(The Center Square) – Everglades Restoration is on track to be completed five years ahead of the original schedule as all federally funded contracts are now executed, Gov. Ron DeSantis says.
In what Florida Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Alexis Lambert calls “one of the most complex ecosystem efforts in the world,” the Everglades Restoration project spans a 10,000 acre reservoir and includes a 6,500 acre stormwater treatment area.
The Everglades Agricultural Area Reservoir has a water storage capacity for over 78 billion gallons of water, according to the governor’s office. Under DeSantis, almost $8 billion has gone toward Everglades restoration since 2019 with water storage capacity triple in South Florida.
“I was proud to announce that all federally funded contracts have been executed to expedite completion of the EAA Reservoir by 2029, five years ahead of the original timeline,” DeSantis said Monday. “This milestone brings us a step closer to delivering on our commitment to restore the Everglades. The July 2025 agreement between the state of Florida and the federal government has made all this possible by cutting red tape with an all-hands-on-deck approach. This is a major victory for America’s Everglades and a testament to the progress our joint federal and state teams have made in just nine months.”
The memorandum of understanding between Florida and the federal government allowed the state to take the lead on various aspects of the restoration efforts including executing federally funded contracts and taking responsibility for the Blue Shanty Flow Way, which will move water south to Everglades National park and Florida Bay.
“The Everglades Agricultural Area Restoration plan is truly a modern American mega-project, possible only under the leadership of President Trump and the ‘Make America Beautiful Again’ task force, along with our great partnerships with Governor DeSantis and the South Florida Water Management District,” said Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works Adam Telle. “This project is a prime example of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ laser focus on maximizing the ability to deliver national infrastructure, and I’m so proud to help make this happen for America and the state of Florida.”
In addition to the nearly $8 billion already put toward the Everglades, DeSantis has proposed an additional $1.4 billion in his 2026 budget. The Legislature has yet to come to an agreement on the state budget and is expected to tackle budget negotiations during a special session this month.
