CORAL GABLES — Florida Crystals will continue farming on land meant for a reservoir south of Lake Okeechobee under a new agreement approved this morning despite strong objections from environmentalists and newly re-elected U.S. Rep. Brian Mast.

A unanimous vote by the governing board of the South Florida Water Management District solidified a new eight-year lease with Florida Crystals on about 16,100 acres of land in southwest Palm Beach County earmarked to hold Lake O overflow and reduce harmful discharges to the northern estuaries.

District General Counsel Brian Accardo said it is following Florida budget implementing law that requires the district-owned land remain in use during reservoir planning and that agriculture be allowed to continue until it interferes with project development. He said the district can terminate the lease after two years and should bring in about $1 million per year that can be used for invasive species eradication.

Representatives for the Everglades Foundation, Audubon Florida and Everglades Law Center said they weren’t aware of the lease until 9 p.m. Wednesday, questioning the motive and legality of the late notice. Mast also voiced his concern with the surprise vote during public comment at Tuesday's district’s meeting in Coral Gables.

READ: Dangerous Lake O phosphorus flow 10 times state goal last year

The current leases on the land expire in March.

“For the past four months the district has been tucked away having a detailed negotiation with a private entity when the conversation that needs to occur is between this agency and the public that owns the land,” said Shannon Estenoz, vice president of the Everglades Foundation. “I would ask that you take the next three meetings and have a dialogue with the public.”

Board members said voting on the lease quickly moved the project and showed good faith with federal officials who helped fast-track the reservoir, which was approved in 2017 through Florida’s Senate Bill 10.

The law states the land cannot remain fallow and must be used to the “maximum public benefit.” To support the language, Accardo played a clip of discussion that took place on the Senate floor about ensuring the land remain active during reservoir planning.

READ: Why a wet El Nino winter would be problematic for South Florida

Tammy Jackson-Moore, a spokeswoman for Guardians of the Glades, supports the vote, saying the new lease means farm workers will stay employed longer.

“We worked four over two years to make certain our voice was heard,” she said. “When you start taking jobs away you see the impact on our community.”

The lease approved Thursday keeps the land tied up for farming for two years before the district can terminate it. Accardo said the eight-year term of the lease was negotiated because that is the optimistic timeline for reservoir completion.

But opponents said the land could be used for water storage and that the lease ties the hands of the district.

“I wonder why this item was changed last night from a discussion item to a vote,” said Lisa Interlandi, executive director of the Everglades Law Center. “I think it’s a real shame the district is operating this way.”

kmiller@pbpost.com

@kmillerweather.com