Florida Secures Control Over Everglades Reservoir: A Trump-Era Triumph
The long-awaited breakthrough on Everglades restoration is finally here as Governor Ron DeSantis (R) inked a watershed agreement with the U.S. Army on Friday, marking a new era of state-driven environmental leadership in the Sunshine State. The new Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) Reservoir deal empowers Florida to seize the reins on a project that’s vital to South Florida’s water supply, economy, and environment. As Florida faces historic drought conditions, the accelerated schedule offers hope for relief—and it’s no coincidence that this initiative traces back to the America First vision championed by President Donald Trump (R).
Skeptics have long derided the federal government’s slow pace and red tape, but now the game has changed. The project—designed to store over 78 billion gallons of water annually, more than the size of Manhattan—is set to come online by 2029, a full five years ahead of the old timeline. Not only will it curb the harmful discharges fouling coastal estuaries, but it will also strengthen Florida’s drought resilience and clean water economy, benefitting everyone from fishermen to real estate brokers. With a robust partnership in place, DeSantis and President Trump have delivered another win for Florida.
The Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) Reservoir is a 17,000-acre project, comprising a 10,500-acre reservoir and a 6,500-acre stormwater treatment area (STA), designed to store over 78 billion gallons of water annually, which is larger than Manhattan. (source)
South Florida’s drinking water, wildlife, and prosperity all ride on the success of this bold, proactive management shift. From this moment forward, the DeSantis-Trump coalition sets the pace—and keeps the spotlight on putting Florida’s people first.
Fast-Tracking Restoration: How DeSantis, Trump, and Florida Got It Done
Gone are the days when Florida’s water future depended solely on Washington’s bureaucracy. Friday’s agreement hands the keys of Everglades restoration to those who know Florida best—its own leaders and workers. Floridians now manage the construction of the 6,500-acre stormwater treatment area and the all-important Blue Shanty Flowway, both essential for clean, reliable water flowing southward, while the Army Corps of Engineers stays focused on the ambitious, 10,500-acre reservoir basin itself. This two-pronged approach not only streamlines progress, but ensures local accountability in a project with monumental implications.
What’s more, the deal cuts out bureaucracy and fast-tracks every step. Provisions built into the agreement force the Army Corps to expedite permits, strip away federal red tape, and green-light innovation—a reflection of Trumpian anti-bureaucratic zeal made tangible in Florida policy. The state even gets a back-up role on the Corps’ own construction, stepping in if federally contracted vendors fall behind. The power to finish the job, quickly and to Florida standards, now rests in local hands.
Importantly, this surge forward wouldn’t be possible without President Trump’s proactive involvement. Before he took office, Governor DeSantis spoke directly with President Trump about shifting restoration responsibility to Florida. President Trump (R) fully backed the move, knowing Florida could break the stalemate and deliver results for the Everglades and the state’s future. That’s real, effective leadership.
Governor DeSantis had a direct conversation with President Trump before he took office about delegating responsibility to Florida to complete Everglades projects, with Trump expressing support for the initiative. (read more)
This is not just about finishing a reservoir—it’s about restoring American sovereignty over American lands, setting a precedent for future public works, and sending a message: when conservatives lead, America wins. The EAA Reservoir will fuel the “clean water economy” for generations, laying the groundwork for tourism, outdoor recreation, and a healthy Biscayne Aquifer, which supplies the primary drinking water for millions.
Everglades Policy, Historic Drought, and the Road Ahead
Florida hasn’t faced a drought this severe in 13 years, and the timing of this agreement could not be more urgent. With large swathes of Everglades National Park parched and health alerts posted for toxic algae in Lake Okeechobee, the region’s economic and environmental future hinges on the swift restoration now set in motion. Florida’s Department of Health just issued warnings on July 11 for algae blooms, underlining the public health consequences of delay—delays that Trump and DeSantis now pledge to end.
The EAA Reservoir is expected to deliver up to 470 billion gallons of clean water annually to the Everglades and Florida Bay, supporting the Biscayne Aquifer, South Florida’s primary drinking water source. (details)
The agreement’s blueprint is unmistakably conservative: let the states innovate, cut red tape, hold government partners to account, and get results ahead of schedule. The original project timeline would have dragged until 2034, subjecting South Florida’s water supply to a perilous wait. Now, thanks to DeSantis and Trump, the finish line is in 2029.
The Florida-U.S. Army deal also sets a new model for public works oversight—allowing the state to step in and complete construction whenever federal contractors stumble or stall.
Florida is authorized under the agreement to step in and support ongoing construction of the main reservoir basin, including taking over work if assigned vendors fail to deliver. (documentation)
If this powerful state-federal partnership delivers as intended, it will spur not just cleaner water, but stronger local economies and enhanced environmental safeguards across the region. These are the sorts of results that only America First leadership delivers—results that reach well beyond political promises and into real lives.