Restoring the Everglades Ecosystem

The Everglades is a delicate ecosystem known throughout the world for its scenic sunrises, mysterious wetlands and unique wildlife. It extends beyond the national park and beyond our imaginations –winding south from Orlando through the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes, the Kissimmee River, engulfing Lake Okeechobee and on to the calm waters of the Florida Bay.

Florida is stepping up the pace of restoration. No other government in the world has invested as much time or money in improving the quality of one single waterbody or natural system. Guided by sound science and the dedication of many, restoring the Everglades will improve the quality of life for the seven million residents of South Florida, provide improved flood control for the region, supply the essential amount of water for restoration, all while preserving America's Everglades. This means saving more than 60 threatened and endangered species and protecting the natural plant life for future generations.

Florida's Accomplishments To Date

Commitment to restoration

• Florida has invested $2.4 billion to the $10.9 billion state-federal Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) since the passage of the Water Resources Development Act of 2000.
• More than 60 percent - or more than 242,000 acres - of lands needed to implement CERP are in state ownership.
• While project construction is not the primary responsibility of the State under CERP, Florida is designing and has initiated construction on a number of CERP projects to move restoration ahead, investing approximately $370 million in construction.

Improving Water Quality

• Florida has invested an additional $1.8  billion to improving water quality in the Everglades.
• Florida's 52,000 acres of Stormwater Treatment Areas (STAs) - man-made wetlands that naturally filter phosphorus pollution from water before it enters the Everglades - combined with improved farming practices have prevented more than 3,200 metric tons of phosphorous from entering the Everglades through April 2009.

Reviving the River of Grass

• In June 2008, Governor Charlie Crist announced a landmark opportunity for Florida to acquire more than 180,000 acres of land in the Everglades Agricultural Area from the United States Sugar Corporation. This proposal was approved by the Governing Board of the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) on December 16, after nearly six months of extensive negotiation, due diligence and public input. The transaction, which is subject to obtaining appropriate financing will allow the River of Grass to be “re-plumbed” in ways never before thought possible.
• On April 1, 2009, after gathering key input from the public, legislators and South Florida's communities and recognizing the nation's current economic climate, Governor Charlie Crist shared details of a revised strategy to achieve this historic acquisition. The revised approach incorporates today's fiscal realities by saving $800 million at closing, providing ready access to strategically located acreage for restoration projects and preserving thousands of jobs. On May 13, 2009, the Governing Board of the South Florida Water Management District approved this revised proposal.