Federal and State Officials agree on water plan.

WASHINGTON -- Florida and federal officials reached an agreement late Thursday to assure an adequate water supply to the Everglades while protecting the water rights of urban and agricultural users for the future.

The agreement makes it possible for a Senate panel to approve the Everglades restoration project next week. Under the restoration plan, an additional 1.1 million acre-feet of water are expected to be available as a result of 68 new projects. The plan allocates 80 percent of that additional water to environmental needs and 20 percent to urban and agricultural needs

The agreement also gives the state and the Interior Department more power in approving projects in the Everglades restoration by requiring them to concur before regulations can be issued by the secretary of the Army -- who heads the Army Corps of Engineers.

The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee is scheduled to vote on the agreement as part of its approval of the Everglades restoration plan on Wednesday. The plan is then expected to be incorporated into the annual Water Resources Development Act which the committee is also scheduled to consider Wednesday.

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