In a press conference from South Florida, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) called on the President Joe Biden administration to accelerate funding for the Everglades Agricultural Area Reservoir project. The announcement came after the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers earmarked $1.1 billion in funding for the project. The money came from the infrastructure package Congress agreed upon last year.
“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.
DeSantis called the reservoir project a major development in Everglades restoration in an official statement.
“The EAA Reservoir project is the crown jewel of Everglades restoration, providing relief from harmful discharges to the estuaries and sending more clean water south to the Everglades. Advancing the state’s portion of this project is our number one priority, but the federal government has stalled, most recently failing to dedicate a single cent from its infrastructure package to its portion of this project. The Biden Administration must reverse course and dedicate the funds necessary to timely advance their portion of this important project. Florida is doing its part and the Biden administration needs to follow the path blazed by the Trump administration and provide the promised federal support.”
The Army Corps of Engineers will be working with the South Florida Water Management District (FSWMD) to develop the reservoir and stormwater treatment area.
In an email to The Florida Capital Star, the SFWMD said they have already begun working on the project and are expected to finish their portion next year.
“In an effort to reduce harmful Lake Okeechobee water releases to estuary communities and get more clean water to the Everglades, Florida prioritized the EAA Reservoir Project. The State of Florida is responsible for the 6,500-acre Stormwater Treatment Area component of the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) Reservoir Project, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is responsible for building the Reservoir component. We began our portion of the project ahead of schedule and are slated to complete the project next year. The District supports the Federal Government matching Florida’s urgency in completing all projects needed to fulfill the restoration of America’s Everglades, especially the EAA Reservoir Project.”
The project has become a priority, in part, because of algal blooms and the nutrient-rich discharges connected to Lake Okeechobee and subsequently the Everglades.
The Everglades Foundation said the project is going to be key in reducing runoff leading to environmental issues.
“No project will play a bigger role in reducing algae-causing discharges from Lake Okeechobee, with the added benefit of massive carbon sequestration to help mitigate the impacts of climate change,” said Everglades Foundation CEO Eric Eikenberg. “We hope the President’s budget request includes at least $725 million to enable the Jacksonville District to expedite this project and continue the momentum to restore America’s Everglades.”
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Grant Holcomb is a reporter at The Florida Capital Star and The Star News Network. Follow Grant on Twitter and direct message tips.
Photo “Ron DeSantis” by Federal Government of the United States of America. Background Photo “Everglades Pinelands” by MDuchek. CC BY 3.0.
