On Thursday the U.S. Senate approved legislation authorizing the Army Corps of Engineers to move forward on a major $1.9 billion Everglades-restoration project.

  • The Senate's approval means the $1.9 bill will head to the House
  • Bill outlines a series of engineering projects designed to improve water conditions

The Central Everglades Planning Project, which was included in a broader water resources bill that the Senate approved today by a vote of 95 - 3, is a nearly $2 billion series of engineering projects designed to reduce the need for harmful discharges from Lake Okeechobee by sending more water south into the Everglades instead of east and west into the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee rivers.

Senator Bill Nelson, a long-time supporter of Everglades-restoration projects who pushed to get the project included in this year’s water bill, hailed today’s vote as a major step toward restoring the Everglades. 

“This is a big win for Florida,” said Nelson. “We’ve seen firsthand the effect these toxic discharges can have on Florida’s waterways and the local communities that depend on them. Getting this project approved is a significant step forward in our ongoing efforts to restore the Everglades and provide folks some much needed relief.”

In addition to CEPP, the broader water bill passed today also includes several other projects important to Florida, including:

  • Port Everglades dredging – the bill authorizes $322.7 million to deepen the main shipping channels at Port Everglades from 42 feet to 48 feet.

  • Flagler County Hurricane and Storm Damage Reduction Project – the bill authorizes a $30.78 million beach renourishment project that will extend an existing dune in central Flagler Beach 2.6 miles to help protect State Road A1A, which is the only north-south hurricane evacuation route for communities along the coast.

  • Picayune Strand Restoration Project – the bill authorizes an additional $113 million for the Picayune Strand Restoration Project to fund new features and improvements to the original design. This amount is on top of the funds originally approved in 2007, bringing the project’s total authorized cost to $618 million.

  •  Daytona Beach Flood Protection project – the bill authorizes the Army Corp of Engineers to conduct a feasibility study for the Daytona Beach Flood Protection project.

The bill now heads to the House for consideration.