TALLAHASSEE – Governor Charlie Crist signed the State’s budget for the upcoming Fiscal Year 2007-08, increasing protection for Florida’s natural resources and diversifying our energy resources. With a strong commitment to the environment, Governor Charlie Crist, Lt. Governor Jeff Kottkamp and the Florida Legislature have provided nearly $2.5 billion to revitalize Lake Okeechobee and America’s Everglades, conserve our oceans, restore water quality and secure the State’s energy future.
 
“This year’s legislative budget further strengthens the state’s commitment to our environment,” said Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Secretary Michael W. Sole. “It demonstrates the dedication of Governor Crist and Lt. Governor Kottkamp to protecting, preserving and restoring Florida’s land, waterways and quality of life.”
 
The 2007-08 budget expands funding for the restoration and protection of the River of Grass to $200 million, providing $100 million for Everglades restoration, $60 million for the restoration of Lake Okeechobee, as well as $40 million to protect the health of the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie rivers and estuaries and $16.1 million for the St. Johns River. In addition, the budget includes $5.2 million to preserve our marine resources, $2.5 million to protect Florida’s freshwater springs and $300 million to fund the state’s land conservation program, Florida Forever.
 
The 2007-08 budget includes:
 
Saving Lake Okeechobee and Its Tributaries, $100 million – Recognizing the importance of the heart of America’s Everglades, Florida is allocating $54 million to Lake Okeechobee and estuary recovery. The plan to restore the lake includes expanding water storage areas, constructing treatment marshes and expediting environmental management initiatives to enhance the ecological health of the lake and downstream coastal estuaries. An additional $40 million is allocated to restore the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie rivers and estuaries as well as $6 million to the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (DACS) for non-point source pollution controls.
 
Restoring America’s Everglades, $100 million – Governor Crist and the Florida Legislature have appropriated $100 million to continue the state-federal partnership to restore the famed River of Grass and return a natural flow of water across the 2.4 million-acre marsh. To date, the state’s commitment toward the $10.9 billion Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan tops $2 billion.
 
Preserving Florida’s Marine Resources, $5.2 million – Demonstrating the importance of our oceans, the budget provides $3.2 million in funding to support the Florida Oceans and Coastal Resources Council, a panel of experts established in 2005 to develop priorities for ocean and coastal research and establish a statewide ocean research plan. In addition, Florida has dedicated $2 million for the local-state-federal partnership to remove and dispose of waste tires from the Osborne Reef off the coast of Broward County. The program will remove and properly dispose of almost two million tires covering 36 acres that were originally placed as artificial reefs.
 
Restoring Florida’s Waterways, $419 million – With more than 7,700 lakes, 4,500 square miles of estuaries and bays, more than 50,000 miles of rivers and streams and countless wetlands, improving water quality is vital to our quality of life. Florida has invested more than $2.7 billion to improve wastewater treatment, clean up stormwater pollution and upgrade drinking water facilities, funding nearly 1,500 projects statewide since 1999. This year’s appropriations strengthen protection for Florida’s water resources, including $60 million for alternative water supply projects and $182 million for wastewater and drinking water improvement loans and grants.
 
Enhancing Ecotourism and Recreation, $74.5 million – Florida’s sandy beaches, state parks and aquatic preserves are home to thousands of species of plants and animals, draw millions of visitors to our state annually and provide an economic engine for many rural communities. This year’s budget provides $44.1 million to develop and enhance our state parks, aquatic preserves and greenways and trails – including the newest addition, Colt Creek State Park in Polk County – and $30.4 million to protect the state’s beaches, the first line of defense against storm surges from catastrophic storms.
 
Securing Florida’s Energy Future, $62 million – A secure, diverse energy supply is paramount to Florida’s future.  In this year’s budget, Governor Crist and the Florida Legislature are allocating $16.25 million to DEP to encourage alternative energy investment, including $12.5 million to continue renewable energy grant programs, $3.5 million for the Solar Energy System Incentives Program and $250,000 to promote energy efficiency.
 
Conserving Florida’s Land, $300 million – Established in 1999, the 10-year, $3 billion Florida Forever program is the largest land-buying initiative in the nation, conserving environmentally sensitive land, restoring water resources and preserving important cultural and historical sites. More than two million acres throughout the state have been placed in public ownership under Florida Forever and its predecessor program, Preservation 2000 (P2000).
 
For more information, visit www.myflorida.com or www.dep.state.fl.us