South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) Chairman Chauncey Goss has commented on the recent signing of the state budget for Fiscal Year 2025-26 by Governor Ron DeSantis. In his statement, Goss highlighted the progress made in Everglades restoration under Governor DeSantis’ leadership.
“Everglades restoration is working! Under the leadership of Governor Ron DeSantis, the State of Florida continues to lead the way with projects that advance Everglades restoration, improve water quality, increase the capacity of water storage, reduce damaging discharges from Lake Okeechobee and send more clean water south,” said District Governing Board Chair Chauncey Goss. He noted that since 2019, when Governor DeSantis took office, there have been 75 project completions and other significant milestones related to this effort.
Goss expressed gratitude to the Florida Legislature for approving a budget that supports ecosystem restoration. “We thank the entire Florida Legislature for passing a budget that provides important funding for the restoration of our vital ecosystems. Our economy depends on clean water and healthy coasts. Residents and visitors are depending on us to deliver. This budget ensures we continue our strong momentum to advance projects that are critical for Floridians and their quality of life.”
During his first term as governor, DeSantis signed record investments totaling $3.3 billion aimed at protecting the Everglades and improving water quality. At the beginning of his second term, he proposed an unprecedented $3.5 billion investment over four years. The newly signed 2025-26 Budget allocates more than $1.4 billion toward these goals, increasing total investment during his second term to $4.6 billion.
The fiscal year will see significant allocations such as $550 million for Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP), $64 million towards continuing work on the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) Reservoir project designed to minimize harmful discharges while directing cleaner waters southward into wetlands; another component involves investing around $50 million targeting specific initiatives aimed at reducing discharge impacts within Caloosahatchee & St Lucie Estuaries along with dedicating approximately an additional amount worth about eighty-one-million dollars toward Northern-Evergaldes-& Estuary Program(NEEPP)-focused dispersal-based-storage solutions/projects
For further inquiries or information regarding this topic please contact Media Representative Randy Smith via email: rrsmith@sfwmd.gov or reach out directly either through office phone number -5616826197/ cell-phone contact-5613893386
