Florida Governor discusses water policy reforms

Sarasota, Fla — Florida Governor Ron DeSantis met with environmental experts and toured a local laboratory as he discussed the latest water policy reforms outlined in Executive Order 19-12: Achieving More Now For Florida’s Environment (https://www.flgov.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/EO-19-12-.pdf):

• $2.5 billion over the next four years for Everglades restoration and protection of water resources (a $1 billion increase in spending over the previous four years and the highest level of funding for restoration in Florida’s history).
• Establishment of a Blue-Green Algae Task Force, charged with focusing on expediting progress toward reducing the adverse impacts of blue-green algae blooms now and over the next five years.
• Instruction to the South Florida Water Management District to immediately start the next phase of the Everglades Agricultural Area Storage Reservoir Project design and ensure the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers approves the project according to schedule.
• Creation of the Office of Environmental Accountability and Transparency charged with organizing and directing integrated scientific research and analysis to ensure that all agency actions are aligned with key environmental priorities.
• Appointment of a Chief Science Officer to coordinate and prioritize scientific data, research, monitoring and analysis needs to ensure alignment with current and emerging environmental concerns most pressing to Floridians, among other reforms.