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The governor of Florida, Ron DeSantis, asked President Biden on Monday to approve a budget for the restoration of the South Florida ecosystem. The Republican governor detailed that his administration has done everything it is entitled to for the project, but to continue it requires $725 million from the federal government.
“In Florida, we are doing our part to expedite Everglades restoration projects and restore the flow of water south from Lake Okeechobee. Under my administration, we have expedited the EAA Reservoir Project, begun constructing the Stormwater Treatment Area 12 months ahead of schedule, and invested over $2 billion in water quality and Everglades funding,” DeSantis said.
Restoring the South Florida ecosystem
Similarly, DeSantis urged the Army Corps to improve lake management to generate more beneficial discharges and send more water south during Florida’s dry season and allow flexibility to avoid harmful discharges into the state’s northern estuaries.
“The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is developing a new water control manual for Lake Okeechobee, and it should allow flexibility in management to avoid harmful discharges into our estuaries and send more water south during Florida’s dry season. Status quo lake management is not an option,” he said.
Also, the governor’s official website highlighted that in DeSantis’ first week in office, he signed Executive Order 19-12, which prioritized the acceleration of key Everglades projects, including the Everglades Agricultural Area Reservoir (EAA) project.
