrated water management purposes for which the Central and Southern Florida 

Flood Control Project was constructed, flood control, conveyance of water to and from Lake 

Okeechobee for urban and agricultural water supply, Everglades hydroperiod restoration, 

conveyance of water to the STAs, and navigation.

(f) EAA best management practices.—

1. The district, in cooperation with the department, shall develop and implement a water quality 

monitoring program to evaluate the effectiveness of the BMPs in achieving and maintaining 

compliance with state water quality standards and restoring and maintaining designated and 

existing beneficial uses. The program shall include an analysis of the effectiveness of the BMPs 

in treating constituents that are not being significantly improved by the STAs. The monitoring 

program shall include monitoring of appropriate parameters at representative locations.

2. The district shall continue to require and enforce the BMP and other requirements of chapters 

40E-61 and 40E-63, Florida Administrative Code, during the terms of the existing permits issued 

pursuant to those rules. Chapter 40E-61, Florida Administrative Code, may be amended to 

include the BMPs required by chapter 40E-63, Florida Administrative Code. Prior to the 

expiration of existing permits, and during each 5-year term of subsequent permits as provided for 

in this section, those rules shall be amended to implement a comprehensive program of research, 

testing, and implementation of BMPs that will address all water quality standards within the 

EAA and Everglades Protection Area. Under this program:
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a. EAA landowners, through the EAA Environmental Protection District or otherwise, shall 

sponsor a program of BMP research with qualified experts to identify appropriate BMPs.

b. Consistent with the water quality monitoring program, BMPs will be field-tested in a 

sufficient number of representative sites in the EAA to reflect soil and crop types and other 

factors that influence BMP design and effectiveness.

c. BMPs as required for varying crops and soil types shall be included in permit conditions in 

the 5-year permits issued pursuant to this section.

d. The district shall conduct research in cooperation with EAA landowners to identify water 

quality parameters that are not being significantly improved either by the STAs or the BMPs, and

to identify further BMP strategies needed to address these parameters.

3. The Legislature finds that through the implementation of the Everglades BMPs Program and 

the implementation of the Everglades Construction Project, reasonable further progress will be 

made towards addressing water quality requirements of the EAA canals and the Everglades 

Protection Area. Permittees within the EAA and the C-139 Basin who are in full compliance 

with the conditions of permits under chapters 40E-61 and 40E-63, Florida Administrative Code, 

have made all payments required under the Everglades Program, and are in compliance with 

subparagraph (a)8., if applicable, shall not be required to implement additional water quality 

improvement measures, prior to December 31, 2006, other than those required by subparagraph 

2., with the following exceptions:

a. Nothing in this subparagraph shall limit the existing authority of the department or the district 

to limit or regulate discharges that pose a significant danger to the public health and safety; and

b. New land uses and new stormwater management facilities other than alterations to existing 

agricultural stormwater management systems for water quality improvements shall not be 

accorded the compliance established by this section. Permits may be required to implement 

improvements or alterations to existing agricultural water management systems.

4. As of December 31, 2006, all permits, including those issued prior to that date, shall require 

implementation of additional water quality measures, taking into account the water quality 

treatment actually provided by the STAs and the effectiveness of the BMPs. As of that date, no 

permittee's discharge shall cause or contribute to any violation of water quality standards in the 

Everglades Protection Area.

5. Effective immediately, landowners within the C-139 Basin shall not collectively exceed an 

annual average loading of phosphorus based proportionately on the historical rainfall for the C139 Basin over the period of October 1, 1978, to September 30, 1988. New surface inflows shall 

not increase the annual average loading of phosphorus stated above. Provided that the C-139 

Basin does not exceed this annual average loading, all landowners within the Basin shall be in 
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compliance for that year. Compliance determinations for individual landowners within the C-139 

Basin for remedial action, if the Basin is determined by the district to be out of compliance for 

that year, shall be based on the landowners' proportional share of the total phosphorus loading. 

The total phosphorus discharge load shall be determined as set forth in Appendix B2 of Rule 

40E-63, Everglades Program, Florida Administrative Code.

6. The district, in cooperation with the department, shall develop and implement a water quality 

monitoring program to evaluate the quality of the discharge from the C-139 Basin. Upon 

determination by the department or the district that the C-139 Basin is exceeding any presently 

existing water quality standards, the district shall require landowners within the C-139 Basin to 

implement BMPs appropriate to the land uses within the C-139 Basin consistent with 

subparagraph 2. Thereafter, the provisions of subparagraphs 2.-4. shall apply to the landowners 

within the C-139 Basin.

(g) Monitoring and control of exotic species.—

1. The district shall establish a biological monitoring network throughout the Everglades 

Protection Area and shall prepare a survey of exotic species at least every 2 years.

2. In addition, the district shall establish a program to coordinate with federal, state, or other 

governmental entities the control of continued expansion and the removal of these exotic species. 

The district's program shall give high priority to species affecting the largest areal extent within 

the Everglades Protection Area.

(5) ACQUISITION AND LEASE OF STATE LANDS.—

(a) As used in this subsection, the term:

1. "Available land" means land within the EAA owned by the board of trustees which is covered 

by any of the following leases: Numbers 3543, 3420, 1447, 1971-5, and 3433, and the southern 

one-third of number 2376 constituting 127 acres, more or less.

2. "Board of trustees" means the Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund.

3. "Designated acre," as to any impacted farmer, means an acre of land which is designated for 

STAs or water retention or storage in the February 15, 1994, conceptual design document and 

which is owned or leased by the farmer or on which one or more agricultural products were 

produced which, during the period beginning October 1, 1992, and ending September 30, 1993, 

were processed at a facility owned by the farmer.

4. "Impacted farmer" means a producer or processor of agricultural commodities and includes 

subsidiaries and affiliates that have designated acres.
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5. "Impacted vegetable farmer" means an impacted farmer in the EAA who uses more than 30 

percent of the land farmed by that farmer, whether owned or leased, for the production of 

vegetables.

6. "Vegetable-area available land" means land within the EAA owned by the board of trustees 

which is covered by lease numbers 3422 and 1935/1935S.

(b) The Legislature declares that it is necessary for the public health and welfare that the 

Everglades water and water-related resources be conserved and protected. The Legislature 

further declares that certain lands may be needed for the treatment or storage of water prior to its 

release into the Everglades Protection Area. The acquisition of real property for this objective 

constitutes a public purpose for which public funds may be expended. In addition to other 

authority pursuant to this chapter to acquire real property, the governing board of the district is 

empowered and authorized to acquire fee title or easements by eminent domain for the limited 

purpose of implementing stormwater management systems, identified and described in the 

Everglades Construction Project or determined necessary to meet water quality requirements 

established by rule or permit.

(c) The Legislature determines it to be in the public interest to minimize the potential loss of 

land and related product supply to farmers and processors who are most affected by acquisition 

of land for Everglades restoration and hydroperiod purposes. Accordingly, subject to the priority 

established below for vegetable-area available land, impacted farmers shall have priority in the 

leasing of available land. An impacted farmer shall have the right to lease each parcel of 

available land, upon expiration of the existing lease, for a term of 20 years and at a rental rate 

determined by appraisal using established state procedures. For those parcels of land that have 

previously been competitively bid, the rental rate shall not be less than the rate the board of 

trustees currently receives. The board of trustees may also adjust the rental rate on an annual 

basis using an appropriate index, and update the appraisals at 5-year intervals. If more than one 

impacted farmer desires to lease a particular parcel of available land, the one that has the greatest 

number of designated acres shall have priority.

(d) Impacted vegetable farmers shall have priority in leasing vegetable-area available land. An 

impacted vegetable farmer shall have the right to lease vegetable-area available land, upon 

expiration of the existing lease, for a term of 20 years or a term ending August 25, 2018, 

whichever term first expires, and at a rental rate determined by appraisal using established state 

procedures. If the lessee elects, such terms may consist of an initial 5-year term, with successive 

options to renew at the lessee's option for additional 5-year terms. For extensions of leases on 

those parcels of land that have previously been competitively bid, the rental rate shall not be less 

than the rate the board of trustees currently receives. The board of trustees may also adjust the 

rental rate on an annual basis using an appropriate index, and update the appraisals at 5-year 

intervals. If more than one impacted vegetable farmer desires to lease vegetable-area available 

land, the one that has the greatest number of designated acres shall have priority.
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15

(e) Impacted vegetable farmers with farming operations in areas of Florida other than the EAA 

shall have priority in leasing suitable surplus lands, where such lands are located in the St. Johns 

River Water Management District and in the vicinity of the other areas where such impacted 

vegetable farmers operate. The suitability of such use shall be determined solely by the St. Johns 

River Water Management District. The St. Johns River Water Management District shall make 

good faith efforts to provide these impacted vegetable farmers with the opportunity to lease such 

suitable lands to offset their designated acres. The rental rate shall be determined by appraisal 

using established procedures.

