TALLAHASSEE, FL — The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), led by Secretary Alexis A. Lambert, issued a press release summarizing the department’s major environmental achievements for the year. The accomplishments focused on restoring natural resources, conserving landscapes, and protecting air, water, and land.
Key highlights from the release include:
Restoring Natural Florida
- In July 2025, Florida and the U.S. Department of the Army signed a landmark agreement allowing the state to lead construction of key components in the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan.
- The agreement accelerated completion of the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) Reservoir from 2034 to 2029.
- Completed the 10,000-acre Caloosahatchee (C-43) Reservoir.
- Broke ground on the Blue Shanty Flow Way to deliver clean water south across the Tamiami Trail into Florida Bay.
- Advanced the Lake Hicpochee Project to reduce harmful discharges to the Caloosahatchee Estuary.
- Constructed the EAA Reservoir Inflow Pump Station, capable of moving approximately 3 billion gallons of water per day.
- Largely completed seafloor mapping along the entire Florida coast with $100 million funding from 2021, producing a statewide high-resolution digital elevation model.
- Updated 28 nutrient Basin Management Action Plans to reduce pollution through stakeholder collaboration.
Conserving Florida’s Landscapes
- Marked the 25th anniversary of the Florida Forever program.
- Protected nearly 107,000 acres across 42 projects via 98 conservation easements and acquisitions totaling nearly $433 million.
- Secured the 200th conservation easement, protecting nearly 400,000 acres of working lands.
- Added lands to create a new state park in Walton County and expand one in Polk County.
- Florida’s 175 state parks welcomed over 25 million visitors.
Protecting Natural Resources
- Met all National Ambient Air Quality Standards for the fifth consecutive year.
- Completed rulemaking for potable reuse as a supplemental drinking water source.
- Environmental Crimes Unit made 36 felony and 78 misdemeanor arrests.
- Completed PFAS removal at two college sites.
- Expanded Petroleum Restoration Program, achieving closure at over 13,000 sites.
SOURCE: FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
