Tallahassee, Fla. – The Everglades Trust (Trust) today released the following statement, attributed to its CEO Anna Upton, praising Florida Governor Ron DeSantis for recommending over $810 million for projects and initiatives dedicated to restoring America’s Everglades in the 2026-27 fiscal year budget.
“The progress toward restoring America’s Everglades under Governor Ron DeSantis’ leadership has been unprecedented.
“When Governor DeSantis came into office, he pledged to secure at least $2.5 billion for Everglades restoration and water quality initiatives. He exceeded that goal by almost $1 billion.
“At the beginning of his second term, he pledged to secure at least $3.5 billion for Everglades restoration and water quality initiatives. With this budget request, Governor DeSantis will deliver on his promise and once again exceed his pledge.
“If this request is fully funded, Governor DeSantis will have secured nearly $9.5 billion for environmental efforts during his two terms, leading to the largest state investment in Everglades and water quality and more progress on Everglades restoration projects than any other governor in Florida’s history.
“This budget fully funds all remaining components of state-funded portions of the EAA Reservoir and CEPP South-Blue Shanty Flow-way, ensuring that the crown jewel of Everglades restoration is achieved and delivered five years ahead of schedule. It also provides funding for the critical Lower Kissimmee Stormwater Treatment Area north of Lake Okeechobee to clean water and reduce pollution before it enters the lake, and it provides funding for important infrastructure updates, so Floridians and tourists have reliable flood control and drinking water.
“Governor DeSantis’ budget recommendation will ensure Floridians continue to see real results for America’s largest ecosystem restoration effort and recognizes that Florida’s tourism-based economy runs on clean water.
“Teddy Roosevelt said, ‘The nation behaves well if it treats the natural resources as assets which it must turn over to the next generation increased and not impaired in value.’ Governor DeSantis’ budget recommendations put this principle into practice, treating Florida’s waterways and natural resources like the asset they are and ensuring that Florida’s water-based tourism economy will continue to thrive for years to come.”
For more information on the Trust, visit evergladestrust.org and follow @evtrust on Twitter.
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