Governor Ron DeSantis
Announces Landmark Agreement with U.S. Department of the Army to Accelerate Everglades Restoration
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Pictured from L-R: DEP Secretary Alexis Lambert; SFWMD Governing Board Members Ben Butler, Charlette Roman and “Alligator Ron" Bergeron; Everglades Trust CEO Anna Upton; Gov. Ron DeSantis; Rep. William “Bill” Conerly; Bonefish & Tarpon Trust VP Kellie Ralston; USACE Major General Kimberly Colloton; Acting Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works) Lee Forsgren; USACE Jacksonville District Commander Brandon Bowman; SFWMD Executive Director Drew Bartlett.
MARCO ISLAND, Fla.—Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announced that the State of Florida and the U.S. Department of the Army have reached a landmark agreement that allows Florida to take the lead on key components of the federally funded Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP), including the “crown jewel” of Everglades restoration—the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) Reservoir.
“A long-awaited project, first envisioned and authorized decades ago, is finally becoming a reality. The EAA Reservoir is not only fully funded and under construction - it's moving forward faster than expected, thanks to new state and federal cooperation,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “The completed EAA Reservoir will deliver major benefits for Florida's coastal communities, fishermen, tourism industry, and our unique natural environment that we're conserving for generations to come.”
The EAA Reservoir, located south of Lake Okeechobee, will store over 78 billion gallons of water—larger than Manhattan—and deliver up to 470 billion gallons of clean water annually to the Everglades and Florida Bay. It also supports the Biscayne Aquifer, the primary source of drinking water for South Florida.
“The Army is thrilled to sign this agreement with the state of Florida emphasizing use of leveraging authorities to propel faster project delivery by delegating work to the state of Florida. By strengthening our partnership with the state of Florida, we’re building on the historic commitment in President Trump’s FY26 budget to expedite work on Everglades Restoration,” said Mr. Lee Forsgren, Acting Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works).
For decades, Florida’s water system was altered to prevent flooding, but at the cost of cutting off the natural flow of water to the Everglades. This project is designed to correct that—redirecting water south, restoring ecosystems, and significantly reducing harmful discharges to the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie estuaries.
“Floridians understand the Everglades better than anyone else. We live, work and recreate here, and we are committed to the land and water that sustains us,” said Florida Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Alexis A. Lambert. “We appreciate our federal partnership and while the structure of our partnership is evolving with the inking of these agreements, our goal remains aligned—restoring America’s Everglades.”
The new agreement between Florida and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will:
- Accelerate the EAA Reservoir’s construction timeline by five years—from 2034 to 2029.
- Authorize Florida to construct the inflow and outflow pump stations, along with other supporting features, enabling the Corps to focus on the main reservoir basin.
- Allow Florida to assume responsibility for the Blue Shanty Flow Way, a vital system to deliver clean water south across the Tamiami Trail and into Florida Bay.
- Enable Florida to manage future CERP projects, through expedited permitting and updated federal memoranda of understanding.
- Cut federal red tape and redirect resources to fast-track critical restoration efforts.
Florida’s leadership has already resulted in faster, cleaner, and more affordable restoration efforts. Since 2019:
- The C-43 Reservoir was completed and is now operational, delivering 55 billion gallons of water storage and a state-of-the-art pump station.
- The C-44 Reservoir, S-333 Expansion, and Old Tamiami Trail Removal were completed ahead of schedule, improving freshwater flow to key ecosystems.
- Annual nutrient reduction totals have reached over 1.8 million pounds of nitrogen, and 770,000 pounds of phosphorus removed from Florida’s waterways.
Today’s announcement includes the formal signing of a Memorandum of Agreement between the State of Florida and Department of the Army which is implemented through a Memorandum of Understanding between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, and the South Florida Water Management District. These agreements reflect a shared commitment between Florida and the U.S. Army to get the job done and done right.
To view the MOU, click here.
To view the MOA, click here.
Media Resources
View Photos from Today's Announcement about the EAA Reservoir Agreement with U.S. Army
View Video from Today's Announcement about the EAA Reservoir Agreement with U.S. Army
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Media Contact:
Randy Smith | rrsmith@sfwmd.gov | Office: 561-682-6197 | Cell: 561-389-3386 |
| The South Florida Water Management District is a regional governmental agency that manages the water resources in the southern part of the state. It is the oldest and largest of the state's five water management districts. Our mission is to safeguard and restore South Florida's water resources and ecosystems, protect our communities from flooding, and meet the region's water needs while connecting with the public and stakeholders. |
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