When Gov. Charlie Crist announced the proposed $1.75-billion buyout of U.S. Sugar, Shannon Estenoz stood on the stage with him representing the state agency that will handle the purchase, the South Florida Water Management District.

Not long ago, Estenoz, 40, was just another environmental activist pushing for Everglades restoration, but then Crist appointed her and four others to the water district board.

When the board voted to stop allowing sugar companies to backpump polluted water into Lake Okeechobee, that prompted U.S. Sugar to pressure Crist for help — and prompted Crist to suggest the buyout.

The St. Petersburg Times talked with the Key West native to talk about the past, her reaction to the deal, some possible hurdles and what the future might hold for the River of Grass. (story here)