Gov. Ron DeSantis announced all federally funded contracts for the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) Reservoir project have been executed five years ahead of schedule while speaking at a press conference joined by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in South Bay this week.
The completion of the EAA Reservoir is scheduled for 2029.
"This milestone brings us a step closer to delivering on our commitment to restore the Everglades," DeSantis said in a release. "The July 2025 agreement between the State of Florida and the federal government has made all this possible by cutting red tape with an all-hands-on-deck approach. This is a major victory for America’s Everglades and a testament to the progress our joint federal and state teams have made in just nine months.”
According to the governor's office, the announcement expands upon a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that allows Florida to take charge of carrying out federally funded portions of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP).
Specifically, the agreement calls for restoration improvements, including to an inflow pump station capable of distributing three billion gallons of water daily from Lake Okeechobee to the EAA reservoir.
An outflow pump station is also nearing completion ahead of schedule.
"Today will mark the day that President Trump cemented his legacy as The Everglades President, and Governor DeSantis as The Everglades Governor,” Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works Adam Telle said.
"The Everglades Agricultural Area Restoration plan is truly a modern American mega-project, possible only under the leadership of President Trump and the ‘Make America Beautiful Again’ task force, along with our great partnerships with Governor DeSantis and the South Florida Water Management District," Telle added.
Everglades Trust, a nonprofit dedicated to the preservation of the Everglades and Florida Bay, also celebrated the announcement.
“What a great day for America’s Everglades, as it has been announced that all the federal money needed to complete their portions of the EAA Reservoir – the ‘Crown Jewel’ of Everglades restoration – has been secured," Everglades Trust CEO Anna Upton said.
Gov. DeSantis has dedicted $8 billion to Everglades restoration projects since taking office in 2019. In addition, DeSantis's 2026 budget proposal includes another $1.4 billion for restoration efforts.
“Everglades restoration is one of the most complex ecosystem efforts in the world, and progress like this only happens when we come together with a shared focus on solutions," Florida Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Alexis A. Lambert added. "By working with our federal partners and staying focused on results, we are accelerating restoration and ensuring this work continues moving forward.”
