Florida Forever Becomes Law

Florida Forever has been renewed through 2020.

Florida Senate bill 542 was signed into law Monday night, which renews the Florida Forever program's commitment to preserving natural lands in the state. Florida Forever is to receive $300 million a year for the acquisition of lands deemed as important ecological assets. The division of funds as now allocated by the state are as follows:

Department of Environmental Protection:

- Division of State Lands $105 Million

- Division of Recreation and Parks $4.5 million

- Rails to Trails $4.5 million

- Florida Recreation Development Assistance Program ( FRDAP ) $6 million

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission $4.5 million

Department of Community Affairs - Florida Communities Trust $66 million

Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services - Division of Forestry $4.5 million

Water Management Districts $105 million:

- Northwest Florida $7,875,000

- Suwannee River $7,875,000

- Southwest Florida $26,250,000

- St. Johns River $26,250,000

- South Florida $36,750,000

View the Current Florida Forever Land Acquisition Projects

This is an important step for the Florida Forever Program. Thank you to all who helped to ensure Florida will continue to preserve open natural spaces in our state.

Swamped!

I have litterally been swamped with work and have regretably not had enough time to devote to contributing to this blog. For all those who visit I apologize. Please take advantage of the links I have provided, as a guide to take you on a journey to some of the sites which will help keep you informed about what is going on with Florida Wetlands.

EPA Partners with Destruction of Florida Wetlands

Overruling its own specialists, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is opening the door to a new wave of mega-developments that will sharply erode Florida’s already declining water quality, according to agency documents released today by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER). In the arrangement, EPA has agreed to overlook warnings of more toxic algae outbreaks, growing saltwater intrusion and spreading contamination of the state’s fragile groundwater.

View PEER Article