Governor Ron DeSantis Celebrates Major Milestone in Everglades Restoration with Full Execution of Accelerated EAA Reservoir Contracts

SOUTH BAY, Fla.-Today, Governor Ron DeSantis joined the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to announce that all federally funded contracts for the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) Reservoir have been fully executed, marking a major step forward in accelerating one of the most critical components of Everglades Restoration.

"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, five years ahead of the original timeline," said Governor Ron DeSantis. "This milestone brings us a step closer to delivering on our commitment to restore the Everglades. 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."

"Today will mark the day that President Trump cemented his legacy as The Everglades President, and Governor DeSantis as The Everglades Governor," said Adam Telle, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works. "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," adding that "this project is a prime example of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers's laser focus on maximizing the ability to deliver national infrastructure, and I'm so proud to help make this happen for America and the State of Florida."

"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," said Florida Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Alexis A. Lambert. "By working with our federal partners and staying focused on results, we are accelerating restoration and ensuring this work continues moving forward."

Today's announcement from the Army Corps confirms that all federally managed contracts necessary to meet the accelerated 2029 completion target are now in place, ensuring that funding and resources will remain secured through project completion.

The announcement builds on a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) reached in 2025, which allows the State of Florida to take a leading role in executing federally funded components of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP). This partnership has already yielded measurable progress in just nine months.

Under the agreement:

Construction timelines for the EAA Reservoir have been accelerated by five years.

• Florida has taken the lead on key project components while coordinating closely with the Army Corps.
• Critical infrastructure, including the inflow pump station capable of moving 3 billion gallons of water daily from Lake Okeechobee, is already underway.
• Agreements for the outflow pump station are nearing completion at a significantly faster pace than traditional federal timelines.

In addition, Florida has assumed responsibility for the Blue Shanty Flow Way project-an essential "last mile" connection that will move water south into Everglades National Park and Florida Bay.

Ground was broken on that project just two months after the MOU was signed, keeping restoration efforts on an aggressive schedule while reducing costs to approximately half of original federal estimates.

With all contracts now executed and construction accelerating, the EAA Reservoir project is on track to become a cornerstone of Everglades restoration-helping move water south, recharge aquifers, and restore the natural flow of America's "River of Grass."

Historic Investment in Florida's Everglades
Since taking office, Governor DeSantis has prioritized Everglades restoration and water quality improvements, securing nearly $8 billion in funding for related projects:

• $3.3 billion during his first term
• $4.6 billion in the first three years of his second term

These investments have tripled water storage capacity in South Florida and contributed to major environmental gains, including Florida Bay reaching salinity targets for the first time in decades.

The Governor's proposed 2026 budget includes an additional $1.4 billion, bringing the total investment to $9.5 billion.

Media Resources
Download High Resolution Photos from the Landmark Agreement in Action - Accelerating the EAA Reservoir Project Announcement
Watch Video from the Landmark Agreement in Action - Accelerating the EAA Reservoir Project Annoucement