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groundbreaking was held on February 22, 2023 and is the culmination of
decades of work to bring this project to life.
The EAA Reservoir Project is one of the most important Everglades restoration
projects of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP). The project
will provide ecological benefits, reduce harmful discharges to the St. Lucie and
Caloosahatchee estuaries, and send more clean freshwater south to the Everglades.
The SFWMD began working on the project site in April 2020 for the 6,500-acre
treatment wetland component, known as a Stormwater Treatment Area (STA) of
the EAA Reservoir Project. The STA component is expected to be complete at the
end of 2023. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is building the 10,500-acre reservoir
component of the project and expects to be completed in 2030.
“Four years ago, I promised to pursue a bold agenda and to commit to lead Florida
into a new era of stewardship for Florida’s natural resources, and we delivered. Today,
I am proud to announce the next step in this administration’s continued dedication to
Florida’s treasured environment. This order directs funding and strategic action that
will continue our momentum and enhance our ongoing efforts to expedite critical
Everglades restoration projects, employ sound science to protect and restore our
waterways, and fund infrastructure projects to improve water quality and safeguard
Florida’s water supply.” — Governor Ron DeSantis
2
The South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) is working to implement Executive Order
23-06 that will continue the historic momentum for Florida’s environment and bring additional
resources to accelerate Everglades restoration and water quality projects. On January 10, 2023,
Governor Ron DeSantis signed Executive Order 23-06 (Achieving Even More Now for Florida’s
Environment) to enhance ongoing efforts to expedite restoration projects and further advance
the protection of Florida’s natural resources. The Governor’s announcement came exactly four
years to the day after he signed Executive Order 19-12 (Achieving More Now For Florida’s
Environment) that resulted in record environmental funding, expedited Everglades projects,
and water quality improvements.
The SFWMD and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) made progress on
critical Everglades restoration projects including efforts to build water storage north, south, east
and west of Lake Okeechobee. More than 50 Everglades projects have been completed, broken
ground or hit a major milestone since January of 2019. These projects are making a measurable
difference for water quality and the ecological health of South Florida’s natural resources.
Executive Order 23-06 aims to secure a record-setting $3.5 billion over four years to protect
our water resources and further restore America’s Everglades.
Governor Ron DeSantis tours waterways on Jan. 10, 2019,
at Florida Gulf Coast University’s Vester Marine and
Environmental Research Field Station in Bonita Springs,
where he signed an executive order addressing problems
with water quality that have plagued the state. (Photo by
Andrew West Fort Myers News-Press via AP)
EAA Reservoir Groundbreaking on Feb. 22, 2023. L-R: SFWMD Governing Board Members Jay Steinle and Cheryl Meads, USACE Jacksonville District Lt. Col. Todd Polk, City of South Bay Mayor Joe
Kyles, SFWMD Governing Board Vice Chairman Scott Wagner, Former Florida Senate President Joe Negron, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works Michael Connor, USACE Jacksonville
District Col. James Booth, SFWMD Executive Director Drew Bartlett, U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman-Schultz, U.S. Department of the Interior Office of Everglades Restoration Initiatives Director Adam
Gelber, DEP Secretary Shawn Hamilton, Everglades Foundation President & CEO Eric Eikenberg, SFWMD Governing Board Member Charlette Roman, Captains for Clean Water Executive Director
Daniel Andrews, Florida Farm Bureau Assistant Director of Government & Community Affairs Jake Fojtik, Office of U.S. Senator Marco Rubio – London Rotundo, SFWMD Governing Board Members
“Alligator Ron” Bergeron, Jacqui Thurlow-Lippisch and Ben Butler. (Photo by SFWMD)
DEP Secretary Shawn Hamilton at the EAA Reservoir Groundbreaking on
Feb. 22, 2023. (Photo by SFWMD)
Executive Order 23-06 Announcement from Governor Ron DeSantis in
Bonita Springs on Jan. 10, 2023. (Photo by SFWMD)
2023 SOUTH FLORIDA ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT – Highlights 3
NEW DATA DEMONSTRATE THE SUCCESS OF EVERGLADES
PROJECTS ACROSS SOUTH FLORIDA – PROVING RECENT
INVESTMENTS AND MOMENTUM ARE WORKING
Together with our partners at the DEP and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
(USACE) Jacksonville District, the SFWMD continues our significant efforts
implementing CERP projects to improve the quantity, quality, timing and distribution
of water within the Greater Everglades Ecosystem. Unprecedented state funding
coupled with momentum are making a real difference to protect Florida’s precious
natural resources, support our economy and restore America’s Everglades.
TAYLOR SLOUGH FLOW IMPROVEMENT PROJECT GROUNDBREAKING
The SFWMD along with the National Park Service broke ground on the Taylor Slough Flow Improvement Project within Everglades
National Park on January 26, 2023. This environmental restoration project will allow more clean, freshwater to flow south through
Taylor Slough and onto Florida Bay, where it is needed to balance salinity levels and promote ecological health.
Taylor Slough is located in the southeastern part of Everglades National Park and was historically a major contributor of freshwater to
Florida Bay. The duration, timing and extent of wetland inundation of Taylor Slough’s interconnected wetlands and freshwater flows
through Florida Bay are a critical component of the Everglades ecosystem.
In the early 1920’s, surface flow was substantially reduced by the construction of Ingraham Highway, which was opened as the first
motorway to Flamingo, a small fishing village on the edge of Florida Bay. Ingraham Highway acted as a dam, cutting off and redirecting
freshwater flow away from Taylor Slough. Additional infrastructure changes, including the building of the regional flood control system
known as the Central and Southern Florida (C&SF) Project, have also reduced the flow of water to this important ecological resource.
The Taylor Slough Flow Improvement Project will install up to 18 culverts at nine locations along a 3.2-mile section of OId Ingraham
Highway in Everglades National Park to improve the distribution of freshwater flows and restore natural plant communities and wetlands.
The project is expected to be complete in Summer 2023.
Record Hydration in the Everglades
Current water depths in two key locations, Shark River Slough and Taylor Slough,
demonstrate that restoration projects and operations work well together when
coupled with rainfall to nourish the Everglades and send water south to support
the health of Florida Bay.
Salinity Levels in Florida Bay Stabilize
Record water flows and water depths in the Everglades
coupled with rainfall demonstrated that restoration
can support healthy salinity levels in Florida Bay.
Balanced salinity supports sea grass and spawning fish.
Taylor Slough Groundbreaking on Jan. 26, 2023.
L-R: Audubon Florida Director of Everglades Policy
Kelly Cox, Florida Oceanographic Society Executive
Director and CEO Mark Perry, State of Florida Chief
Resilience Officer Dr. Wes Brooks, Superintendent
of Everglades and Dry Tortugas National Parks
Pedro Ramos, SFWMD Governing Board Chairman
Chauncey Goss, U.S. Department of Interior
Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks
Shannon Estenoz, SFWMD Governing Board
Member Cheryl Meads, SFWMD Executive Director
Drew Bartlett, SFWMD Governing Board Member
Charlette Roman, Everglades Foundation President
& CEO Eric Eikenberg, and USACE Jacksonville

