The Floridant - Florida: Governor Ron DeSantis Celebrates Grand Opening of C-43 Reservoir, a Major Milestone in Everglades Restoration

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HENDRY COUNTY, Fla. ~ HENDRY COUNTY, Fla. - In a momentous event, Governor Ron DeSantis officially opened the Caloosahatchee (C-43) Reservoir today, marking one of the most significant Everglades restoration projects in Florida's history. Joined by state, local, and environmental leaders, Governor DeSantis celebrated the completion of the 10,000-acre reservoir that will have a positive impact on water quality, coastal ecosystems, and Florida's water storage capacity.

During his speech at the opening ceremony, Governor DeSantis expressed his pride in announcing the completion of this project. "As governor, we have set new records for investing in conservation, water quality improvements, and Everglades restoration," he said. "The C-43 Reservoir is a landmark achievement in our broader mission to restore the Everglades and leave this state better to God than we found it."

Since taking office, Governor DeSantis has made restoring the Everglades and improving water quality a top priority. On his second day in office, he issued Executive Order 19-12 which committed $2.5 billion over four years for water quality and Everglades projects. This goal was exceeded in his first term with a total investment of $3.3 billion - more than the previous 12 years combined.

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In his second term as governor, DeSantis has continued this momentum by committing an additional $1.4 billion in this year's FY 2025-26 Budget. This brings the total investment to $4.6 billion in just three years of his term and puts Florida on track to exceed his goal of $3.5 billion for his second term alone. Overall, nearly $8 billion has been invested since 2019 towards Everglades restoration and water quality.

Florida Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Alexis A. Lambert also expressed her excitement about this milestone in restoring Florida's Everglades. "Under Governor DeSantis' leadership, we have invested more towards restoration and are seeing meaningful results - on time, under budget, and with strong returns for Florida's taxpayers," she said.

These investments have already shown significant progress:

- More than 75 Everglades restoration projects have been completed or broken ground since 2019.

- Nutrient reductions now exceed 1.8 million pounds of nitrogen and 770,000 pounds of phosphorus annually.

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- South Florida's water storage capacity has tripled to 176 billion gallons.

- The C-43 Reservoir pump station, capable of moving 650,000 gallons per minute, is now fully operational.

The funding for Everglades restoration is shared equally between Florida and the federal government. To accelerate progress and reduce costs for taxpayers, Florida has proposed taking the lead on completing certain federally authorized restoration projects. The state has already made significant progress on the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) Reservoir by breaking ground ahead of schedule and completing its portion of the project in 2024. Discussions are ongoing with federal partners, including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, to explore options such as updated agreements or a block grant that would allow Florida to take on a greater implementation role in the future.

The opening of the C-43 Reservoir is a major step towards restoring the Everglades and improving water quality in Florida. With Governor DeSantis' continued commitment to this cause, it is clear that Florida is on track to leave a positive impact on its environment for generations to come.

Filed Under: Government, State

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