May 3, 2019

SFWMD Celebrates 25th Anniversary of Everglades Forever Act
More than $2 billion invested following groundbreaking state law has dramatically improved Florida's Everglades water quality 

SFWMD is observing the 25th anniversary of the Everglades Forever Act being signed into law. This groundbreaking state law governs the restoration of Everglades water quality. Click on the image to see a larger version.

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.  -  Today marks the 25th anniversary of a groundbreaking environmental law known as the Everglades Forever Act, which has governed the state's restoration of water quality in Florida's Everglades, being signed into law. 

"We are still working hard every day to restore and protect the Everglades and we still have a lot of work to do," said South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) Governing Board Chairman Chauncey Goss. "But, today as we observe the 25th anniversary of the passage of the Everglades Forever Act, it offers an opportunity to look back on the tremendous progress we have made in saving this unique ecosystem and to focus our efforts for the future." 

Signed into law in 1994, the Everglades Forever Act directed state agencies like SFWMD to implement source controls such as Best Management Practices (BMPs), treatment technologies such as Stormwater Treatment Areas (STAs) and regulatory programs to reduce nutrient levels and ensure that water bound for the Everglades Protection Area, including the three water conservation areas and Everglades National Park, met stringent water quality standards. 

Since the passage of the Everglades Forever Act and other plans that aim to restore the Everglades, Florida has invested more than $2.8 billion to restore Everglades water quality. To fulfill the vision of the Everglades Forever Act, 57,000 acres of STAs were built and BMPs developed and enforced on agricultural operations in the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) south of Lake Okeechobee. Following later state plans that aimed to increase the restoration of Everglades water quality, SFWMD is adding another 6,500 acres of STAs and is building shallow storage basins that can store up to 116,000 acre-feet of storage to improve the performance of STAs. 

The combined actions taken by SFWMD and other state and federal partners following the passage of the Everglades Forever Act have resulted in about 90 percent of the water in the Everglades Protection Area now achieving the stringent water quality standard of 10 parts per billion or less of phosphorus that was established because of the Everglades Forever Act. 

"The Everglades Forever Act was a major first step forward restoring the Everglades and we have seen that step pay off through improved water quality," Goss said. "Now through the leadership of Gov. Ron DeSantis and following the input of the public we serve we must plan and take the next steps to fully restore the quality, quantity, distribution and timing of Everglades water and protect our environment for future generations." 

For more updates on SFWMD's work:
Media Contact: 
Randy Smith |   rrsmith@sfwmd.gov    |  Office: (561)-682-6197 | Cell: 561-389-3386
The South Florida Water Management District is a regional governmental agency that manages the water resources in the southern part of the state. It is the oldest and largest of the state's five water management districts. Our mission is to protect South Florida's water resources by balancing and improving flood control, water supply, water quality and natural systems.

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