(f) The corporation conducting correctional work programs under part II of chapter 946 shall be 

entitled to renew, for a period of 20 years, its lease with the Department of Corrections which 

expires June 30, 1998, which includes the utilization of land for the production of sugar cane, 

and which is identified as lease number 2671 with the board of trustees.

(g) Except as specified in paragraph (f), once the leases or lease extensions specified in this 

subsection have been granted and become effective, the trustees shall retain the authority to 

terminate after 9 years any such lease or lease extension upon 2 years' notice to the lessee and a 

finding by the trustees that the lessee has ceased to be impacted as provided in this section. In 

that event, the outgoing lessee is entitled to be compensated for any documented, unamortized 

planting costs associated with the lease and any unamortized capital costs incurred prior to the 

notice. In addition, the trustees may terminate such lease or lease extension if the lessee fails to 

comply with, and after reasonable notice and opportunity to correct or fails to correct, any 

material provision of the lease or its obligation under this section.

(6) EVERGLADES AGRICULTURAL PRIVILEGE TAX.—

(a) There is hereby imposed an annual Everglades agricultural privilege tax for the privilege of 

conducting an agricultural trade or business on:

1. All real property located within the EAA that is classified as agricultural under the provisions 

of chapter 193; and

2. Leasehold or other interests in real property located within the EAA owned by the United 

States, the state, or any agency thereof permitting the property to be used for agricultural 

purposes in a manner that would allow such property to be classified as agricultural under the 

provisions of chapter 193 if not governmentally owned, whether or not such property is actually 

classified as agricultural under the provisions of chapter 193.

It is hereby determined by the Legislature that the privilege of conducting an agricultural trade or 

business on such property constitutes a reasonable basis for imposition of the Everglades 

agricultural privilege tax and that logical differences exist between the agricultural use of such 

property and the use of other property within the EAA for residential or nonagricultural 

commercial use. The Everglades agricultural privilege tax shall constitute a lien against the 
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16

property, or the leasehold or other interest in governmental property permitting such property to 

be used for agricultural purposes, described on the Everglades agricultural privilege tax roll. The 

lien shall be in effect from January 1 of the year the tax notice is mailed until discharged by 

payment and shall be equal in rank and dignity with the liens of all state, county, district, or 

municipal taxes and non-ad valorem assessments imposed pursuant to general law, special act, or 

local ordinance and shall be superior in dignity to all other liens, titles, and claims.

(b) The Everglades agricultural privilege tax, other than for leasehold or other interests in 

governmental property permitting such property to be used for agricultural purposes, shall be 

collected in the manner provided for ad valorem taxes. By September 15 of each year, the 

governing board of the district shall certify by resolution an Everglades agricultural privilege tax 

roll on compatible electronic medium to the tax collector of each county in which a portion of 

the EAA is located. The district shall also produce one copy of the roll in printed form which 

shall be available for inspection by the public. The district shall post the Everglades agricultural 

privilege tax for each parcel on the roll. The tax collector shall not accept any such roll that is not 

certified on compatible electronic medium and that does not contain the posting of the 

Everglades agricultural privilege tax for each parcel. It is the responsibility of the district that 

such rolls be free of errors and omissions. Alterations to such rolls may be made by the executive 

director of the district, or a designee, up to 10 days before certification. If the tax collector or any 

taxpayer discovers errors or omissions on such roll, such person may request the district to file a 

corrected roll or a correction of the amount of any Everglades agricultural privilege tax. Other 

than for leasehold or other interests in governmental property permitting such property to be used 

for agricultural purposes, Everglades agricultural privilege taxes collected pursuant to this 

section shall be included in the combined notice for ad valorem taxes and non-ad valorem 

assessments provided for in s. 197.3635. Such Everglades agricultural privilege taxes shall be 

listed in the portion of the combined notice utilized for non-ad valorem assessments. A separate 

mailing is authorized only as a solution to the most exigent factual circumstances. However, if a 

tax collector cannot merge an Everglades agricultural privilege tax roll to produce such a notice, 

the tax collector shall mail a separate notice of Everglades agricultural privilege taxes or shall 

direct the district to mail such a separate notice. In deciding whether a separate mailing is 

necessary, the tax collector shall consider all costs to the district and taxpayers of such a separate 

mailing and the adverse effects to the taxpayers of delayed and multiple notices. The district 

shall bear all costs associated with any separate notice. Everglades agricultural privilege taxes 

collected pursuant to this section shall be subject to all collection provisions of chapter 197, 

including provisions relating to discount for early payment, prepayment by installment method, 

deferred payment, penalty for delinquent payment, and issuance and sale of tax certificates and 

tax deeds for nonpayment. Everglades agricultural privilege taxes for leasehold or other interests 

in property owned by the United States, the state, or any agency thereof permitting such property 

to be used for agricultural purposes shall be included on the notice provided pursuant to s. 

196.31, a copy of which shall be provided to lessees or other interestholders registering with the 

district, and shall be collected from the lessee or other appropriate interestholder and remitted to 
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the district immediately upon collection. Everglades agricultural privilege taxes included on the 

statement provided pursuant to s. 196.31 shall be due and collected on or prior to the next April 1 

following provision of the notice. Proceeds of the Everglades agricultural privilege taxes shall be 

distributed by the tax collector to the district. Each tax collector shall be paid a commission equal 

to the actual cost of collection, not to exceed 2 percent, on the amount of Everglades agricultural 

privilege taxes collected and remitted. Notwithstanding any general law or special act to the 

contrary, Everglades agricultural privilege taxes shall not be included on the notice of proposed 

property taxes provided for in s. 200.069.

(c) The initial Everglades agricultural privilege tax roll shall be certified for the tax notices 

mailed in November 1994. Incentive credits to the Everglades agricultural privilege taxes to be 

included on the initial Everglades agricultural privilege tax roll, if any, shall be based upon the 

total phosphorus load reduction for the year ending April 30, 1993. The Everglades agricultural 

privilege taxes for each year shall be computed in the following manner:

1. Annual Everglades agricultural privilege taxes shall be charged for the privilege of 

conducting an agricultural trade or business on each acre of real property or portion thereof. The 

annual Everglades agricultural privilege tax shall be $24.89 per acre for the tax notices mailed in 

November 1994 through November 1997; $27 per acre for the tax notices mailed in November 

1998 through November 2001; $31 per acre for the tax notices mailed in November 2002 

through November 2005; and $35 per acre for the tax notices mailed in November 2006 through 

November 2013.

2. It is the intent of the Legislature to encourage the performance of best management practices 

to maximize the reduction of phosphorus loads at points of discharge from the EAA by providing 

an incentive credit against the Everglades agricultural privilege taxes set forth in subparagraph 1. 

The total phosphorus load reduction shall be measured for the entire EAA by comparing the 

actual measured total phosphorus load attributable to the EAA for each annual period ending on 

April 30 to the total estimated phosphorus load that would have occurred during the 1979-1988 

base period using the model for total phosphorus load determinations provided in chapter 40E63, Florida Administrative Code, utilizing the technical information and procedures contained in 

Section IV-EAA Period of Record Flow and Phosphorus Load Calculations; Section VMonitoring Requirements; and Section VI-Phosphorus Load Allocations and Compliance 

Calculations of the Draft Technical Document in Support of chapter 40E-63, Florida 

Administrative Code - Works of the District within the Everglades, March 3, 1992, and the 

Standard Operating Procedures for Water Quality Collection in Support of the Everglades Water 

Condition Report, dated February 18, 1994. The model estimates the total phosphorus load that 

would have occurred during the 1979-1988 base period by substituting the rainfall conditions for 

such annual period ending April 30 for the conditions that were used to calibrate the model for 

the 1979-1988 base period. The data utilized to calculate the actual loads attributable to the EAA 

shall be adjusted to eliminate the effect of any load and flow that were not included in the 1979-

1988 base period as defined in chapter 40E-63, Florida Administrative Code. The incorporation 
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of the method of measuring the total phosphorus load reduction provided in this subparagraph is 

intended to provide a legislatively approved aid to the governing board of the district in making 

an annual ministerial determination of any incentive credit.

3. Phosphorus load reductions calculated in the manner described in subparagraph 2. and 

rounded to the nearest whole percentage point for each annual period beginning on May 1 and 

ending on April 30 shall be used to compute incentive credits to the Everglades agricultural 

privilege taxes to be included on the annual tax notices mailed in November of the next ensuing 

calendar year. Incentive credits, if any, will reduce the Everglades agricultural privilege taxes set 

forth in subparagraph 1. only to the extent that the phosphorus load reduction exceeds 25 

percent. Subject to subparagraph 4., the reduction of phosphorus load by each percentage point 

in excess of 25 percent, computed for the 12-month period ended on April 30 of the calendar 

year immediately preceding certification of the Everglades agricultural privilege tax, shall result 

in the following incentive credits: $0.33 per acre for the tax notices mailed in November 1994 

through November 1997; $0.54 per acre for the tax notices mailed in November 1998 through 

November 2001; $0.61 per acre for the tax notices mailed in November 2002 through November 

2005, and $0.65 per acre for the tax notices mailed in November 2006 through November 2013. 

