Governor Ron DeSantis attended the groundbreaking of the Blue Shanty Flow Way project in Miami-Dade County, a new step in ongoing efforts to restore the Everglades. The project is the first to begin under Florida’s recent agreement with the U.S. Department of the Army, which aims to speed up restoration work by combining federal funding and state management.
“We are acting on our historic agreement with the Trump Administration to expedite Everglades restoration using federal funds and state expertise,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “Today’s groundbreaking on the Blue Shanty Flow Way project in Miami-Dade County is a milestone in our Everglades restoration efforts, building on our many previous conservation actions.”
The July 18, 2025 agreement between Florida and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers allows Florida to take charge of the Blue Shanty Flow Way, with expectations that it will be completed about two years ahead of schedule.
The Blue Shanty Flow Way is designed as the last major effort to improve water flow beneath Tamiami Trail as part of the Central Everglades Planning Project within the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan. This plan will enable an average of 370,000 acre-feet more water each year from Lake Okeechobee into the Central Everglades. It includes constructing 8.5 miles of new levee and removing older ones so water can move more naturally through the region.
Project benefits include restoring natural water flows southward, improving habitats for wildlife, supporting outdoor recreation and ecotourism, and enhancing connections between key parts of the ecosystem such as the Central Everglades and Florida Bay.
“With every project, from reservoirs to flow ways, we are delivering real results on time, under budget and with strong returns for Florida’s taxpayers,” said DEP Secretary Alexis A. Lambert. “Alongside our federal partners, state leadership and communities, we will continue driving restoration projects forward.”
Since taking office, Governor DeSantis has prioritized Everglades restoration and water quality improvement. On his second day as governor he issued Executive Order 19-12, committing $2.5 billion over four years for these projects—a goal surpassed during his first term when $3.3 billion was invested.
In his current term, DeSantis included $1.4 billion for Everglades work in this year’s budget cycle (Fiscal Year 2025-26), bringing total commitments since 2019 close to $8 billion—nearly triple previous levels over a similar period.
Florida reports that since 2019 more than 75 restoration projects have been started or finished—more than any other administration—and nutrient reductions now exceed 1.8 million pounds of nitrogen and 770,000 pounds of phosphorus annually. Water storage capacity in South Florida has also tripled to reach 176 billion gallons. Major infrastructure milestones include completion of both C-44 and C-43 reservoirs; construction continues on the EAA Reservoir with completion projected by 2029.