groundbreaking was held on February 22, 2023 and is the culmination of

decades of work to bring this project to life.

The EAA Reservoir Project is one of the most important Everglades restoration

projects of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP). The project

will provide ecological benefits, reduce harmful discharges to the St. Lucie and

Caloosahatchee estuaries, and send more clean freshwater south to the Everglades.

The SFWMD began working on the project site in April 2020 for the 6,500-acre

treatment wetland component, known as a Stormwater Treatment Area (STA) of

the EAA Reservoir Project. The STA component is expected to be complete at the

end of 2023. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is building the 10,500-acre reservoir

component of the project and expects to be completed in 2030.

“Four years ago, I promised to pursue a bold agenda and to commit to lead Florida

into a new era of stewardship for Florida’s natural resources, and we delivered. Today,

I am proud to announce the next step in this administration’s continued dedication to

Florida’s treasured environment. This order directs funding and strategic action that

will continue our momentum and enhance our ongoing efforts to expedite critical

Everglades restoration projects, employ sound science to protect and restore our

waterways, and fund infrastructure projects to improve water quality and safeguard

Florida’s water supply.” — Governor Ron DeSantis

2

The South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) is working to implement Executive Order

23-06 that will continue the historic momentum for Florida’s environment and bring additional

resources to accelerate Everglades restoration and water quality projects. On January 10, 2023,

Governor Ron DeSantis signed Executive Order 23-06 (Achieving Even More Now for Florida’s

Environment) to enhance ongoing efforts to expedite restoration projects and further advance

the protection of Florida’s natural resources. The Governor’s announcement came exactly four

years to the day after he signed Executive Order 19-12 (Achieving More Now For Florida’s

Environment) that resulted in record environmental funding, expedited Everglades projects,

and water quality improvements.

The SFWMD and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) made progress on

critical Everglades restoration projects including efforts to build water storage north, south, east

and west of Lake Okeechobee. More than 50 Everglades projects have been completed, broken

ground or hit a major milestone since January of 2019. These projects are making a measurable

difference for water quality and the ecological health of South Florida’s natural resources.

Executive Order 23-06 aims to secure a record-setting $3.5 billion over four years to protect

our water resources and further restore America’s Everglades.

