With many competing priorities for funding, Audubon works hard in Tallahassee and Washington to secure the funds needed for Everglades restoration. A restored River of Grass depends on strong and sustained appropriations each year to get projects from start to finish and avoid costly delays. For 2018-19, the Florida Legislature appropriated $248.1 million for America’s Everglades, going above and beyond the commitment required under the Legacy Florida Act.
On the federal side, Congress appropriated a total of $138.97 million. Despite progress on planning projects, federal construction funding continues to lag, causing expensive delays. Stronger and sustained construction funding to get Everglades projects through the finish line continues to be one of Audubon’s top federal priorities in 2019, along with funding for operation and maintenance of existing restoration infrastructure and preserving important Everglades research. Audubon succeeded at saving two critical water monitoring programs from budget cuts in 2018 and will continue to fight for science in 2019.
| $111.1 million for CERP implementation |
| $64 million for the EAA Reservoir |
| $32 million for the state's Restoration Strategies Plan for water quality improvement in the Everglades |
| $31 million for Northern Everglades projects |
| $5 million for agricultural nutrient reduction |
| $5 million for dispersed water storage |
Total State: $248.1 million
| $1.7 million for EPA’s South Florida Geographic Program to monitor water quality in the Everglades (reinstated from 2018 proposed budget cuts) |
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$60.77 million for Department of Interior, including: • $2.5 million for land acquisition for the Everglades Headwaters National Wildlife Refuge • $6.1 million for U.S. Geological Survey Greater Everglades Priority Ecosystems Science Program (reinstated from 2018 proposed budget cuts) |
| $1.7 million for EPA’s South Florida Geographic Program to monitor water quality in the Everglades (reinstated from 2018 proposed budget cuts) |
| $0 for CERP Operation & Maintenance |
Total Federal: $138.97 million
