Posted on July 18, 2025
This morning, Governor Ron DeSantis and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced in a joint press conference that they have reached an agreement to expedite the completion of the EAA Reservoir project by 2029.
We applaud today’s announcement, which shaves off five years of the projected timeline. For years, The Everglades Foundation has championed the need to fast-track this vital project, which will store, clean, and send Lake Okeechobee water south to America’s Everglades and Florida Bay while significantly reducing harmful discharges to both coasts.
We are proud that The Everglades Foundation has played a leading role in making this moment possible. Starting in 2016, with the launch of the #NowOrNeverglades campaign that led to the signing of Senate Bill 10 in May of 2017. A year later, we spearheaded the Congressional authorization of the EAA Reservoir in the Water Resources Development Act of 2018. We have and will continue to serve as the driving force behind historic state and federal funding for restoration of America’s Everglades. Furthermore, our hosting of the America’s Everglades Summit in D.C. this past June has already resulted in legislation to increase Everglades funding to $461 million, an increase of $15 million above President Trump’s recommended budget released earlier this year.
America’s Everglades is a $1 trillion asset that provides $31 billion in economic benefits each year. The expedited completion of the EAA Reservoir will accelerate Florida’s clean water economy and support tourism, outdoor recreation, and real estate economies.
This critical new plan will require significant resources, and we look forward to working with Florida’s bipartisan Congressional Delegation to achieve this imperative goal. We thank Governor DeSantis and Army Corps leadership, and applaud the 25-year partnership between the State of Florida and the United States Army Corps of Engineers.
Most importantly, we thank you for supporting our tireless efforts that have helped make this fast-track moment possible.
