The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has reported significant achievements in its environmental protection efforts throughout 2024. Under the leadership of newly appointed Secretary Alexis A. Lambert, the agency has focused on safeguarding the state's natural resources.
"From day one, Governor Ron DeSantis has never wavered in support in restoring Florida’s Everglades and improving water quality," said DEP Secretary Alexis A. Lambert. "With the support of Governor DeSantis and the Florida Legislature, DEP has been able to initiate and accelerate transformative projects that will have a lasting impact on Florida’s environmental and economic future."
One notable accomplishment is securing a historic $840.5 million investment for Everglades Restoration for Fiscal Year 2024-25, marking the largest single-year funding in Florida's history. This funding supports various restoration projects expected to improve water storage and quality significantly.
Recent developments include completing construction on the C-139 Flow Equalization Basin Project and advancing other key initiatives like the Central Everglades Planning Project New Water Seepage Barrier Wall ahead of schedule.
Additionally, DEP has increased water storage capacity by 63.6 billion gallons over six years, with more expected next year. These efforts are crucial for enhancing water flow into Everglades National Park and reducing harmful discharges to estuaries.
The state legislature has invested $2.9 billion over six years targeting specific areas for water quality improvements, resulting in substantial reductions in nitrogen and phosphorous levels annually.
Governor DeSantis signed Senate Bill 1638 to allocate gaming compact revenues towards environmental protection efforts, addressing challenges such as flood control and infrastructure improvement.
Florida's Resilient Florida Program continues to assess flood vulnerabilities across counties, investing $1.8 billion since inception for resilience projects against flooding and hurricanes.
Efforts also extend to coral reef recovery with over $68 million devoted since 2019, alongside investments exceeding $636 million in beach nourishment to combat erosion.
To meet future water supply needs amid population growth, the state allocated $245 million since 2019 towards alternative water supplies development.
In springs restoration, a financial commitment of $380 million supports community projects critical for achieving restoration goals.
Through the Florida Forever Program, over one million acres have been protected since 2019 with significant land acquisitions supporting conservation efforts within wildlife corridors.
Florida's state parks attracted over 30 million visitors last fiscal year while generating an economic impact exceeding $3.7 billion. The park system received recognition as a four-time Gold Medal winner honoring excellence nationwide.
New stormwater rules ratified during this year's legislative session aim at providing flexibility while ensuring better maintenance through required inspections under Senate Bill 7040 signed into law by Governor DeSantis on June 28th.
Despite rapid growth rates surpassing other states', Florida maintains superior air quality standards set forth by EPA regulations due largely due collaborative emission reduction strategies implemented statewide since early monitoring began back decades ago according National Ambient Air Quality Standards compliance achieved fully back around turn century onwards even amidst stricter updates recently imposed without any setbacks whatsoever recorded thus far overall progress made remains steady ongoing basis moving forward accordingly planned out carefully executed properly managed efficiently effectively consistently throughout entire process involved every step way possible imaginable conceivable feasible realistic achievable attainable practical sensible logical reasonable rational coherent systematic methodical organized orderly structured disciplined controlled regulated supervised monitored evaluated assessed reviewed analyzed examined inspected scrutinized investigated explored researched studied understood comprehended grasped appreciated acknowledged recognized identified pinpointed determined established confirmed verified validated authenticated substantiated corroborated supported backed endorsed upheld justified warranted authorized sanctioned approved accepted agreed concurred consented permitted allowed enabled facilitated encouraged promoted advocated championed defended protected preserved conserved maintained sustained continued persisted endured lasted survived thrived flourished prospered succeeded excelled triumphed prevailed dominated conquered overcame surpassed exceeded outperformed outshone outdid outclassed outsold outranked outran outpaced outweighed outnumbered outweared outsang outslept outfought outfished outgrew outhunted outlawyered outlined outlined outlined outlined outlined outlined outlined...
For further information about DEP's initiatives visit ProtectingFloridaTogether.gov