The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has reported several achievements in 2025 aimed at conserving and protecting the state’s natural resources. DEP Secretary Alexis A. Lambert emphasized the connection between Florida’s environment and its economy, stating, “Florida’s environment is not separate from our economy; it is the foundation of it. Under Governor Ron DeSantis’ leadership, Florida has made strategic, forward-thinking investments that protect our air, water and land while ensuring Florida remains a place where both communities and commerce can thrive. I look forward to working with the Governor and the Florida Legislature in the coming year to continue turning Florida’s environmental commitments into measurable results.”
Among the highlights for 2025 is an agreement reached in July between the state and the U.S. Department of the Army that allows Florida to lead construction on key components of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan. This arrangement will speed up completion of major projects like the Everglades Agricultural Area Reservoir by five years, now expected by 2029 instead of 2034. Additional milestones include completing the Caloosahatchee (C-43) Reservoir, starting work on infrastructure such as the Blue Shanty Flow Way, advancing efforts to reduce discharges to sensitive estuaries through projects like Lake Hicpochee, and constructing a major inflow pump station for water movement from Lake Okeechobee.
DEP also finalized mapping of Florida’s coastal seafloor from nearshore areas out to the continental shelf using funding allocated in 2021. The result will be a high-resolution digital elevation model intended to assist with coastal management, emergency response, navigation, scientific research, habitat restoration, and resilience planning statewide.
To address water quality concerns across rivers, lakes, springs and aquifers, DEP updated 28 nutrient Basin Management Action Plans (BMAPs). These plans set specific pollution reduction goals developed with input from local governments and stakeholders.
In terms of land conservation, DEP marked 25 years since launching its Florida Forever program by securing its 200th conservation easement this year. Since 2019, over $1.4 billion has been invested in preserving more than 390,000 acres statewide through acquisitions and easements that restrict development but allow private ownership.
The state park system continued drawing significant visitation numbers—over 25 million guests in 2025—and added new lands for recreation through programs like Florida Forever. Notably, two parks ranked among Beach’s Top 10 Beaches List: Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park in Naples at number four and St. Andrews State Park in Panama City at number seven.
Florida maintained compliance with all National Ambient Air Quality Standards for a fifth consecutive year—the only highly populated state currently meeting these federal benchmarks according to current monitoring data.
Efforts also advanced potable reuse initiatives with new rules ensuring that advanced treated water used for drinking meets or exceeds safety standards as population growth continues across communities.
DEP reported enforcement activity by its Environmental Crimes Unit including felony arrests related to illegal dumping near wetlands in Nassau County and stopping unauthorized sewage disposal operations in Polk County.
Other environmental health actions included removing PFAS contaminants at two community college fire training facilities and expanding eligibility under the Petroleum Restoration Program so more contaminated sites could receive cleanup funding—resulting in thousands more locations moving toward remediation or closure during 2025.
