Governor Ron DeSantis has signed Executive Order 19-12 (Achieving More Now For Florida’s Environment). The executive order will implement major reforms to ensure the protection of Florida’s environment and water quality, according to the Florida Government.
“Our water and natural resources are the foundation of our economy and our way of life in Florida,” said Governor Ron DeSantis in the news release. “The protection of water resources is one of the most pressing issues facing our state. That’s why today I’m taking immediate action to combat the threats which have devastated our local economies and threatened the health of our communities.”
The news release, released on Jan. 10, described the five main points that the order calls for.
According to the Florida Government, the order calls for $2.5 million over the next four years for Everglades restoration and protection of water resources. This would be a $1 billion increase in spending over the previous four years and highest level of funding for restoration in Florida’s history.
It also calls for the Establishment of a Blue-Green Algae Task Force, which would be charged with focusing on expediting progress toward reducing the adverse impacts of blue-green algae blooms now and over the next five years.
The order calls for the Instruction to the South Florida Water Management District to start the next phase of the Everglades Agricultural Area Storage Reservoir Project design and to ensure the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers approves the project according to schedule.
The last key points include the Creation of the Office of Environmental Accountability and Transparency. The office would be charged with organizing and directing integrated scientific research and analysis to ensure that all agency action are aligned with key environmental priorities.
Lastly, the order calls for the Appointment of a Chief Science Officer to coordinate and prioritize scientific data, research, monitoring and analysis needs to ensure alignment with current and emerging environmental concerns most pressing to Floridians.
According to WFTS, Gov. DeSantis visited three areas of the state on Jan. 10, including Sarasota County, Bonita Springs and Stuart to make the “water policy announcement.”
The executive order, Achieving More Now For Florida’s Environment, call be read in full on the Florida Government website.