The determination of incentive credits, if any, shall be documented by resolution of the 

governing board of the district adopted prior to or at the time of the adoption of its resolution 

certifying the annual Everglades agricultural privilege tax roll to the appropriate tax collector.

4. Notwithstanding subparagraph 3., incentive credits for the performance of best management 

practices shall not reduce the minimum annual Everglades agricultural privilege tax to less than 

$24.89 per acre, which annual Everglades agricultural privilege tax as adjusted in the manner 

required by paragraph (e) shall be known as the "minimum tax." To the extent that the 

application of incentive credits for the performance of best management practices would reduce 

the annual Everglades agricultural privilege tax to an amount less than the minimum tax, then the 

unused or excess incentive credits for the performance of best management practices shall be 

carried forward, on a phosphorus load percentage basis, to be applied as incentive credits in 

subsequent years. Any unused or excess incentive credits remaining after certification of the 

Everglades agricultural privilege tax roll for the tax notices mailed in November 2013 shall be 

canceled.

5. Notwithstanding the schedule of Everglades agricultural privilege taxes set forth in 

subparagraph 1., the owner, lessee, or other appropriate interestholder of any property shall be 

entitled to have the Everglades agricultural privilege tax for any parcel of property reduced to the 

minimum tax, commencing with the tax notices mailed in November 1996 for parcels of 

property participating in the early baseline option as defined in chapter 40E-63, Florida 

Administrative Code, and with the tax notices mailed in November 1997 for parcels of property 

not participating in the early baseline option, upon compliance with the requirements set forth in 

this subparagraph. The owner, lessee, or other appropriate interestholder shall file an application 

with the executive director of the district prior to July 1 for consideration of reduction to the 
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minimum tax on the Everglades agricultural privilege tax roll to be certified for the tax notice 

mailed in November of the same calendar year and shall have the burden of proving the 

reduction in phosphorus load attributable to such parcel of property. The phosphorus load 

reduction for each discharge structure serving the parcel shall be measured as provided in chapter 

40E-63, Florida Administrative Code, and the permit issued for such property pursuant to 

chapter 40E-63, Florida Administrative Code. A parcel of property which has achieved the 

following annual phosphorus load reduction standards shall have the minimum tax included on 

the annual tax notice mailed in November of the next ensuing calendar year: 30 percent or more 

for the tax notices mailed in November 1994 through November 1997; 35 percent or more for the 

tax notices mailed in November 1998 through November 2001; 40 percent or more for the tax 

notices mailed in November 2002 through November 2005; and 45 percent or more for the tax 

notices mailed in November 2006 through November 2013. In addition, any parcel of property 

that achieves an annual flow weighted mean concentration of 50 parts per billion (ppb) of 

phosphorus at each discharge structure serving the property for any year ending April 30 shall 

have the minimum tax included on the annual tax notice mailed in November of the next ensuing 

calendar year. Any annual phosphorus reductions that exceed the amount necessary to have the 

minimum tax included on the annual tax notice for any parcel of property shall be carried 

forward to the subsequent years' phosphorus load reduction to determine if the minimum tax 

shall be included on the annual tax notice. The governing board of the district shall deny or grant 

the application by resolution adopted prior to or at the time of the adoption of its resolution 

certifying the annual Everglades agricultural privilege tax roll to the appropriate tax collector.

6. The annual Everglades agricultural privilege tax for the tax notices mailed in November 2014 

through November 2016 shall be $25 per acre and for tax notices mailed in November 2017 and 

thereafter shall be $10 per acre.

(d) For purposes of this paragraph, "vegetable acreage" means, for each tax year, any portion of 

a parcel of property used for a period of not less than 8 months for the production of vegetable 

crops, including sweet corn, during the 12 months ended September 30 of the year preceding the 

tax year. Land preparation, crop rotation, and fallow periods shall not disqualify property from 

classification as vegetable acreage if such property is actually used for the production of 

vegetable crops.

1. It is hereby determined by the Legislature that vegetable farming in the EAA is subject to 

volatile market conditions and is particularly subject to crop loss or damage due to freezes, 

flooding, and drought. It is further determined by the Legislature that, due to the foregoing 

factors, imposition of an Everglades agricultural privilege tax upon vegetable acreage in excess 

of the minimum tax could create a severe economic hardship and impair the production of 

vegetable crops. Notwithstanding the schedule of Everglades agricultural privilege taxes set forth 

in subparagraph (c)1., the Everglades agricultural privilege tax for vegetable acreage shall be the 

minimum tax, and vegetable acreage shall not be entitled to any incentive credits.
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2. If either the Governor, the President of the United States, or the United States Department of 

Agriculture declares the existence of a state of emergency or disaster resulting from extreme 

natural conditions impairing the ability of vegetable acreage to produce crops, payment of the 

Everglades agricultural privilege taxes imposed for the privilege of conducting an agricultural 

trade or business on such property shall be deferred for a period of 1 year, and all subsequent 

annual payments shall be deferred for the same period.

a. If the declaration occurs between April 1 and October 31, the Everglades agricultural 

privilege tax to be included on the next annual tax notice will be deferred to the subsequent 

annual tax notice.

b. If the declaration occurs between November 1 and March 31 and the Everglades agricultural 

privilege tax included on the most recent tax notice has not been paid, such Everglades 

agricultural privilege tax will be deferred to the next annual tax notice.

c. If the declaration occurs between November 1 and March 31 and the Everglades agricultural 

privilege tax included on the most recent tax notice has been paid, the Everglades agricultural 

privilege tax to be included on the next annual tax notice will be deferred to the subsequent 

annual tax notice.

3. In the event payment of Everglades agricultural privilege taxes is deferred pursuant to this 

paragraph, the district must record a notice in the official records of each county in which 

vegetable acreage subject to such deferment is located. The recorded notice must describe each 

parcel of property as to which Everglades agricultural privilege taxes have been deferred and the 

amount deferred for such property. If all or any portion of the property as to which Everglades 

agricultural privilege taxes have been deferred ceases to be classified as agricultural under the 

provisions of chapter 193 or otherwise subject to the Everglades agricultural privilege tax, all 

deferred amounts must be included on the tax notice for such property mailed in November of 

the first tax year for which such property is not subject to the Everglades agricultural privilege 

tax. After a property owner has paid all outstanding Everglades agricultural privilege taxes, 

including any deferred amounts, the district shall provide the property owner with a recordable 

instrument evidencing the payment of all outstanding amounts.

4. The owner, lessee, or other appropriate interestholder must file an application with the 

executive director of the district prior to July 1 for classification of a portion of the property as 

vegetable acreage on the Everglades agricultural privilege tax roll to be certified for the tax 

notice mailed in November of the same calendar year and shall have the burden of proving the 

number of acres used for the production of vegetable crops during the year in which incentive 

credits are determined and the period of such use. The governing board of the district shall deny 

or grant the application by resolution adopted prior to or at the time of the adoption of its 

resolution certifying the annual Everglades agricultural privilege tax roll to the appropriate tax 

collector.
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5. This paragraph does not relieve vegetable acreage from the performance of best management 

practices specified in chapter 40E-63, Florida Administrative Code.

(e) If, for any tax year, the number of acres subject to the Everglades agricultural privilege tax is 

less than the number of acres included on the Everglades agricultural privilege tax roll certified 

for the tax notices mailed in November 1994, the minimum tax shall be subject to increase in the 

manner provided in this paragraph. In determining the number of acres subject to the Everglades 

agricultural privilege tax for purposes of this paragraph, property acquired by a not-for-profit 

entity for purposes of conservation and preservation, the United States, or the state, or any 

agency thereof, and removed from the Everglades agricultural privilege tax roll after January 1, 

1994, shall be treated as subject to the tax even though no tax is imposed or due: in its entirety, 

for tax notices mailed prior to November 2000; to the extent its area exceeds 4 percent of the 

total area of property subject to the Everglades agricultural tax, for tax notices mailed in 

November 2000 through November 2005; and to the extent its area exceeds 8 percent of the total 

area of property subject to the Everglades agricultural tax, for tax notices mailed in November 

2006 and thereafter. For each tax year, the district shall determine the amount, if any, by which 

the sum of the following exceeds $12,367,000:

1. The product of the minimum tax multiplied by the number of acres subject to the Everglades 

agricultural privilege tax; and

2. The ad valorem tax increment, as defined in this subparagraph.

The aggregate of such annual amounts, less any portion previously applied to eliminate or reduce

future increases in the minimum tax, as described in this paragraph, shall be known as the 

