State and federal officials gathered in South Bay on Monday to announce a major procedural breakthrough that puts the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) Reservoir on track for completion five years ahead of its original schedule.
Governor Ron DeSantis and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers confirmed that all federally funded contracts for the reservoir have been fully executed.
This move solidifies the 2029 completion target, a significant jump from previous estimates, and ensures that the resources needed to finish the “mega-project” are locked in.
The acceleration stems from a July 2025 agreement between Florida and the federal government designed to bypass traditional bureaucratic delays. Under this Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), the State of Florida has taken the lead on several project components that were originally under federal management.
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“Today, alongside the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, I was proud to announce that all federally funded contracts have been executed to expedite completion of the EAA Reservoir by 2029,” Governor DeSantis said. He credited the 2025 agreement for “cutting red tape with an all-hands-on-deck approach.”
The EAA Reservoir is a central piece of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP). Its primary function is to capture, store, and clean water from Lake Okeechobee before moving it south to the Everglades and Florida Bay, rather than discharging it into coastal estuaries where it often causes environmental damage.
Adam Telle, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, characterized the project as a defining environmental legacy. “The Everglades Agricultural Area Restoration plan is truly a modern American mega-project,” Telle said, noting the collaboration between the “Make America Beautiful Again” task force, the state, and the South Florida Water Management District.
Construction is already visible on the ground. Work is underway on a massive inflow pump station designed to move 3 billion gallons of water per day. Additionally, Florida has taken over the Blue Shanty Flow Way, a project that connects the reservoir system to Everglades National Park. Officials noted that by taking the lead on this “last mile” connection, the state reduced costs to about half of the original federal estimates.
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Florida Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Alexis A. Lambert emphasized that the complexity of the ecosystem requires this level of cooperation. “By working with our federal partners and staying focused on results, we are accelerating restoration and ensuring this work continues moving forward,” Lambert said.
The project’s speed is backed by significant fiscal momentum. Since 2019, Florida has steered nearly $8 billion toward water quality and Everglades restoration. Governor DeSantis has proposed another $1.4 billion for the 2026 budget, which would bring the total state investment to $9.5 billion.
With the contracts signed, the project remains on an aggressive timeline to restore the natural “River of Grass” flow, recharge local aquifers, and maintain salinity levels in Florida Bay.
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