$210 million in grants awarded to restore water resources, reduce harmful algal blooms
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Tuesday over $200 million in grants to 27 statewide projects dedicated to reducing harmful nutrients in Florida’s waterways.
“It is important to protect and restore our waterways and to preserve the Florida way of life that has made us the Fishing and Boating Capital of the World,” DeSantis said in a release. “These awards will help keep our waterways clean for residents and visitors to enjoy.”
The grants will go to septic-to-sewer projects, wastewater treatment upgrades, stormwater projects, wastewater improvement projects and a regional agricultural project.
Of the total, $33 million will be directed to the Newnans Lake System Hydrologic Restoration Project in Alachua County, according to the report. Another $25 million will go to the North 1 Utilities Extension Septic-To-Sewer Project and the City of Cape Coral.
Per the announcement, money will be allocated through the Water Restoration Grant Program. Founded in 2020, the program has supplemented $763 million to 135 projects dedicated to protecting Florida’s resources.
Earlier that year, DeSantis reinforced the program by signing House Bill 1379 following the 2023 Legislative Session.
The announced grants are intended to help reduce total nitrogen loading by more than 1 million cumulative pounds per year and diminish harmful algal blooms.
“Governor DeSantis has made our state’s water quality a top priority,” Department of Environmental Secretary Shawn Hamilton said. “The state of Florida continues to provide communities with the means to tackle water quality improvement projects, with the goal of safeguarding and restoring our natural and water resources.”
Funded projects can be found by clicking here.
In December 2023, DeSantis announced more than $1 billion to state water restoration efforts as part of his Focus on Florida’s Future budget proposal, which included $135 million to the Water Restoration Grant program for Fiscal Year 2024-25.