"excess tax amount." If for any tax year, the amount computed by multiplying the minimum tax 

by the number of acres then subject to the Everglades agricultural privilege tax is less than 

$12,367,000, the excess tax amount shall be applied in the following manner. If the excess tax 

amount exceeds such difference, an amount equal to the difference shall be deducted from the 

excess tax amount and applied to eliminate any increase in the minimum tax. If such difference 

exceeds the excess tax amount, the excess tax amount shall be applied to reduce any increase in 

the minimum tax. In such event, a new minimum tax shall be computed by subtracting the 

remaining excess tax amount from $12,367,000 and dividing the result by the number of acres 

subject to the Everglades agricultural privilege tax for such tax year. For purposes of this 

paragraph, the "ad valorem tax increment" means 50 percent of the difference between the 

amount of ad valorem taxes actually imposed by the district for the immediate prior tax year 

against property included on the Everglades agricultural privilege tax roll certified for the tax 

notices mailed in November 1994 that was not subject to the Everglades agricultural privilege 

tax during the immediate prior tax year and the amount of ad valorem taxes that would have been 

imposed against such property for the immediate prior tax year if the taxable value of each acre 

had been equal to the average taxable value of all other land classified as agricultural within the 

EAA for such year; however, the ad valorem tax increment for any year shall not exceed the 
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amount that would have been derived from such property from imposition of the minimum tax 

during the immediate prior tax year.

(f) Any owner, lessee, or other appropriate interestholder of property subject to the Everglades 

agricultural privilege tax may contest the Everglades agricultural privilege tax by filing an action 

in circuit court.

1. No action may be brought to contest the Everglades agricultural privilege tax after 60 days 

from the date the tax notice that includes the Everglades agricultural privilege tax is mailed by 

the tax collector. Before an action to contest the Everglades agricultural privilege tax may be 

brought, the taxpayer shall pay to the tax collector the amount of the Everglades agricultural 

privilege tax which the taxpayer admits in good faith to be owing. The tax collector shall issue a 

receipt for the payment, and the receipt shall be filed with the complaint. Payment of an 

Everglades agricultural privilege tax shall not be deemed an admission that such tax was due and 

shall not prejudice the right to bring a timely action to challenge such tax and seek a refund. No 

action to contest the Everglades agricultural privilege tax may be maintained, and such action 

shall be dismissed, unless all Everglades agricultural privilege taxes imposed in years after the 

action is brought, which the taxpayer in good faith admits to be owing, are paid before they 

become delinquent. The requirements of this subparagraph are jurisdictional.

2. In any action involving a challenge of the Everglades agricultural privilege tax, the court shall 

assess all costs. If the court finds that the amount of tax owed by the taxpayer is greater than the 

amount the taxpayer has in good faith admitted and paid, it shall enter judgment against the 

taxpayer for the deficiency and for interest on the deficiency at the rate of 12 percent per year 

from the date the tax became delinquent. If it finds that the amount of tax which the taxpayer has 

admitted to be owing is grossly disproportionate to the amount of tax found to be due and that 

the taxpayer's admission was not made in good faith, the court shall also assess a penalty at the 

rate of 25 percent of the deficiency per year from the date the tax became delinquent. The court 

may issue injunctions to restrain the sale of property for any Everglades agricultural privilege tax 

which appears to be contrary to law or equity.

(g) Notwithstanding any contrary provisions in chapter 120, or any provision of any other law, 

an action in circuit court shall be the exclusive remedy to challenge the assessment of an 

Everglades agricultural privilege tax and owners of property subject to the Everglades 

agricultural privilege tax shall have no right or standing to initiate administrative proceedings 

under chapter 120 to challenge the assessment of an Everglades agricultural privilege tax, 

including specifically, and without limitation, the annual certification by the district governing 

board of the Everglades agricultural privilege tax roll to the appropriate tax collector, the annual 

calculation of any incentive credit for phosphorus level reductions, the denial of an application 

for exclusion from the Everglades agricultural privilege tax, the calculation of the minimum tax 

adjustments provided in paragraph (e), the denial of an application for reduction to the minimum 

tax, and the denial of any application for classification as vegetable acreage, deferment of 
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payment for vegetable acreage, or correction of any alleged error in the Everglades agricultural 

privilege tax roll.

(h) In recognition of the findings set forth in subsection (1), the Legislature finds that the 

assessment and use of the Everglades agricultural privilege tax is a matter of concern to all areas 

of Florida and the Legislature intends this act to be a general law authorization of the tax within 

the meaning of s. 9, Art. VII of the State Constitution and that payment of the tax complies with 

the obligations of owners and users of land under s. 7(b), Art. II of the State Constitution.

(7) C-139 AGRICULTURAL PRIVILEGE TAX.—

(a) There is hereby imposed an annual C-139 agricultural privilege tax for the privilege of 

conducting an agricultural trade or business on:

1. All real property located within the C-139 Basin that is classified as agricultural under the 

provisions of chapter 193; and

2. Leasehold or other interests in real property located within the C-139 Basin owned by the 

United States, the state, or any agency thereof permitting the property to be used for agricultural 

purposes in a manner that would result in such property being classified as agricultural under the 

provisions of chapter 193 if not governmentally owned, whether or not such property is actually 

classified as agricultural under the provisions of chapter 193.

It is hereby determined by the Legislature that the privilege of conducting an agricultural trade or 

business on such property constitutes a reasonable basis for imposing the C-139 agricultural 

privilege tax and that logical differences exist between the agricultural use of such property and 

the use of other property within the C-139 Basin for residential or nonagricultural commercial 

use. The C-139 agricultural privilege tax shall constitute a lien against the property, or the 

leasehold or other interest in governmental property permitting such property to be used for 

agricultural purposes, described on the C-139 agricultural privilege tax roll. The lien shall be in 

effect from January 1 of the year the tax notice is mailed until discharged by payment and shall 

be equal in rank and dignity with the liens of all state, county, district, or municipal taxes and 

non-ad valorem assessments imposed pursuant to general law, special act, or local ordinance and 

shall be superior in dignity to all other liens, titles, and claims.

(b) The C-139 agricultural privilege tax, other than for leasehold or other interests in 

governmental property permitting such property to be used for agricultural purposes, shall be 

collected in the manner provided for ad valorem taxes. By September 15 of each year, the 

governing board of the district shall certify by resolution a C-139 agricultural privilege tax roll 

on compatible electronic medium to the tax collector of each county in which a portion of the C139 Basin is located. The district shall also produce one copy of the roll in printed form which 

shall be available for inspection by the public. The district shall post the C-139 agricultural 

privilege tax for each parcel on the roll. The tax collector shall not accept any such roll that is not 
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certified on compatible electronic medium and that does not contain the posting of the C-139 

agricultural privilege tax for each parcel. It is the responsibility of the district that such rolls be 

free of errors and omissions. Alterations to such rolls may be made by the executive director of 

the district, or a designee, up to 10 days before certification. If the tax collector or any taxpayer 

discovers errors or omissions on such roll, such person may request the district to file a corrected 

roll or a correction of the amount of any C-139 agricultural privilege tax. Other than for 

leasehold or other interests in governmental property permitting such property to be used for 

agricultural purposes, C-139 agricultural privilege taxes collected pursuant to this section shall 

be included in the combined notice for ad valorem taxes and non-ad valorem assessments 

provided for in s. 197.3635. Such C-139 agricultural privilege taxes shall be listed in the portion 

of the combined notice utilized for non-ad valorem assessments. A separate mailing is authorized 

only as a solution to the most exigent factual circumstances. However, if a tax collector cannot 

merge a C-139 agricultural privilege tax roll to produce such a notice, the tax collector shall mail 

a separate notice of C-139 agricultural privilege taxes or shall direct the district to mail such a 

separate notice. In deciding whether a separate mailing is necessary, the tax collector shall 

consider all costs to the district and taxpayers of such a separate mailing and the adverse effects 

to the taxpayers of delayed and multiple notices. The district shall bear all costs associated with 

any separate notice. C-139 agricultural privilege taxes collected pursuant to this section shall be 

subject to all collection provisions of chapter 197, including provisions relating to discount for 

early payment, prepayment by installment method, deferred payment, penalty for delinquent 

payment, and issuance and sale of tax certificates and tax deeds for nonpayment. C-139 

agricultural privilege taxes for leasehold or other interests in property owned by the United 

States, the state, or any agency thereof permitting such property to be used for agricultural 

purposes shall be included on the notice provided pursuant to s. 196.31, a copy of which shall be 

provided to lessees or other interestholders registering with the district, and shall be collected 

from the lessee or other appropriate interestholder and remitted to the district immediately upon 

collection. C-139 agricultural privilege taxes included on the statement provided pursuant to s. 

