The Advocate

On January 10, Governor DeSantis signed Executive Order 23-06 laying out a blueprint that builds on the commitments he made during his first term. This Order includes a commitment to securing $3.5 billion for Everglades restoration, water quality, and water supply, which together with the $3.3 set aside to date, will total $6.8 billion for Florida’s environment. The Governor’s agenda also includes commitments to advance restoration of one of the most biodiverse estuaries in the country, the Indian River Lagoon, as well as additional investments in resiliency and land conservation across the state through programs like Florida Forever. The Executive Order contains calls to action with respect to mitigating algae blooms, reducing nutrient pollution, advancing septic and wastewater programs, and hurricane recovery. The combination of funding and policy enhancements outlined in this Order sets the stage for many potential environmental successes through the end of DeSantis’ term. We look forward to meeting the challenge these ambitious goals present during this legislative session and will remain engaged in these investments across all areas of our work. Read the Governor’s entire Executive Order.

Florida's Land Acquisition Programs This was a banner week to highlight Florida’s land acquisition programs and their latest successes at the legislature and at the Cabinet.  At the Legislature, house and senate committees listening to presentations on the Florida Wildlife Corridor as well as the state’s iconic land acquisition program Florida Forever included the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee, (Chair Rep. Thad Altman (R-Indialantic)), the House Agriculture, Conservation and Resiliency Subcommittee (Chair, Rep. James Buchanan (R-Osprey)), and the Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee (Chair, Senator Ana Maria Rodriguez (R-Doral)). The Florida Wildlife Corridor focuses on providing and maintaining essential habitat and connectivity for many of Florida's plant and animal species along 18 million acres of mostly inland communities. The Florida Wildlife Corridor Act passed last year recognizes the importance of maintaining this connectivity as well as the significance of public-private partnerships in the form of conservation easements on our ranchlands.  Currently, Florida Forever buys ecologically sensitive areas, Florida Communities Trust buys community parks, and Rural and Family Lands easements protect agricultural buffers from development: three tools the state needs to protect our landscapes. Florida Forever relies on scientific criteria and a transparent process accountable to taxpayers, local communities, and landowners. While there is much to celebrate, members were hyper-focused on ways to expedite and streamline the current acquisition process and to reduce redundancies as agencies such as the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and the Florida Department of Transportation work on land acquisition. Florida is growing in leaps and bounds, and we need to prioritize the acquisition and proper management of recreational or conservation lands for the people of Florida. It’s important not only for our quality of life but for our economic viability as well. At the Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Governor DeSantis and his Cabinet met to approve the conservation of over 3,500 acres across the state, an investment of more than $17.7 million that will protect the following parcels that dot the Florida landscape.  Of note, these acquisitions mark the completion of two Florida Forever Projects: Tiger Island, and Triple Diamond. 135 acres in the Rainbow River Corridor Florida Forever Project (Citrus Co.), protecting the world-class Rainbow Springs and the crystal-clear river they give rise to. 287 acres in the Osceola Pine Savannahs Florida Forever Project (Osceola), creating a corridor between Bull Creek, Three Lakes, and Triple N Ranch Wildlife Management Areas. 2, 259 acres in the Triple Diamond Florida Forever Project (Okeechobee Co.), protecting the headwaters of the Everglades. 8.68 acres in the Charlotte Harbor Estuary Florida Forever Project (Charlotte Co.), expanding recreational access for Don Pedro Island State Park. 565 acres in the Tiger Island-Little Tiger Island Florida Forever Project (Nassau Co.), conserving some of Northeast Florida’s best remaining coastal habitat.

White Ibises.

Senate Environmental and Natural Resources Committee Update The Senate Environmental and Natural Resources Committee (Chair, Senator Ana Maria Rodriguez (R-Doral)) met on Tuesday. Members heard a presentation by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection on the state’s seagrass restoration programs. Seagrasses cover nearly 2.5 million acres of shallow sediments near Florida's coastline, a valuable state resource—they are fertile nursery grounds for commercial and recreational fisheries and are a natural buffer to storm surges. Declining water quality and high levels of sediments have contributed to the waning coverage of Florida’s seagrass beds. Maintaining healthy seagrass meadows is of critical importance to coastal resiliency as well as to water quality and a thriving commercial and recreational fishery. Also on the agenda was SB 76 filed by Senator Hooper (R- Clearwater), which passed unanimously in the Committee and would allow priority access to Florida residents making state park reservations. The bill would allow Florida residents the option to book one month before the normally allowed 12-month advance booking option. Our award-winning state parks are always in high demand and currently, third-party vendors book these spots as soon as they are opened and resell them at a profit. This bill gives Florida residents a fighting chance at being able to book a spot at their beloved parks sooner and at a lower rate. A companion bill, HB 109, was filed by Rep. Canady (R-Lakeland).

Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park.

Transportation On Tuesday the Senate Transportation Committee (Chair, Senator Nick DiCeglie (R-Indian Rocks)) convened to hear updates from the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) on the Shared-Use Non-Motorized (SUN) Trail program and the Electric Vehicle (EV) infrastructure Program.  The SUN Trail program aims to improve transportation safety, increase mobility and connectivity, and showcase the beauty of Florida’s environment and communities. The Trail spans approximately 4,000 miles and is a part of the Florida Greenway and Trails Network. From now through 2027, FDOT plans to increase the coverage of these trails across the state. Florida currently ranks second in the nation for EV adoption with an 87% increase in registrations throughout the state since 2021. During Tuesday’s committee meeting, FDOT announced that Florida will be receiving $198 million in federal funds to expand its inventory of electric vehicle charging stations and traffic control devices. The stations will charge EVs at a rapid speed and their placement will prioritize major interstate gaps and critical evacuation routes.  The funding stems from the Bi-Partisan Infrastructure Act to expand the use of EVs through the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Program. FDOT, local governments, and Native American tribes will also have the opportunity to apply for funding from a separate, 2.5-billion-dollar discretionary grant program. FDOT states that the first round of funds, for the discretionary grant program, will be available this year. Whether it’s purchasing an EV or encouraging non-motorized transportation, both initiatives will provide Floridians with more opportunities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate the effects of climate change.

Sandhill Cranes. Photo: Scott Isherwood/Audubon Photography Awards

House Infrastructure Strategies Committee The House Infrastructure Strategies Committee (Chair, Rep. Bobby Payne (R-Palatka)) heard a sobering presentation from Amy Baker, Coordinator for the Florida Office of Economic and Demographic Research (EDR), regarding the potential consequences of climate change and sea level rise (SLR). The EDR office conducts annual assessments to evaluate future expenditures in high-impact areas of the state. Baker cited a report finding that: 77% of the state’s economic productivity occurs in coastal areas at risk from storm events that may be aggravated by climate change, and Approximately 33% of the state’s economic activity occurs in places that may be directly threatened by predictable SLR.  In terms of potential property losses, $3.1 trillion dollars of improved property face these risks. Another aspect of the report suggests that, while some structures and businesses are not directly threatened by SLR, they may be adversely impacted because state transportation facilities (roads and bridges) are themselves at risk and may be rendered impassible due to sea level increases. Roads are typically low-lying and therefore prone to flooding during storms.  Of note was Baker’s suggestion that the state should not build new facilities in high-hazard zones and consider relocating at-risk facilities to safer areas. The Senate Select Committee on Resiliency (Chair, Senator Ben Albritton (R-Wauchula)) and the House Select Committee on Hurricane Resiliency & Recovery (Chair, Rep. Michael Grant (R-Port Charlotte)) heard from the Florida Division of Emergency Management’s Executive Director Kevin Guthrie on his agency’s work with communities pre- and post-Hurricanes Ian and Nicole. Equally important were the reports from Charlotte, Lee, Collier, Flagler, and Volusia County representatives on the extent of the devastation that occurred as a result of the hurricanes. Committee members were curious about the structures and homes that were able to withstand the storms – a common thread noted was that these structures were built on higher elevations and to more stringent building standards.  Counties with an actively managed beach program with dunes suffered far less damage than those that did not. While our inclination is to build back these communities quickly, there are lessons to be learned like improving building codes for coastal homes, wastewater facilities, and septic tank considerations, as well as improvements to stormwater systems to address increased flooding. Both committees will focus on expediting recovery efforts while also prioritizing resiliency planning. Audubon advocates for a strategic approach to rebuilding our communities and natural landscapes. We need to use this opportunity to build greater resilience in our communities so we do not repeat the mistakes of the past.

A wetland habitat in southwest Florida.

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