The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has outlined its main achievements for 2025, focusing on the protection and conservation of the state’s natural resources. DEP Secretary Alexis A. Lambert emphasized the link between environmental stewardship and economic prosperity in Florida.
“Florida’s environment is not separate from our economy; it is the foundation of it,” said Lambert. “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 highlighted accomplishments was an agreement reached in July 2025 between Florida and the U.S. Department of the Army. This agreement allows Florida to take charge of constructing key parts of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan, including accelerating completion of the Everglades Agricultural Area Reservoir by five years, now expected in 2029 instead of 2034. Other milestones include completing a 10,000-acre reservoir on the Caloosahatchee River, beginning work on new water flow projects to benefit southern ecosystems, and launching one of Florida’s largest inflow pump stations at Lake Okeechobee.
DEP also completed seafloor mapping along Florida’s entire coastline using funding approved in 2021. The resulting digital elevation model will support coastal management efforts such as emergency response planning and habitat restoration.
To address water quality concerns, DEP updated 28 nutrient Basin Management Action Plans across various regions. These plans set pollution-reduction targets developed with input from local governments and other stakeholders.
The department marked 25 years of its land conservation program, Florida Forever, securing its 200th conservation easement this year. Since 2019, more than $1.4 billion has been invested in protecting over 390,000 acres statewide through projects that preserve working farms and forests while limiting development.
Florida’s state parks saw over 25 million visitors in 2025. Two parks—Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park and St. Andrews State Park—were recognized among Beach’s Top 10 Beaches List for their amenities and natural features.
In terms of air quality, Florida met all National Ambient Air Quality Standards for a fifth consecutive year—the only large-population state to do so—and expects to comply with upcoming federal particulate matter standards.
DEP finalized rules enabling advanced treated water to be safely used as a supplemental source for public drinking systems as part of efforts to ensure reliable supplies amid population growth.
Enforcement actions by DEP’s Environmental Crimes Unit led to dozens of arrests related to illegal dumping and pollution cases during the year.
Other notable actions included cleanup operations at fire training facilities affected by PFAS contamination and expanded eligibility for petroleum site rehabilitation funding—a move that increased active cleanups statewide.