196.31 shall be due and collected on or prior to the next April 1 following provision of the 

notice. Proceeds of the C-139 agricultural privilege taxes shall be distributed by the tax collector 

to the district. Each tax collector shall be paid a commission equal to the actual cost of 

collection, not to exceed 2 percent, on the amount of C-139 agricultural privilege taxes collected 

and remitted. Notwithstanding any general law or special act to the contrary, C-139 agricultural 

privilege taxes shall not be included on the notice of proposed property taxes provided in s. 

200.069.

(c)1. The initial C-139 agricultural privilege tax roll shall be certified for the tax notices mailed 

in November 1994. The C-139 agricultural privilege taxes for the tax notices mailed in 

November 1994 through November 2002 shall be computed by dividing $654,656 by the number 

of acres included on the C-139 agricultural privilege tax roll for such year, excluding any 

property located within the C-139 Annex. 
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25

2. The C-139 agricultural privilege taxes for the tax notices mailed in November 2003 through 

2013 shall be computed by dividing $654,656 by the number of acres included on the C-139 

agricultural privilege tax roll for November 2001, excluding any property located within the C139 Annex.

3. The C-139 agricultural privilege taxes for the tax notices mailed in November 2014 and 

thereafter shall be $1.80 per acre.

(d) For purposes of this paragraph, "vegetable acreage" means, for each tax year, any portion of 

a parcel of property used for a period of not less than 8 months for the production of vegetable 

crops, including sweet corn, during the 12 months ended September 30 of the year preceding the 

tax year. Land preparation, crop rotation, and fallow periods shall not disqualify property from 

classification as vegetable acreage if such property is actually used for the production of 

vegetable crops.

1. If either the Governor, the President of the United States, or the United States Department of 

Agriculture declares the existence of a state of emergency or disaster resulting from extreme 

natural conditions impairing the ability of vegetable acreage to produce crops, payment of the C139 agricultural privilege taxes imposed for the privilege of conducting an agricultural trade or 

business on such property shall be deferred for a period of 1 year, and all subsequent annual 

payments shall be deferred for the same period.

a. If the declaration occurs between April 1 and October 31, the C-139 agricultural privilege tax 

to be included on the next annual tax notice will be deferred to the subsequent annual tax notice.

b. If the declaration occurs between November 1 and March 31 and the C-139 agricultural 

privilege tax included on the most recent tax notice has not been paid, such C-139 agricultural 

privilege tax will be deferred to the next annual tax notice.

c. If the declaration occurs between November 1 and March 31 and the C-139 agricultural 

privilege tax included on the most recent tax notice has been paid, the C-139 agricultural 

privilege tax to be included on the next annual tax notice will be deferred to the subsequent 

annual tax notice.

2. In the event payment of C-139 agricultural privilege taxes is deferred pursuant to this 

paragraph, the district must record a notice in the official records of each county in which 

vegetable acreage subject to such deferment is located. The recorded notice must describe each 

parcel of property as to which C-139 agricultural privilege taxes have been deferred and the 

amount deferred for such property. If all or any portion of the property as to which C-139 

agricultural privilege taxes have been deferred ceases to be classified as agricultural under the 

provisions of chapter 193 or otherwise subject to the C-139 agricultural privilege tax, all deferred 

amounts must be included on the tax notice for such property mailed in November of the first tax 

year for which such property is not subject to the C-139 agricultural privilege tax. After a 
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property owner has paid all outstanding C-139 agricultural privilege taxes, including any 

deferred amounts, the district shall provide the property owner with a recordable instrument 

evidencing the payment of all outstanding amounts.

3. The owner, lessee, or other appropriate interestholder shall file an application with the 

executive director of the district prior to July 1 for classification of a portion of the property as 

vegetable acreage on the C-139 agricultural privilege tax roll to be certified for the tax notice 

mailed in November of the same calendar year and shall have the burden of proving the number 

of acres used for the production of vegetable crops during the year in which incentive credits are 

determined and the period of such use. The governing board of the district shall deny or grant the 

application by resolution adopted prior to or at the time of the adoption of its resolution 

certifying the annual C-139 agricultural privilege tax roll to the appropriate tax collector.

4. This paragraph does not relieve vegetable acreage from the performance of best management 

practices specified in chapter 40E-63, Florida Administrative Code.

(e) Any owner, lessee, or other appropriate interestholder of property subject to the C-139 

agricultural privilege tax may contest the C-139 agricultural privilege tax by filing an action in 

circuit court.

1. No action may be brought to contest the C-139 agricultural privilege tax after 60 days from 

the date the tax notice that includes the C-139 agricultural privilege tax is mailed by the tax 

collector. Before an action to contest the C-139 agricultural privilege tax may be brought, the 

taxpayer shall pay to the tax collector the amount of the C-139 agricultural privilege tax which 

the taxpayer admits in good faith to be owing. The tax collector shall issue a receipt for the 

payment and the receipt shall be filed with the complaint. Payment of an C-139 agricultural 

privilege tax shall not be deemed an admission that such tax was due and shall not prejudice the 

right to bring a timely action to challenge such tax and seek a refund. No action to contest the C139 agricultural privilege tax may be maintained, and such action shall be dismissed, unless all 

C-139 agricultural privilege taxes imposed in years after the action is brought, which the 

taxpayer in good faith admits to be owing, are paid before they become delinquent. The 

requirements of this paragraph are jurisdictional.

2. In any action involving a challenge of the C-139 agricultural privilege tax, the court shall 

assess all costs. If the court finds that the amount of tax owed by the taxpayer is greater than the 

amount the taxpayer has in good faith admitted and paid, it shall enter judgment against the 

taxpayer for the deficiency and for interest on the deficiency at the rate of 12 percent per year 

from the date the tax became delinquent. If it finds that the amount of tax which the taxpayer has 

admitted to be owing is grossly disproportionate to the amount of tax found to be due and that 

the taxpayer's admission was not made in good faith, the court shall also assess a penalty at the 

rate of 25 percent of the deficiency per year from the date the tax became delinquent. The court 
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may issue injunctions to restrain the sale of property for any C-139 agricultural privilege tax 

which appears to be contrary to law or equity.

(f) Notwithstanding any contrary provisions in chapter 120, or any provision of any other law, 

an action in circuit court shall be the exclusive remedy to challenge the assessment of an C-139 

agricultural privilege tax and owners of property subject to the C-139 agricultural privilege tax 

shall have no right or standing to initiate administrative proceedings under chapter 120 to 

challenge the assessment of an C-139 agricultural privilege tax including specifically, and 

without limitation, the annual certification by the district governing board of the C-139 

agricultural privilege tax roll to the appropriate tax collector, the denial of an application for 

exclusion from the C-139 agricultural privilege tax, and the denial of any application for 

classification as vegetable acreage, deferment of payment for vegetable acreage, or correction of 

any alleged error in the C-139 agricultural privilege tax roll.

(g) In recognition of the findings set forth in subsection (1), the Legislature finds that the 

assessment and use of the C-139 agricultural privilege tax is a matter of concern to all areas of 

Florida and the Legislature intends this section to be a general law authorization of the tax within 

the meaning of s. 9, Art. VII of the State Constitution.

(8) SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS.—

(a) In addition to any other legally available funding mechanism, the district may create, alone 

or in cooperation with counties, municipalities, and special districts pursuant to s. 163.01, the 

Florida Interlocal Cooperation Act of 1969, one or more stormwater management system benefit 

areas including property located outside the EAA and the C-139 Basin, and property located 

within the EAA and the C-139 Basin that is not subject to the Everglades agricultural privilege 

tax or the C-139 agricultural privilege tax. The district may levy special assessments within said 

benefit areas to fund the planning, acquisition, construction, financing, operation, maintenance, 

and administration of stormwater management systems for the benefited areas. Any benefit area 

in which property owners receive substantially different levels of stormwater management 

system benefits shall include stormwater management system benefit subareas within which 

different per acreage assessments shall be levied from subarea to subarea based upon a 

reasonable relationship to benefits received. The assessments shall be calculated to generate 

sufficient funds to plan, acquire, construct, finance, operate, and maintain the stormwater 

management systems authorized pursuant to this section.

(b) The district may use the non-ad valorem levy, collection, and enforcement method as 

provided in chapter 197 for assessments levied pursuant to paragraph (a).

(c) The district shall publish notice of the certification of the non-ad valorem assessment roll 

pursuant to chapter 197 in a newspaper of general circulation in the counties wherein the 

assessment is being levied, within 1 week after the district certifies the non-ad valorem 

assessment roll to the tax collector pursuant to s. 197.3632(5). The assessments levied pursuant 
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28

to paragraph (a) shall be final and conclusive as to each lot or parcel unless the owner thereof 

shall, within 90 days of certification of the non-ad valorem assessment roll pursuant to s. 

