EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK, Fla. - Today, the South Florida Water Management District along with the National Park Service broke ground on the Taylor Slough Flow Improvement Project within Everglades National Park. This environmental restoration project will allow more clean, freshwater to flow south through Taylor Slough and onto Florida Bay, where it is needed to balance salinity levels and promote ecological health. 

On Tuesday, January 10, 2023, Governor Ron DeSantis signed Executive Order 23-06 (Achieving Even More Now for Florida’s Environment). This calls for additional resources for Everglades restoration and water quality/supply projects in Florida. The order is below:

WHEREAS on January10, 2019, I signed Executive Order 19-12, which laid out a bold plan to achieve more now for Florida's environment, and in the last four years, we have made incredible progress, entering into a golden era for conservation and protection of our treasured natural resources; and

Today, the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) Governing Board voted unanimously to award a contract for the Central Everglades Planning Project (CEPP) New Water Seepage Barrier Project. This project will help support increased flows of water from the Central Everglades into Everglades National Park while mitigating potential flooding to nearby communities. Read more to see what officials and stakeholders are saying:

Today, the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) Governing Board awarded a contract for the Central Everglades Planning Project (CEPP) New Water Seepage Barrier Project. This project builds on the successful 8.5 Square Mile Area Seepage Wall Project that broke ground in August 2021 and increases the length of the seepage wall. These projects help support increased flows of water from the Central Everglades into Everglades National Park while mitigating potential flooding to nearby communities.

Today Gov. Ron DeSantis joined the South Florida Water Management District to celebrate the completion of an important milestone for Everglades restoration: the removal of nearly six miles of the Old Tamiami Trail roadbed! 

SFWMD Governing Board Member Charlette Roman activates the Faka Union Pumps

The South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) reached a major milestone for the Picayune Strand Restoration Project in unincorporated Collier County and began using the Faka Union Pump Station for the first time last week. This pump station, coupled with other restoration activities, works to rehydrate drained wetlands in the Picayune Strand State Forest and restore the area's natural sheet flow.

The South Florida Water Management District Governing Board today unanimously approved the Lower Kissimmee Basin Stormwater Treatment Project, a large-scale water quality improvement project. Located north of Lake Okeechobee, the project will improve the quality of the water flowing into the lake and support ongoing restoration goals for the Lake Okeechobee watershed.

South Florida Water Management District Approves Final Agreement with U.S. Army Corps, Reservoir Component to Start Construction This Year. 

Wellington, Fla. –  Today, Governor Ron DeSantis was joined by Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Secretary Noah Valenstein and the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) to announce significant progress on the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) Reservoir Project. 

Miami, Fla. – Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announced the advancement of an important Everglades restoration project to remove over five miles of roadbed from Old Tamiami Trail. Removing the roadbed improves the volume of water flowing south through the Everglades and supports reducing harmful discharges from Lake Okeechobee to the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie Estuaries. 

Jason Andreotta (DEP), Mayor Kristine Petersen (Clewiston), Director Drew Bartlett (SFWMD), Chairman Chauncey Goss (SFWMD), Commissioner Karson Turner (Hendry County), Andres Mendoza (Condotte America), Joseph Burke (Ryan Southern Inc).