South Florida Water Management District

🕒🎶 Rock On - Showcasing Major Milestones for Everglades Restoration! ✅ Cutting the ribbon on the Caloosahatchee (C-43) Reservoir  ✅ Signing a landmark agreement between the State of Florida and the U.S. Department of the Army to accelerate the restoration of America’s #Everglades.  ✅ Working to expedite the completion of the EAA Reservoir 🌱 We are continuing our significant efforts to implement projects that will improve the quantity, quality, timing and distribution of water within the Greater Everglades Ecosystem - now and for future generations. 

🐍🤖 Rabbits vs. Pythons? It’s not what you think… Did you know that District scientists teamed up with the University of Florida to battle invasive Burmese pythons using robotic rabbits? 🐇💥 📡 These solar-powered decoys may look cute, but they’re packing serious tech, emitting heat and scents that lure pythons in the Everglades. Cameras inside the bots detect snake activity and alert District staff so the invasive predator can be safely captured. Invasive pythons pose a huge threat to native wildlife like wading birds, small mammals, and reptiles. That’s why we’re getting creative and staying committed to protecting this delicate ecosystem. 🌿 The 2025 Florida Python Challenge may be over, but the fight to eliminate pythons from the Everglades continues. 🔗 Learn more at SFWMD.gov/News

✏️ The 39th Annual Environmental Permitting Summer School wrapped up with an exciting visit from Governor Ron DeSantis who made a major announcement that the State of Florida and the U.S. Department of the Army reached a new agreement to accelerate the restoration of America’s Everglades. The new agreement will: 💧 Accelerate the EAA Reservoir’s construction timeline.  💧 Allow Florida to assume responsibility for the Blue Shanty Flow Way, a vital system to deliver clean water south across the Tamiami Trail and into Florida Bay. 💧 Enable Florida to manage future CERP projects, through expedited permitting and updated federal memoranda of understanding. 💧 Redirect resources to fast-track critical restoration efforts. 🔗 Visit SFWMD.gov/News for more information.

👏 A banner week for Everglades restoration! We kicked off this week with the start-up of the Caloosahatchee (C-43) Reservoir and today, Governor Ron DeSantis announced a landmark agreement between the State of Florida and the U.S. Department of the Army that allows Florida to expedite the completion of the EAA Reservoir. SFWMD Governing Board Members "Alligator Ron" Bergeron, Ben Butler and Charlette Roman were on hand along with DEP Secretary Alexis Lambert and SFWMD Executive Director Drew Bartlett to help usher in a new state and federal EAA agreement. The completed EAA Reservoir will deliver major benefits for Florida's coastal communities and our unique natural environment that we're conserving for generations to come. 

🎉👏 GAMECHANGING MOMENT FOR EVERGLADES RESTORATION! 🎉👏 ✂️ Today will be remembered as one of the most important days in the history of Everglades restoration as we cut the ribbon on the Caloosahatchee (C-43) Reservoir Project in Hendry County! Thank you, Governor Ron DeSantis, Senate President Ben Albritton, DEP Secretary Alexis Lambert, SFWMD Governing Board Members, Executive Director Drew Bartlett and many more local, state, federal and tribal officials for joining today’s celebration.    💦 The C-43 Reservoir will hold 55 billion gallons of water and will reduce harmful flows of water to the Caloosahatchee Estuary in Southwest Florida.    🎊 Since 2019, we have celebrated over 75 ribbon cuttings, ground breakings and major milestones.    🏅 Florida continues to make record investments in Everglades restoration to further protect the natural resources that make this state so iconic. This accomplishment is another massive step forward to further improve our water resources and support the restoration of the #Everglades! 🥳 Today was possible because of the support of the Florida Legislature, our partner agencies, Everglades stakeholders and our hard-working staff!

🦪 Great news for the estuaries…oyster spawning season has officially begun! 💦 Oysters play a critical role in estuarine ecosystems by improving water quality, providing habitat to other organisms and stabilizing shorelines. 💧 Recent monitoring shows higher numbers of oyster larvae, also known as spat, in the water. 🌱 Increased oyster spawning activity is a positive sign of a healthy estuary. Oysters are natural filter feeders and help to clean and filter the water. 👏 More spat = more adult oysters in the future. 🗒 The South Florida Water Management District conducts long-term oyster monitoring in several South Florida estuaries to assess the impacts of restoration efforts. This data supports broader restoration goals in the region.

🦩 On Wednesdays, we wear pink…or in this case we spot beautiful pink flamingos! District staff spotted 125 American flamingos in the Everglades, which is the largest group of flamingos seen in South Florida in the last 10 years! We are seeing more and more flocks of flamingos along the coastal Everglades and in the Stormwater Treatment Areas.

🐍 The 2025 Florida Python Challenge™ kicks off this Friday, July 11! Did you know invasive Burmese pythons are one of the most destructive and harmful species in America’s Everglades? The Python Challenge provides a firsthand opportunity to join in the effort to remove these invasive snakes from the Everglades ecosystem. Every python that is removed is making a difference to protect the Everglades and the region’s diverse and native wildlife. 🔗 Visit SFWMD.gov/News to learn more.

🌀 Hurricane season runs from June 1 to Nov. 30. If you are new to Florida, you may be preparing for the first time. Reminders 🚨 Stay informed 📝 Make a plan 🎒 Build a disaster supply kit 🚗 Have an evacuation plan 🔗 Find more info at FloridaDisaster.org

🇺🇸⭐️ Happy Independence Day from all of us at the South Florida Water Management District!