197.3632(5), commence an action in circuit court. Absent such commencement of an action 

within such period of time by an owner of a lot or parcel, such owner shall thereafter be estopped 

to raise any question related to the special benefit afforded the property or the reasonableness of 

the amount of the assessment. Except with respect to an owner who has commenced such an 

action, the non-ad valorem assessment roll as finally adopted and certified by the South Florida 

Water Management District to the tax collector pursuant to s. 197.3632(5) shall be competent 

and sufficient evidence that the assessments were duly levied and that all other proceedings 

adequate to the adoption of the non-ad valorem assessment roll were duly held, taken, and 

performed as required by s. 197.3632. If any assessment is abated in whole or in part by the 

court, the amount by which the assessment is so reduced may, by resolution of the governing 

board of the district, be payable from funds of the district legally available for that purpose, or at 

the discretion of the governing board of the district, assessments may be increased in the manner 

provided in s. 197.3632.

(d) In no event shall the amount of funds collected for stormwater management facilities 

pursuant to paragraph (a) exceed the cost of providing water management attributable to water 

quality treatment resulting from the operation of stormwater management systems of the 

landowners to be assessed. Such water quality treatment may be required by the plan or permits 

issued by the district. Prior to the imposition of assessments pursuant to paragraph (a) for 

construction of new stormwater management systems or the acquisition of necessary land, the 

district shall establish the general purpose, design, and function of the new system sufficient to 

make a fair and reasonable determination of the estimated costs of water management 

attributable to water quality treatment resulting from operation of stormwater management 

systems of the landowners to be assessed. This determination shall establish the proportion of the 

total anticipated costs attributable to the landowners. In determining the costs to be imposed by 

assessments, the district shall consider the extent to which nutrients originate from external 

sources beyond the control of the landowners to be assessed. Costs for hydroperiod restoration 

within the Everglades Protection Area shall be provided by funds other than those derived from 

the assessments. The proportion of total anticipated costs attributable to the landowners shall be 

apportioned to individual landowners considering the factors specified in paragraph (e). Any 

determination made pursuant to this paragraph or paragraph (e) may be included in the plan or 

permits issued by the district.

(e) In determining the amount of any assessment imposed on an individual landowner under 

paragraph (a), the district shall consider the quality and quantity of the stormwater discharged by 

the landowner, the amount of treatment provided to the landowner, and whether the landowner 

has provided equivalent treatment or retention prior to discharge to the district's system.

(f) No assessment shall be imposed under this section for the operation or maintenance of a 

stormwater management system or facility for which construction has been completed on or 
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29

before July 1, 1991, except to the extent that the operation or maintenance, or any modification 

of such system or facility, is required to provide water quality treatment.

(g) The district shall suspend, terminate, or modify projects and funding for such projects, as 

appropriate, if the projects are not achieving applicable goals specified in the plan.

(h) The Legislature hereby determines that any property owner who contributes to the need for 

stormwater management systems and programs, as determined for each individual property 

owner either through the plan or through permits issued to the district or to the property owner, is 

deemed to benefit from such systems and programs, and such benefits are deemed to be directly 

proportional to the relative contribution of the property owner to such need. The Legislature also 

determines that the issuance of a master permit provides benefits, through the opportunity to 

achieve collective compliance, for all persons within the area of the master permit which may be 

considered by the district in the imposition of assessments under this section.

(9) PERMITS.—

(a) The Legislature finds that construction and operation of the Everglades Construction Project 

will benefit the water resources of the district and is consistent with the public interest. The 

district shall construct, maintain, and operate the Everglades Construction Project in accordance 

with this section.

(b) The Legislature finds that there is an immediate need to initiate cleanup and restoration of 

the Everglades Protection Area through the Everglades Construction Project. In recognition of 

this need, the district may begin construction of the Everglades Construction Project prior to 

final agency action, or notice of intended agency action, on any permit from the department 

under this section.

(c) The department may issue permits to the district to construct, operate, and maintain the 

Everglades Construction Project based on the criteria set forth in this section. The permits to be 

issued by the department to the district under this section shall be in lieu of other permits under 

this part or part VIII of chapter 403, 1992 Supplement to the Florida Statutes 1991.

(d) By June 1, 1994, the district shall apply to the department for a permit or permits for the 

construction, operation, and maintenance of the Everglades Construction Project. The district 

may comply with this paragraph by amending its pending Everglades permit application.

(e) The department shall issue a permit for a term of 5 years for the construction, operation, and 

maintenance of the Everglades Construction Project upon the district's providing reasonable 

assurances that:

1. The project will be constructed, operated, and maintained in accordance with the Everglades 

Construction Project;
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2. The BMP program set forth in paragraph (4)(f) has been implemented; and

3. The final design of the Everglades Construction Project shall minimize wetland impacts, to 

the maximum extent practicable and consistent with the Everglades Construction Project.

(f) At least 60 days prior to the expiration of any permit issued under this section, the district 

may apply for renewal for a period of 5 years.

(g) Permits issued under this section may include any standard conditions provided by 

department rule which are appropriate and consistent with this section.

(h) Discharges shall be allowed, provided the STAs are operated in accordance with this section, 

if, after a stabilization period:

1. The STAs achieve the design objectives of the Everglades Construction Project for 

phosphorus;

2. For water quality parameters other than phosphorus, the quality of water discharged from the 

STAs is of equal or better quality than inflows; and

3. Discharges from STAs do not pose a serious danger to the public health, safety, or welfare.

(i) The district may discharge from any STA into waters of the state upon issuance of final 

agency action authorizing such action or in accordance with s. 373.439.

(j)1. Modifications to the Everglades Construction Project shall be submitted to the department 

for a determination as to whether permit modification is necessary. The department shall notify 

the district within 30 days after receiving the submittal as to whether permit modification is 

necessary.

2. The Legislature recognizes that technological advances may occur during the construction of 

the Everglades Construction Project. If superior technology becomes available in the future 

which can be implemented to more effectively meet the intent and purposes of this section, the 

district is authorized to pursue that alternative through permit modification to the department. 

The department may issue or modify a permit provided that the alternative is demonstrated to be 

superior at achieving the restoration goals of the Everglades Construction Project considering:

a. Levels of load reduction;

b. Levels of discharge concentration reduction;

c. Water quantity, distribution, and timing for the Everglades Protection Area;

d. Compliance with water quality standards;
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e. Compatibility of treated water with the balance in natural populations of aquatic flora or fauna 

in the Everglades Protection Area;

f. Cost-effectiveness; and

g. The schedule for implementation.

Upon issuance of permit modifications by the department, the district is authorized to use 

available funds to finance the modification.

3. The district shall modify projects of the Everglades Construction Project, as appropriate, if the 

projects are not achieving the design objectives. Modifications that are inconsistent with the 

permit shall require a permit modification from the department. Modifications which substitute 

the treatment technology must meet the requirements of subparagraph 2. Nothing in this section 

shall prohibit the district from refining or modifying the final design of the project based upon 

the February 14, 1994, conceptual design document in accordance with standard engineering 

practices.

(k) By October 1, 1994, the district shall apply for a permit under this section to operate and 

maintain discharge structures within the control of the district which discharge into, within, or 

from the Everglades Protection Area and are not included in the Everglades Construction Project. 

The district may comply with this subsection by amending its pending permit application 

regarding these structures. In addition to the requirements of ss. 373.413 and 373.416, the 

application shall include the following:

1. Schedules and strategies for:

a. Achieving and maintaining water quality standards;

b. Evaluation of existing programs, permits, and water quality data;

c. Acquisition of lands and construction and operation of water treatment facilities, if 

appropriate, together with development of funding mechanisms; and

d. Development of a regulatory program to improve water quality, including identification of 

structures or systems requiring permits or modifications of existing permits.

2. A monitoring program to ensure the accuracy of data and measure progress toward achieving 

compliance with water quality standards.

(l) The department shall issue one or more permits for a term of 5 years for the operation and 

maintenance of structures identified by the district in paragraph (k) upon the district's 

demonstration of reasonable assurance that those elements identified in paragraph (k) will 

provide compliance with water quality standards to the maximum extent practicable and 

otherwise comply with the provisions of ss. 373.413 and 373.416. The department shall take 
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agency action on the permit application by October 1, 1996. At least 60 days prior to the 

expiration of any permit, the district may apply for a renewal thereof for a period of 5 years.

(m) The district may apply for modification of any permit issued pursuant to this subsection, 

including superior technology in accordance with the procedures set forth in this subsection.

(n) The district also shall apply for a permit or modification of an existing permit, as provided in 

this subsection, for any new structure or for any modification of an existing structure.

(o) Except as otherwise provided in this section, nothing in this subsection shall relieve any 

person from the need to obtain any permit required by the department or the district pursuant to 

any other provision of law.

