DeSantis announces $29.5 million for Biscayne Bay and coral reef restoration

MIAMI BEACH, Fla. (WWSB) - Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday announced $29.5 million in new environmental grants, pushing the state’s total investment in Biscayne Bay restoration to $100 million since 2021.

DeSantis announced at Florida International University while appearing with state environmental officials on December 9. The package includes $20 million for eight Biscayne Bay water quality projects and $9.5 million for 11 Florida coral reef restoration projects.

Biscayne Bay grants will help Miami-Dade County and the cities of Miami Beach, Homestead, North Miami Beach, Cutler Bay, and Miami Shores Village. The money will pay for septic-to-sewer conversions and wastewater storage upgrades aimed at improving water quality.

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“Together, the Bay and the Reef generate $64 billion in economic output and support 440,000 jobs in the region,” Florida Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Alexis Lambert said.

Coral reef grants will go to groups including Sea Foundry, the Florida Aquarium, Mote Marine, the Reef Institute, Plant a Million Corals Foundation, Reef Renewal USA, and Newfound Harbor Marine Institute. Universities such as Nova Southeastern, the University of Miami, and Florida Atlantic University’s Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute will also receive funding.

The initiative aims to restore 25% of Florida’s coral reefs by 2050 through large-scale propagation of resilient corals.

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DeSantis also highlighted broader Everglades restoration. He pointed to the completion of the C-43 and C-44 reservoirs and ongoing work on the Everglades Agricultural Area Reservoir.

He said a federal agreement moved the completion date for infrastructure projects south of Lake Okeechobee from 2034 to 2029.

Drew Bartlett, executive director of the South Florida Water Management District, said the state has completed 80 restoration projects. DeSantis said Florida has funded more than 1,174 projects statewide to reduce harmful nutrients, resulting in major reductions in nitrogen and phosphorus.