Governor DeSantis has supported Florida’s Precious Environment since Day 1
Governor Ron DeSantis has become one of the most important stewards of our precious environment in the state of Florida. He put this commitment into an all-encompassing executive order early on as the top state executive. His Executive Order 19-12 signed in early 2019 has set the stage for how Florida will move forward to protect our environment.
Order 19-12 put forth his most important initiatives, namely:
1-Securing $2.5 billion over the next four years to invest in Everglades restoration and protecting our water resources.
2-Establish a Blue-Green Algae Task Force focusing on expediting progress toward reducing the adverse impacts of blue-green algae blooms now and over the next five years. This support includes key funding and restoration initiatives to expedite nutrient reductions in Lake Okeechobee and the downstream estuaries.
3-Update and secure all restoration plans, within one year, for waterbodies impacting South Florida communities, including Lake Okeechobee, the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie Estuaries. These updates will ensure the Blue-Green Algae Task Force has the necessary information to provide guidance to Department of Environmental Protection on maximizing the investments in water quality improvements.
4-Expedite key Everglades projects including the C-44 reservoir and stormwater treatment area, C-43 reservoir, Tamiami Trail and additional projects necessary to protect our waterways and natural resources.
5-Direct the DEP to establish a septic conversion and remediation grant program with a local government match requirement.
6-Continue DEP's red tide emergency grant program to support local governments to clean up their beaches and coastal areas to minimize the impacts of red tide to residents and visitors.
7-Engage local governments, industry, citizens and other stakeholders through a targeted education and outreach campaign that will focus on the importance of conservation and reuse efforts and encourage Floridians to implement essential conservation and reuse efforts in their homes, businesses and communities throughout Florida.
8-Have DEP appoint 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.
9-Created the Office of Resilience and Coastal Protection to help prepare Florida's coastal communities and habitats for impacts from sea level rise by providing funding, technical assistance and coordination among state, regional and local entities.
10-Taking necessary actions to adamantly oppose all off-shore oil and gas activities off every coast in Florida and hydraulic fracturing in Florida.
These are just a few of the many reasons we need to re-elect Governor Ron DeSantis.
Kallie Jurgens