From Vision to Reality: Marking 25 Years of Everglades Restoration

South Dade Spotlight, January 2026

A bold, bipartisan restoration effort that is working and worth it.

Twenty-five years after the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) was signed into law, restoration of America’s Everglades is moving with unprecedented momentum, driven by historic levels of federal and state funding and a renewed commitment of bipartisan support.

“Everglades restoration is a bold, bipartisan effort that is working and worth the investment,” said Eric Eikenberg, CEO of The Everglades Foundation. “America’s Everglades is the source of freshwater for millions of people, and the heart of  Florida’s clean water economy of tourism, real estate, and recreation.”

When CERP was signed into law on December 11, 2000, it represented rare alignment among both political parties and the state and federal governments. The plan, which splits the cost equally between the state of Florida and the federal government, created a long-term roadmap to repair South Florida’s water infrastructure and revive America’s Everglades, but completing it would require decades of sustained investment.

Today, that commitment to bipartisanship continues to move projects forward, with many now beginning to reshape the landscape. Water is flowing south in places where it had been blocked for decades. Wetlands are showing early signs of recovery, and communities are seeing the benefits of improved water management. “Everywhere you look in the Everglades watershed, restoration is beginning to deliver benefits,” said Dr. Steve Davis, Chief Science Officer at The Everglades Foundation. “But the full vision of CERP is still ahead of us. Continued investment is essential if we want to see the ecological, economic, and water quality benefits fully realized.”

Read the full South Dade Spotlight article here: https://southdadespotlight.com/2025/12/30/from-vision-to-reality-marking-25-years-of-everglades-restoration/

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