The eight contracts will provide 4,800 acre-feet of water retention in the Northern Everglades, to assist in achieving the storage and water quality improvement goals for the watershed.

The projects in Okeechobee, Highlands and Polk counties, along with the amount of water able to be retained, include Alderman-Deloney Ranch, Buck Island Ranch, Dixie Ranch, Dixie West, Lightsey Cattle Company, Lost Oak Ranch, Triple A Ranch and Willaway Cattle & Sod.

The projects will receive financial assistance for increase the existing infrastructure or to develop new infrastructure that will increase water and nutrient retention capabilities.

All projects will be monitored under an agreement with the World Wildlife Fund to document that the contracts, known as Payment for Environmental Services, are meeting the water retention goals.

 

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