(p) The district shall publish notice of rulemaking pursuant to chapter 120 by October 1, 1991, 

allowing for a master permit or permits authorizing discharges from landowners within that area 

served by structures identified as S-5A, S-6, S-7, S-8, and S-150. For discharges within this area, 

the district shall not initiate any proceedings to require new permits or permit modifications for 

nutrient limitations prior to the adoption of the master permit rule by the governing board of the 

district or prior to April 1, 1992, whichever first occurs. The district's rules shall also establish 

conditions or requirements allowing for a single master permit for the Everglades Agricultural 

Area including those structures and water releases subject to chapter 40E-61, Florida 

Administrative Code. No later than the adoption of rules allowing for a single master permit, the 

department and the district shall provide appropriate procedures for incorporating into a master 

permit separate permits issued by the department under this chapter. The district's rules 

authorizing master permits for the Everglades Agricultural Area shall provide requirements 

consistent with this section and with interim or other permits issued by the department to the 

district. Such a master permit shall not preclude the requirement that individual permits be 

obtained for persons within the master permit area for activities not authorized by, or not in 

compliance with, the master permit. Nothing in this subsection shall limit the authority of the 

department or district to enforce existing permit requirements or existing rules, to require permits 

for new structures, or to develop rules for master permits for other areas. To the greatest extent 

possible the department shall delegate to the district any authority necessary to implement this 

subsection which is not already delegated.

(10) LONG-TERM COMPLIANCE PERMITS.—By December 31, 2006, the department 

and the district shall take such action as may be necessary to implement the pre-2006 projects 

and strategies of the Long-Term Plan so that water delivered to the Everglades Protection Area 

achieves in all parts of the Everglades Protection Area state water quality standards, including 

the phosphorus criterion and moderating provisions., in all parts of the Everglades Protection 

Area.

(a) By December 31, 2003, the district shall submit to the department an application for permit 

modification to incorporate proposed changes to the Everglades Construction Project and other 
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district works delivering water to the Everglades Protection Area as needed to implement the 

pre-2006 projects and strategies of the Long-Term Plan in all permits issued by the department, 

including the permits issued pursuant to subsection (9). These changes shall be designed to 

achieve state water quality standards, including the phosphorus criterion and moderating 

provisions. During the implementation of the initial phase of the Long-Term Plan, permits 

issued by the department shall be based on BAPRT, and shall include technology-based effluent 

limitations consistent with the Long-Term Plan, as provided in subparagraph (4)(e)3. 

 (b) If the Everglades Construction Project or other discharges to the Everglades Protection 

Area are in compliance with state water quality standards, including the phosphorus criterion, the 

permit application shall include:

1. A plan for maintaining compliance with the phosphorus criterion in the Everglades Protection 

Area.

2. A plan for maintaining compliance in the Everglades Protection Area with state water quality 

standards other than the phosphorus criterion.

(11) APPLICABILITY OF LAWS AND WATER QUALITY STANDARDS; 

AUTHORITY OF DISTRICT AND DEPARTMENT.—

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, nothing in this section shall be construed:

1. As altering any applicable state water quality standards, laws, or district or department rules 

in areas impacted by this section; or

2. To restrict the authority otherwise granted the department and the district pursuant to this 

chapter or chapter 403, and provisions of this section shall be deemed supplemental to the 

authority granted pursuant to this chapter and chapter 403.

(b) Mixing zones, variances, and moderating provisions, or relief mechanisms for compliance 

with water quality standards as provided by department rules, shall not be permitted for 

discharges which are subject to paragraph (4)(f) and subject to this section, except that site 

specific alternative criteria may be allowed for nonphosphorus parameters if the applicant shows 

entitlement under applicable law. After December 31, 2006, all such relief mechanisms may be 

allowed for nonphosphorus parameters if otherwise provided for by applicable law.

(c) Those landowners or permittees who are not in compliance as provided in paragraph (4)(f) 

must meet a discharge limit for phosphorus of 50 parts per billion (ppb) unless and until some 

other limit has been established by department rule or order or operation of paragraph (4)(e).
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(12) RIGHTS OF SEMINOLE TRIBE OF FLORIDA.—Nothing in this section is intended 

to diminish or alter the governmental authority and powers of the Seminole Tribe of Florida, or 

diminish or alter the rights of that tribe, including, but not limited to, rights under the Water 

Rights Compact among the Seminole Tribe of Florida, the state, and the South Florida Water 

Management District as enacted by Pub. L. No. 100-228, 101 Stat. 1556, and chapter 87-292, 

Laws of Florida, and codified in s. 285.165, and rights under any other agreement between the 

Seminole Tribe of Florida and the state or its agencies. No land of the Seminole Tribe of Florida 

shall be used for stormwater treatment without the consent of the tribe.

(13) ANNUAL REPORTS.—Beginning January 1, 1992, the district shall submit to the 

department, the Governor, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Minority Leader of 

the House of Representatives, the President of the Senate, and the Minority Leader of the Senate 

annual progress reports regarding implementation of the section. The annual report will include a 

summary of the water conditions in the Everglades Protection Area, the status of the impacted 

areas, the status of the construction of the STAs, the implementation of the BMPs, and actions 

taken to monitor and control exotic species. The district must prepare the report in coordination 

with federal and state agencies.

(14) EVERGLADES FUND.—The South Florida Water Management District is directed to 

separately account for all moneys used for the purpose of funding the Everglades Construction 

Project.

(15) DEFINITION OF EVERGLADES AGRICULTURAL AREA.—As used in this 

section, "Everglades Agricultural Area" or "EAA" means the following described property: 

BEGINNING at the intersection of the North line of Section 2, Township 41, Range 37 East, 

with the Easterly right-of-way line of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Levee D-9, in Palm Beach 

County, Florida; thence, easterly along said North line of said Section 2 to the Northeast corner 

of said Section 2; thence, northerly along the West line of Section 36, Township 40 South, Range 

37 East, to the West one-quarter corner of said Section 36; thence, easterly along the East-West 

half section line of said Section 36 to the center of said Section 36; thence northerly along the 

North-South half section line of said Section 36 to the North one-quarter corner of said Section 

36, said point being on the line between Palm Beach and Martin Counties; thence, easterly along 

said North line of said Section 36 and said line between Palm Beach and Martin Counties to the 

Westerly right-of-way line of the South Florida Water Management District's Levee 8 North 

Tieback; thence, southerly along said Westerly right-of-way line of said Levee 8 North Tieback 

to the Southerly right-of-way line of South Florida Water Management District's Levee 8 at a 

point near the Northeast corner of Section 12, Township 41 South, Range 37 East; thence, 

easterly along said Southerly right-of-way line of said Levee 8 to a point in Section 7, Township 

41 South, Range 38 East, where said right-of-way line turns southeasterly; thence, southeasterly 

along the Southwesterly right-of-way line of said Levee 8 to a point near the South line of 

Section 8, Township 43 South, Range 40 East, where said right-of-way line turns southerly; 

thence, southerly along the Westerly right-of-way line of said Levee 8 to the Northerly right-of-
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way line of State Road 80, in Section 32, Township 43 South, Range 40 East; thence, westerly 

along the Northerly right-of-way line of said State Road 80 to the northeasterly extension of the 

Northwesterly right-of-way line of South Florida Water Management District's Levee 7; thence, 

southwesterly along said northeasterly extension, and along the northwesterly right-of-way line 

of said Levee 7 to a point near the Northwest corner of Section 3, Township 45 South, Range 39 

East, where said right-of-way turns southerly; thence, southerly along the Westerly right-of-way 

line of said Levee 7 to the Northwesterly right-of-way line of South Florida Water Management 

District's Levee 6, on the East line of Section 4, Township 46 South, Range 39 East; thence, 

southwesterly along the Northwesterly right-of-way line of said Levee 6 to the Northerly rightof-way line of South Florida Water Management District's Levee 5, near the Southwest corner of 

Section 22, Township 47 South, Range 38 East; thence, westerly along said Northerly right-ofway lines of said Levee 5 and along the Northerly right-of-way line of South Florida Water 

Management District's Levee 4 to the Northeasterly right-of-way line of South Florida Water 

Management District's Levee 3 and the Northeast corner of Section 12, Township 48 South, 

Range 34 East; thence, northwesterly along said Northeasterly right-of-way line of said Levee 3 

to a point near the Southwest corner of Section 9, Township 47 South, Range 34 East, where said 

right-of-way line turns northerly; thence, northerly along the Easterly right-of-way lines of said 

Levee 3 and South Florida Water Management District's Levee 2 to the southerly line of Section 

4, Township 46 South, Range 34 East; thence, easterly along said southerly line of said Section 4 

to the Southeast corner of said Section 4; thence, northerly along the East lines of said Section 4 

and Section 33, Township 45 South, Range 34 East, to the Northeast corner of said Section 33; 

thence, westerly along the North line of said Section 33 to said Easterly right-of-way line of said 

Levee 2; thence, northerly along said Easterly right-of-way lines of said Levee 2 and South 

