KEEP FLORIDA WORKING Budget Presented

January 30, 2015

Governor Rick Scott has recommended nearly $1.6 billion in funding dedicated to the protection and preservation of Florida’s natural and water resources.

The Governor’s “KEEP FLORIDA WORKING” budget includes funding dedicated to key environmental projects, such as $150 million for Everglades restoration, $50 million for springs protection and improvements, more than $150 million for the acquisition and management of conservation lands, and $50 million for water supply development projects, announced Florida Department of Environmental Protection in a press release.

The budget also includes $25 million for beach renourishment projects that will protect, preserve and restore Florida’s famous beaches and dune systems.

Beach projects include:

$1,100,911 for Venice Beach Nourishment/ Sarasota County Shore Protection;
$726,848 for Duval County Shore Protection Project;
$10,520,990 for Walton County Hurricane and Storm Damage Reduction Project;
$100,000 for Ft. Pierce Shore Protection Project;
$39,262 for Brevard County Shore Protection Project/ North & South Reaches;
$496,486 for Broward County Shore;
$60,000 for Blind Pass Ecozone Restoration in Lee County;
$117,630 for South Amelia Island Beach Nourishment;
$4,566,500 for Upham Beach Groin Replacement;
$1,598,463 for Longboat Key Beach Nourishment (funds will be divided with inlet project);
$2,684,976 for Statewide Post-Construction Monitoring;
$160,500 for Port Canaveral Inlet Management Plan (IMP) Implementation;
$46,500 for Lake Worth IMP Implementation;
$4,963,900 for Longboat Pass IMP Implementation (funds will be divided with beach restoration project).

Florida is the only state that has been awarded three National Gold Medals for Excellence by the National Recreation and Park Association, and the funding recommended in the “KEEP FLORIDA WORKING” budget will help this award-winning system continue to improve.