Biden Administration To Spend $1.1B On Everglades Restoration

SOUTH FLORIDA — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has earmarked $1.1 billion in funding for Florida Everglades restoration projects, the Biden administration announced Wednesday.

It’s the largest single investment ever made for the restoration and revitalization of the Everglades.

The funds come from a bipartisan infrastructure law that President Joe Biden signed into law in November.

The Everglades are the largest subtropical wilderness in the United States, according to the National Park Service. It’s home to many rare and endangered species, including the manatee, American crocodile and the Florida panther.

It’s also a drinking water supply for more than 8 million Floridians and is an important piece of the state’s $90 billion tourism industry, the White House said.

The ecosystem is endangered by climate change impacts, and the $1.1 billion investment will focus on this area.

“These funds will support improvements to the Everglades by capturing and storing excess surface water runoff, reducing excess water releases to water conservation areas, and minimizing seepage losses during dry periods,” according to the White House.

"The Everglades is critical to the wellbeing of Miami-Dade's environment and economy, and Everglades restoration is essential to protecting our clean water supply, making our community more resilient, and responding to the accelerating impacts of climate change,” Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine-Cava said in a statement. “(The) news about this historic investment fills my heart with excitement and hope for the future, as the funding will fortify our efforts to protect and restore the Everglades now and for generations to come. I applaud President Biden’s commitment to safeguard and revitalize one of our most important and precious natural assets."

The Everglades Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to restoring and protecting the Everglades, said that it “applauds” the federal government’s investment in the ecosystem.

“For too long, the residents of South Florida have suffered as a result of toxic discharges, algae blooms, fish kills, economic losses and a parched Everglades National Park. In order to maximize the environmental benefits to be achieved by Everglades restoration, the Army Corps of Engineers should direct the funding toward construction of the vital EAA Reservoir,” the organization said in a statement. “This reservoir will benefit all of South Florida, slashing harmful discharges to the coastal estuaries while providing the water desperately needed for America’s Everglades and Florida Bay. Furthermore, the EAA Reservoir will boost the carbon sequestration capacity of 3 million acres in the remaining Everglades wetlands. This vital project will also protect the drinking water supply for millions of Floridians.”

In November, Gov. Ron DeSantis’ environmental budget recommendations for fiscal year 2022-23 included more than $960 million for Everglades restoration and the protection of water resources. This includes $660 million for the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan, the EAA Reservoir Project and the Lake Okeechobee Watershed Restoration Project.