SOUTH BAY, Fla. — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Army officials announced all federally funded contracts for the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) Reservoir have been executed.
The governor spoke alongside officials from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at the EAA Reservoir Construction Village in South Bay at 11 a.m. on April 13.
DeSantis said the contract will speed up construction by five years, moving the completion date from 2034 to 2029.
“This is the largest environmental restoration in the history of the United States of America, and it's been a federal and state partnership,” said DeSantis.
Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works Adam Telle, Florida Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Alexis Lambert and Maj. Gen. Jason E. Kelly were also at the event.
The governor's office said the announcement builds on a 2025 memorandum of understanding, which allows the State of Florida to take a leading role in executing federally funded components of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP).
Tampa Bay 28 streamed the event live on the website and Facebook.
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