Florida Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Alexis A. Lambert has expressed support for Governor Ron DeSantis’ proposed Floridians First Budget for Fiscal Year 2026-27, which includes significant funding for environmental initiatives across the state.
According to Secretary Lambert, “Since taking office, Governor DeSantis has championed efforts that continue to achieve more now for Florida’s environment, and the Floridians First Budget bolsters that commitment with a historic investment in the natural places that make Florida, Florida. That includes accelerating the completion of projects to restore the Everglades, improve water quality, strengthen our shorelines and protect the land around us.”
She continued, “This budget reflects the Governor’s record of following through on environmental promises and investing in projects that matter to Floridians, all while responsibly managing taxpayer resources. I applaud these investments and look forward to working with the Legislature to deliver this budget and leave our state better than we found it for the next generation.”
The proposed budget allocates over $1.4 billion toward Everglades restoration and water quality improvements. This brings total spending under the current administration to nearly $9.5 billion on these priorities.
A key part of the plan is $810 million dedicated to speeding up Everglades restoration projects by five years ahead of schedule. Of this amount, $681 million will go toward completing Everglades restoration work, including $586 million earmarked for finishing state-funded parts of the Central Everglades Planning Project. These funds will help clean, store, and move water through major areas such as the Everglades Agricultural Area Reservoir and Blue Shanty Flow-Way.
Additional allocations include $50 million for projects supporting the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie estuaries and $79 million for programs focused on protecting Northern Everglades and other estuaries.
The budget also plans to repurpose $80 million from existing Land Acquisition Trust Fund allocations—previously set aside for debt service or soon-to-be-completed projects—to support ongoing maintenance of capital projects within South Florida Water Management District Basin.
For water quality efforts statewide, $408 million is proposed for targeted improvements aimed at reducing nutrients in important bodies of water. This includes:
– $250 million directed at Water Quality Improvement Grant Program efforts, prioritizing regions like Indian River Lagoon and Biscayne Bay.
– $100 million allocated to reduce nutrient levels flowing from Kissimmee River into Lake Okeechobee via stormwater treatment.
– $50 million set aside to accelerate projects meeting scientific goals for nutrient reduction.
Other investments outlined in the budget include:
– $65 million devoted to combating harmful algal blooms such as blue-green algae and red tide.
– $60 million planned for advancing alternative water supply options.
– $50 million dedicated to restoring springs throughout Florida.
Conservation lands are another focus area with a proposed one-time investment of $150 million plus a restoration of recurring funding ($65 million) for Florida Forever—a result made possible by accelerated debt repayment strategies. The budget also provides an additional $70 million for state park maintenance and resource management along with pay increases for park service rangers and personnel.
Coastal protection measures include an extra $75 million recommended for beach nourishment targeting critically eroded shorelines. There is also a proposed investment of $208 million in resilience initiatives through the Resilient Florida Program; this features funding both statewide flood/hurricane protection projects ($150 million) and planning/design efforts ($52 million), including coral reef protection.
Further details about these environmental initiatives can be found at ProtectingFloridaTogether.gov.
