The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has announced significant environmental investments as part of the Fiscal Year 2025-26 budget, recently signed by Governor Ron DeSantis.
“Since taking office, Governor DeSantis has signed seven state budgets that consistently prioritize environmental protection, demonstrating his administration’s long-term commitment to safeguarding Florida’s natural resources,” said DEP Secretary Alexis A. Lambert. “These investments reflect a smart balance between conservation and growth, recognizing that protecting our environment is not just good policy — it is essential to keeping Florida a place where families, businesses and communities can thrive.”
The new budget allocates $1.4 billion for efforts aimed at restoring the Everglades and improving water quality in Florida. Since 2019, nearly $8 billion has been invested in restoring and protecting the state’s waterways.
Additional funding will go towards projects enhancing infrastructure resilience and ensuring reliable water supplies for the state’s growing population. This includes more than $200 million for coastal and inland resilience initiatives, $50 million for developing alternative water supplies, and over $50 million for beach nourishment.
Florida’s economy heavily depends on clean water and healthy ecosystems, with sectors such as tourism, agriculture, real estate, and outdoor recreation relying directly on these natural resources. The FY 2025-26 budget aims to strengthen the connection between economic prosperity and environmental protection.
For more information about Florida’s environmental initiatives, visit ProtectingFloridaTogether.gov.
