DeSantis announces $13.6 million to fight against algae blooms

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (FLV) – Gov. Ron DeSantis announced $13.6 million will be awarded in the battle against “harmful algal blooms” that have plagued parts of Florida for years.

The money will go towards “innovative” projects taking place across Florida, including both prevention measures and clean-ups.

“In addition to our record investment in water quality projects to reduce nutrient loading at its source, my administration has secured dedicated funding to deploy innovative technologies to address algal blooms,” DeSantis said. “These projects will help identify new ways to treat, predict and respond to blue-green algal blooms, protecting our environment and our economy.” 

DeSantis established the Blue-Green Algae Task Force after he took office in early 2019.

The task force recommended increased investment into technologies to “detect, prevent, clean up and mitigate” the blooms, the governor’s office said.

The allocation of the funding is facilitated through the Department of Environmental Protection’s Innovative Technology Grant Program.

“We all look forward to a future when harmful algal bloom events are less frequent and have a diminishing impact on our communities,” department Secretary Shawn Hamilton said. “To achieve this goal we know we must continue our investments in long-term water quality projects along with continued research and development of science-based mitigation and control technologies. With the continued support of Governor DeSantis and our lawmakers, I am confident that we will rise to this important challenge.”

According to the governor’s office, $50 million has been allocated over his first term to combat the blooms with “innovative technologies.” That investment is in addition to the $1.6 billion for “water restoration projects.”

His “Framework for Freedom” budget for the upcoming fiscal year includes more than $470 million for water quality.