Governor Ron DeSantis tours waterways on Jan. 10, 2019,

at Florida Gulf Coast University’s Vester Marine and

Environmental Research Field Station in Bonita Springs,

where he signed an executive order addressing problems

with water quality that have plagued the state. (Photo by

Andrew West Fort Myers News-Press via AP)

EAA Reservoir Groundbreaking on Feb. 22, 2023. L-R: SFWMD Governing Board Members Jay Steinle and Cheryl Meads, USACE Jacksonville District Lt. Col. Todd Polk, City of South Bay Mayor Joe

Kyles, SFWMD Governing Board Vice Chairman Scott Wagner, Former Florida Senate President Joe Negron, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works Michael Connor, USACE Jacksonville

District Col. James Booth, SFWMD Executive Director Drew Bartlett, U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman-Schultz, U.S. Department of the Interior Office of Everglades Restoration Initiatives Director Adam

Gelber, DEP Secretary Shawn Hamilton, Everglades Foundation President & CEO Eric Eikenberg, SFWMD Governing Board Member Charlette Roman, Captains for Clean Water Executive Director

Daniel Andrews, Florida Farm Bureau Assistant Director of Government & Community Affairs Jake Fojtik, Office of U.S. Senator Marco Rubio – London Rotundo, SFWMD Governing Board Members

“Alligator Ron” Bergeron, Jacqui Thurlow-Lippisch and Ben Butler. (Photo by SFWMD)

DEP Secretary Shawn Hamilton at the EAA Reservoir Groundbreaking on

Feb. 22, 2023. (Photo by SFWMD)

Executive Order 23-06 Announcement from Governor Ron DeSantis in

Bonita Springs on Jan. 10, 2023. (Photo by SFWMD)

2023 SOUTH FLORIDA ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT – Highlights 3

NEW DATA DEMONSTRATE THE SUCCESS OF EVERGLADES

PROJECTS ACROSS SOUTH FLORIDA – PROVING RECENT

INVESTMENTS AND MOMENTUM ARE WORKING

Together with our partners at the DEP and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

(USACE) Jacksonville District, the SFWMD continues our significant efforts

implementing CERP projects to improve the quantity, quality, timing and distribution

of water within the Greater Everglades Ecosystem. Unprecedented state funding

coupled with momentum are making a real difference to protect Florida’s precious

natural resources, support our economy and restore America’s Everglades.

TAYLOR SLOUGH FLOW IMPROVEMENT PROJECT GROUNDBREAKING

The SFWMD along with the National Park Service broke ground on the Taylor Slough Flow Improvement Project within Everglades

National Park on January 26, 2023. This environmental restoration project will allow more clean, freshwater to flow south through

Taylor Slough and onto Florida Bay, where it is needed to balance salinity levels and promote ecological health.

Taylor Slough is located in the southeastern part of Everglades National Park and was historically a major contributor of freshwater to

Florida Bay. The duration, timing and extent of wetland inundation of Taylor Slough’s interconnected wetlands and freshwater flows

through Florida Bay are a critical component of the Everglades ecosystem.

In the early 1920’s, surface flow was substantially reduced by the construction of Ingraham Highway, which was opened as the first

motorway to Flamingo, a small fishing village on the edge of Florida Bay. Ingraham Highway acted as a dam, cutting off and redirecting

freshwater flow away from Taylor Slough. Additional infrastructure changes, including the building of the regional flood control system

known as the Central and Southern Florida (C&SF) Project, have also reduced the flow of water to this important ecological resource.

The Taylor Slough Flow Improvement Project will install up to 18 culverts at nine locations along a 3.2-mile section of OId Ingraham

Highway in Everglades National Park to improve the distribution of freshwater flows and restore natural plant communities and wetlands.

The project is expected to be complete in Summer 2023.

Record Hydration in the Everglades

Current water depths in two key locations, Shark River Slough and Taylor Slough,

demonstrate that restoration projects and operations work well together when

coupled with rainfall to nourish the Everglades and send water south to support

the health of Florida Bay.

Salinity Levels in Florida Bay Stabilize

Record water flows and water depths in the Everglades

coupled with rainfall demonstrated that restoration

can support healthy salinity levels in Florida Bay.

Balanced salinity supports sea grass and spawning fish.

Taylor Slough Groundbreaking on Jan. 26, 2023.

L-R: Audubon Florida Director of Everglades Policy

Kelly Cox, Florida Oceanographic Society Executive

Director and CEO Mark Perry, State of Florida Chief

Resilience Officer Dr. Wes Brooks, Superintendent

of Everglades and Dry Tortugas National Parks

Pedro Ramos, SFWMD Governing Board Chairman

Chauncey Goss, U.S. Department of Interior

Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks

Shannon Estenoz, SFWMD Governing Board

Member Cheryl Meads, SFWMD Executive Director

Drew Bartlett, SFWMD Governing Board Member

Charlette Roman, Everglades Foundation President

& CEO Eric Eikenberg, and USACE Jacksonville