Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Tuesday that $25 million is being awarded for targeted water quality projects in the Caloosahatchee watershed to reduce pollution and protect Southwest Florida’s vital ecosystems. The funds are part of a larger $389 million investment in water quality and supply across the state.
Watch the full news conference above
According to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, the $25 million will support four projects that aim to reduce nutrient pollution and restore water quality in the Caloosahatchee River and Estuary. The region is one of Florida’s priority ecosystems due to its environmental and economic importance.
“These investments will help safeguard water quality statewide and accelerate restoration efforts in key ecosystems like the Indian River Lagoon, Caloosahatchee River and Estuary, and Biscayne Bay,” said Gov. Ron DeSantis.
He said the projects will focus on reducing nitrogen and phosphorus levels, improving stormwater and wastewater systems, and enhancing environmental infrastructure.
Statewide, 31 high-priority projects were chosen from 348 proposals, requesting more than $2.2 billion in funding.
These efforts are expected to collectively remove more than 1.1 million pounds of nitrogen and 286,000 pounds of phosphorus from Florida’s waterways each year, according to the governor's office.
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