DAVIE, Fla. – Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis held a press conference at the South Florida Water Management District Fort Lauderdale Field Station in Davie on Thursday morning.
DeSantis signed Senate Bill 1638 which “dedicates the revenues from the gaming compact between the Seminole Tribe of Florida and the State of Florida to the acquisition and management of conservation lands and the identification and prioritization of critical clean water infrastructure investments,” according to a news release.
The bill provides an infusion of $150 million towards repairs and upgrades of the Central and South Florida water management systems.
Aside from the repairs and enhancements set for the Central and South Florida Water Management System, DeSantis said the SFWMD intends to allocate funds towards conducting a study of Lake Okeechobee in collaboration with Florida Gulf Coast University Water School. This study aims to inform future strategies for invasive plant control, the restoration of native vegetation, and the management of fish and game populations.
“Among Florida’s greatest assets are its natural resources,” said DeSantis. “This revenue stream will further enhance our efforts to conserve our natural resources, protect our waterways and make our ecological infrastructure more resilient.”
According to the Florida Senate’s website, the bill sets forth the following appropriations of compact revenues:
•$100 million each fiscal year to support the Florida Wildlife Corridor, including the acquisition of lands or conservation easements within the Florida Wildlife Corridor.
•$100 million for the management of state-owned lands and removal of invasive species, which is further subdivided as follows:
•$32 million for land management within the State Park System.
•$4 million to implement the implement the Local Trail Management Grant Program.
•$32 million for land management within the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, including state forests.
•$32 million for land management within Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, including state game lands and management activities for gopher tortoises and Florida panthers.
DeSantis confirmed the upgrades will impact an estimated nine million Floridians with water and protect the parts of the state from flooding.
“This project stretches from Orlando to the Florida Keys, and we want to make sure that they have the funds to do so,” he said.
DeSantis also announced the state’s Everglades restoration project has completed more than 65 projects since 2019.
DeSantis also addressed the push for the legalization of marijuana in Florida, after the state’s Supreme Court approved the language on the ballot and at least 60 percent of voters will have to approve Amendment 3 for the bill to come forward.
“The weed one is not just decriminalized, it’s basically a license to have it anywhere you want,” he said. “This state will start to smell like marijuana in our cities and towns and will reduce the quality of life. Do we really want to have more marijuana in our communities? I don’t think it will work out well.”
DeSantis was joined by Florida Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Shawn Hamilton and Seminole Tribe of Florida Chairman Marcellus Osceola Jr.
“In recent years, our state has made unprecedented investments to protect our wild spaces, improve water quality and preserve our natural resources,” said Hamilton. “The consistent revenue stream from this legislation will allow the state to double down on its efforts to protect Florida’s natural resources for generations to come.”
Local 10 viewers can read the full legislation here at watch the press conference in the video below.