South Florida Water Management District and Army Corps of Engineers sign Everglades restoration deal

On Tuesday, the South Florida Water Management District and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers signed a first-of-its-kind agreement to advance key Everglades restoration projects in South Florida.

The agreement ensures that federal funding will be provided to Florida for key projects that line up with the completion of the Everglades Agricultural Area Reservoir by the USACE in 2029, a news release said.

Some of the projects include state construction of the final EAA Reservoir component and the Blue Shanty Flow Way Project, which unlocks a vital system to deliver more clean water across Tamiami Trail and Florida Bay, the release said.

The signing of the agreement took place at the Blue Shanty Flow Way Construction Site.

"We are acting on our historic agreement with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to expedite Everglades restoration using federal funds and state agility," said South Florida Water Management District Executive Director Drew Bartlett. "Today’s signing marks an important milestone in our Everglades restoration efforts, building on our many previous actions to restore the River of Grass."

"Looking out at this landscape, it is easy to see what is at stake. The work we do isn't just about moving water or pouring concrete; it is about securing the ecological and economic future of South Florida for generations to come," said USACE Jacksonville District Commander Col. Brandon Bowman.

An agreement between the State of Florida and the U.S. Department of the Army was announced by Gov. Ron DeSantis in July 2025, with a similar goal of accelerating Everglades restoration.

This was followed by an additional announcement by DeSantis in April 2026, who said that all federally funded contracts had been executed to expedite the completion of construction of the EAA Reservoir by 2029, five years ahead of schedule.

To read the full agreement between the USACE and the South Florida Water Management District, click here.