Florida Water Management District's Levee 1, to the North line of Section 16, Township 44 

South, Range 34 East; thence, easterly along the North lines of said Section 16 and Section 15, 

Township 44 South, Range 34 East, to the Northeast corner of said Section 15; thence, northerly 

along the West lines of Section 11 and Section 2, Township 44 South, Range 34 East, and the 

West lines of Section 35, Section 26 and Section 23, Township 43 South, Range 34 East to a 

point 25 feet north of the West quarter-corner (W1/4) of said Section 23; thence, easterly along a 

line that is 25 feet north and parallel to the East-West half section line of said Section 23 and 

Section 24 to a point that is 25 feet north of the center of said Section 24; thence, northerly along 

the North-South half section lines of said Section 24 and Section 13, Township 43 South, Range 

34 East, to the intersection with the North right-of-way line of State Road 80A (old U.S. 

Highway 27); thence, westerly along said North right-of-way line of said State Road 80A (old 

U.S. Highway 27) to the intersection with the Southerly right-of-way line of State Road 80; 

thence, easterly along said Southerly right-of-way line of said State Road 80 to the intersection 

with the North line of Section 19, Township 43 South, Range 35 East; thence, easterly along said 

North line of said Section 19 to the intersection with Southerly right-of-way of U.S. Army Corps 

of Engineers Levee D-2; thence, easterly along said Southerly right-of-way of said Levee D-2 to 

the intersection with the north right-of-way line of State Road 80 (new U.S. Highway 27); 
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thence, easterly along said North right-of-way line of said State Road 80 (new U.S. Highway 27) 

to the East right-of-way line of South Florida Water Management District's Levee 25 (Miami 

Canal); thence, North along said East right-of-way line of said Levee 25 to the said south rightof-way line of said Levee D-2; thence, easterly and northeasterly along said Southerly and 

Easterly right-of-way lines of said Levee D-2 and said Levee D-9 to the point of beginning.

[3](16) DEFINITION OF C-139 BASIN.—For purposes of this section:

(a) "C-139 Basin" or "Basin" means the following described property: beginning at the 

intersection of an easterly extension of the south bank of Deer Fence Canal with the center line 

of South Florida Water Management District's Levee 3 in Section 33, Township 46 South, Range 

34 East, Hendry County, Florida; thence, westerly along said easterly extension and along the 

South bank of said Deer Fence Canal to where it intersects the center line of State Road 846 in 

Section 33, Township 46 South, Range 32 East; thence, departing from said top of bank to the 

center line of said State Road 846, westerly along said center line of said State Road 846 to the 

West line of Section 4, Township 47 South, Range 31 East; thence, northerly along the West line 

of said section 4, and along the west lines of Sections 33 and 28, Township 46 South, Range 31 

East, to the northwest corner of said Section 28; thence, easterly along the North line of said 

Section 28 to the North one-quarter (N1/4) corner of said Section 28; thence, northerly along the 

West line of the Southeast one-quarter (SE1/4) of Section 21, Township 46 South, Range 31 

East, to the northwest corner of said Southeast one-quarter (SE1/4) of Section 21; thence, 

easterly along the North line of said Southeast one-quarter (SE1/4) of Section 21 to the northeast 

corner of said Southeast one-quarter (SE1/4) of Section 21; thence, northerly along the East line 

of said Section 21 and the East line of Section 16, Township 46 South, Range 31, East, to the 

northeast corner thereof; thence, westerly along the North line of said Section 16, to the 

northwest corner thereof; thence, northerly along the West line of Sections 9 and 4, Township 46 

South, Range 31, East, to the northwest corner of said Section 4; thence, westerly along the 

North lines of Section 5 and Section 6, Township 46 South, Range 31 East, to the South onequarter (S1/4) corner of Section 31, Township 45 South, Range 31 East; thence, northerly to the 

South one-quarter (S1/4) corner of Section 30, Township 45 South, Range 31 East; thence, 

easterly along the South line of said Section 30 and the South lines of Sections 29 and 28, 

Township 45 South, Range 31 East, to the Southeast corner of said Section 28; thence, northerly 

along the East line of said Section 28 and the East lines of Sections 21 and 16, Township 45 

South, Range 31 East, to the Northwest corner of the Southwest one-quarter of the Southwest 

one-quarter (SW1/4 of the SW 1/4) of Section 15, Township 45 South, Range 31 East; thence, 

northeasterly to the east one-quarter (E1/4) corner of Section 15, Township 45 South, Range 31 

East; thence, northerly along the East line of said Section 15, and the East line of Section 10, 

Township 45 South, Range 31 East, to the center line of a road in the Northeast one-quarter 

(NE1/4) of said Section 10; thence, generally easterly and northeasterly along the center line of 

said road to its intersection with the center line of State Road 832; thence, easterly along said 

center line of said State Road 832 to its intersection with the center line of State Road 833; 
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thence, northerly along said center line of said State Road 833 to the north line of Section 9, 

Township 44 South, Range 32 East; thence, easterly along the North line of said Section 9 and 

the north lines of Sections 10, 11 and 12, Township 44 South, Range 32 East, to the northeast 

corner of Section 12, Township 44 South, Range 32 East; thence, easterly along the North line of 

Section 7, Township 44 South, Range 33 East, to the center line of Flaghole Drainage District 

Levee, as it runs to the east near the northwest corner of said Section 7, Township 44 South, 

Range 33 East; thence, easterly along said center line of the Flaghole Drainage District Levee to 

where it meets the center line of South Florida Water Management District's Levee 1 at Flag 

Hole Road; thence, continue easterly along said center line of said Levee 1 to where it turns 

south near the Northwest corner of Section 12, Township 44 South, Range 33 East; thence, 

Southerly along said center line of said Levee 1 to where the levee turns east near the Southwest 

corner of said Section 12; thence, easterly along said center line of said Levee 1 to where it turns 

south near the Northeast corner of Section 17, Township 44 South, Range 34 East; thence, 

southerly along said center line of said Levee 1 and the center line of South Florida Water 

Management District's Levee 2 to the intersection with the north line of Section 33, Township 45 

South, Range 34 East; thence, easterly along the north line of said Section 33 to the northeast 

corner of said Section 33; thence, southerly along the east line of said Section 33 to the southeast 

corner of said Section 33; thence, southerly along the east line of Section 4, Township 46 South, 

Range 34 East to the southeast corner of said Section 4; thence, westerly along the south line of 

said Section 4 to the intersection with the centerline of South Florida Water Management 

District's Levee 2; thence, southerly along said Levee 2 centerline and South Florida Water 

Management District's Levee 3 centerline to the POINT OF BEGINNING.

(b) Sections 21, 28, and 33, Township 46 South, Range 31 East, are not included within the 

boundary of the C-139 Basin.

(c) If the district issues permits in accordance with all applicable rules allowing water from the 

"C-139 Annex" to flow into the drainage system for the C-139 Basin, the C-139 Annex shall be 

added to the C-139 Basin for all tax years thereafter, commencing with the next C-139 

agricultural privilege tax roll certified after issuance of such permits. "C-139 Annex" means the 

following described property: that part of the S.E. 1/4 of Section 32, Township 46 South, Range 

34 East and that portion of Sections 5 and 6, Township 47 South, Range 34 East lying west of 

the L-3 Canal and South of the Deer Fence Canal; all of Sections 7, 17, 18, 19, 20, 28, 29, 30, 31, 

32, 33, and 34, and that portion of Sections 8, 9, 16, 21, 22, 26, 27, 35, and 36 lying south and 

west of the L-3 Canal, in Township 47 South, Range 34 East; and all of Sections 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 

9, 10, and 11 and that portion of Section 1 lying south and west of the L-3 Canal all in Township 

48 South, Range 34 East.

(17) SHORT TITLE.—This section shall be known as the "Everglades Forever Act."

History.—s. 2, ch. 91-80; ss. 1, 2, ch. 94-115; s. 273, ch. 94-356; s. 171, ch. 99-13.
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[1]Note.—Repealed by s. 38, ch. 99-247.

[2]Note.—Sections 403.91-403.938 comprised part VIII of ch. 403 in 1992. Except for s. 

403.927 and ss. 403.93-403.958, these sections were repealed by ss. 45, 46, ch. 93-213, or s. 18, 

ch. 95-145. Sections 403.93-403.936 were repealed by s. 13, ch. 95-299. The two remaining 

sections from former part VIII as it was constituted in 1992, ss. 403.927 and 403.938 (transferred 

to s. 403.9333 by s. 12, ch. 95-299), are located in part VII of ch. 403.

[3]Note.—Section 3, ch. 96-412, provides that "[n]otwithstanding s. 373.4592(16), to the 

contrary, Sections 21, 28, and 33, Township 46 South, Range 31 East shall not be included 

within the boundary of the C-139 Basin." Section 84, ch. 96-321, contains a substantially similar 

provision.