MARTIN COUNTY, Fla.— Today, Governor Ron DeSantis joined the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the South Florida Water Management District to officially celebrate the completion of the C-23 Canal Estuary Discharge Diversion Project, which recently completed a successful operational testing period. The $50 million dollar project was funded and completed during the Governor’s tenure and will prevent the risk of future harmful discharges into the St. Lucie Estuary.

Today, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and partners announced the results and winners of the 2026 Florida Python Challenge™, an event intended to raise awareness about invasive species while engaging the public in Everglades conservation through removal of invasive Burmese pythons. Over the course of the 10-day event, 907 Python Challenge participants from 30 different states, as well as from Canada and Vietnam, collectively removed 280 invasive Burmese pythons from south Florida.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Jacksonville District (USACE) and South Florida Water Management District (District) celebrated the completion of construction on the Indian River Lagoon-South C-23/C-24 Stormwater Treatment Area.

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. - This week, the South Florida Water Management District and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers signed a first-of-a-kind agreement to advance construction of key Everglades restoration projects in South Florida.

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla.–Today, the South Florida Water Management District and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers signed a first-of-a-kind agreement to advance construction of key Everglades restoration projects in South Florida.

Read the Project Partnership Agreement here.

Today, South Florida Water Management District (District) Chair Chauncey Goss released the following statement regarding the signing of the state budget for Fiscal Year 2026-2027 by Governor Ron DeSantis:

Today, the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) rescinded the Water Shortage Warning that was issued on Feb. 5, 2026, for Lee and Collier counties. 

Read the rescission of Water Shortage Warning SFWMD 2026-053. 

PALM BEACH AND MARTIN COUNTIES, Fla. - Today, the South Florida Water Management District and Ducks Unlimited along with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Palm Beach County, Martin County and other partners celebrated the completion of the Cypress Creek Restoration Project.

COLLIER COUNTY, Fla. - Members of the Big Cypress Basin (BCB) Board including Chair Charlette Roman celebrated the completion of the Lake Trafford Tower Project.

This new infrastructure project improves regional water management in Collier County by enabling real-time data transmission, monitoring, and operations, ensuring a timely response to changing water levels during normal and emergency operations.

Mark your calendars — the annual Florida Python Challenge™ is back for 2026! Kicking off on Friday, July 10 at 12:01 a.m., and running until Sunday, July 19 at 5 p.m., registered participants in this year’s Challenge will get the chance to win a share of $25,000 in prizes while removing invasive Burmese pythons from the Everglades and raising awareness about nonnative species.