Florida Invests $1.4 Billion in Everglades Restoration and Water Quality Improvements for Fiscal Year 2025–26
The State of Florida is once again demonstrating strong leadership in environmental stewardship. As part of the newly approved 2025–26 state budget, more than $1.4 billion has been committed to Everglades restoration and water quality improvements, marking one of the largest single-year investments in the region’s history.
This brings the total environmental investment during Governor DeSantis’s second term to an impressive $4.6 billion. These funds are directly supporting the kinds of long-term restoration efforts that not only protect Florida’s ecosystems, but also improve water infrastructure and increase the resilience of our communities.
Highlights from the 2025–26 Budget
The funding includes major support for key projects that will help reduce harmful discharges from Lake Okeechobee, expand water storage capacity, and send more clean water south into the Everglades.
Here are some of the top allocations:
- $550 million for the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP), the backbone of Everglades restoration coordination between state and federal agencies
- $64 million for the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) Reservoir, a critical project that helps reduce nutrient pollution and protect downstream estuaries
- $50 million targeted toward project components that offer the highest impact on reducing discharges to the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie Estuaries
- $81 million for the Northern Everglades and Estuaries Protection Program (NEEPP) and associated dispersed water storage projects
Why This Matters for MBG and Our Clients
At The Mitigation Banking Group, we see this funding as a meaningful step toward advancing the kinds of restoration, water quality, and land management outcomes our clients support through mitigation banking. Projects like those funded under CERP and NEEPP often work in parallel with mitigation and conservation banking, improving regional hydrology and expanding ecological connectivity.
These investments also reinforce the long-term importance of preserving land and water systems across Florida, particularly in areas affected by nutrient loading, flooding, or watershed degradation. Increased state support for restoration will likely accelerate permitting, expand conservation opportunities, and create new possibilities for public-private partnerships.
Looking Ahead
As Florida continues to prioritize strategic water resource improvements, we’ll be tracking the progress of these funded projects and their impact on the surrounding landscapes, estuaries, and regulatory environment.
Whether you’re a landowner, environmental consultant, or agency partner, this is the time to align your conservation goals with state-backed restoration efforts. We’re here to help you evaluate how your property or project may complement or benefit from these evolving priorities.
If you have questions about how this budget impacts your region or project potential, feel free to reach out.
View Official Florida Law (Chapter 2025-191)
Final Thoughts
This is a huge step forward for Florida’s mitigation banking community. It demonstrates that lawmakers recognize the complexity of this industry and the need for clear, implementable policies. I want to thank the legislators, industry leaders, and stakeholders who worked to bring this across the finish line.
If you have questions about how SB 492 might impact your project, property, or credit strategy, feel free to contact me directly. At MBG, we’re committed to staying at the forefront of every policy shift—so you don’t have to.
