Florida saves 20,000 acres in Everglades from oil production, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced

The state has reached a deal to purchase 20,000 acres in the Everglades that was slated for oil production, the governor announced via Facebook livestream Wednesday.

Gov. Ron DeSantis said it was the largest wetland acquisition in a decade, located in the heart of the Everglades and Water Conservation Area 3 in western Broward County.

The state has a 75-day option to buy the land for between $16.6 million and $18 million, said Noah Valenstein, secretary for the Department of Environmental Protection.

"We'll permanently save the land from oil production," DeSantis said while standing "right on the edge here of Florida's Everglades, our River of Grass."

Bird nesting areas

The land is home to 60 endangered species, including the wood stork and is near the Alley North wading bird colony, one of the last remaining "super colonies," which contains 10,000 nesting birds annually, the governor said.

Kanter Real Estate wanted to drill for oil after its plans for a housing development fell through, according to published media reports. DEP initially rejected the permit, sparking a protracted legal battle the state lost, reports say.

DeSantis addressed why he hasn't fought a similar court battle to stop oil drilling in Big Cypress National Preserve.

"This one was moving further along and legally they had the rights to do this on the land, and so that's why we had to have a negotiation and do this deal," DeSantis said. "If we could have won in court, obviously we would have done that."

DeSantis said Everglades restoration is a priority for his administration, the Florida Legislature, Congress and President Trump. "There's a lot going on," he said, including efforts to eliminate invasive pythons and build three reservoirs: the EAA, C-43 and C-44.

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"We want to make sure if we're doing all these restoration projects that there's nothing that impedes what we're doing," DeSantis said, specifically referencing the need to move "billions of gallons of water south from Lake Okeechobee into Florida Bay."

"I don't want some type of accident causing all these problems," he said.

Everglades restoration

The impending purchase brings Water Conservation Area 3 to 600,000 acres of protected wetlands for restoration and recreation.

DeSantis said there's "critical mass" for the Legislature to secure environmental funding and to pass a water quality bill during the session that started Tuesday.

"This is a huge day," Valenstein said. "This is guaranteeing that the heart of the Everglades is in public ownership and secure for future generations."

The purchase will be recognized nationally and internationally, said Chauncey Goss, chairman of the South Florida Water Management District.

"This is a really bold action to stop oil and gas drilling in one of the most pristine ecosystems in the world," he said.

Cheryl Smith can be reached by email at cheryl.smith@tcpalm.com or phone at 772-409-1331 or social media at Twitter or Facebook.