State and Federal Legislation

1991: The Florida Legislature passed the Marjory Stoneman Douglass Everglades Protection Act to restore the Everglades and provided water management districts with clear tools for ecosystem restoration.

1992: The Federal Water Resource Development Act (WRDA) of 1992 provide the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) with the authority to review the current Central & South Florida Flood Control Project and develop a comprehensive plan to restore and preserve south Florida's ecosystem, enhance water supply and maintain flood protection.

1994: Building on previous efforts and adding new elements, the Florida Legislature passes the Everglades Forever Act, which directs the State of Florida to develop a phosphorus criterion for the Everglades Protection Area. The criterion numerically interprets an existing narrative standard, which states: “In no case shall nutrient concentrations of a body of water be altered so as to cause an imbalance in natural populations of aquatic flora or fauna.”

1996: Water Resource Development Act of 1996 (WRDA 1996) of 1996 provides the USACE with the authority to plan and construct Critical Projects, add water quality features and other restoration activities as well as form a task force. The South Florida Ecosystem Restoration Task Force (Task Force) is a Florida-based working group that includes 14 members from four sovereign entities. There are seven federal, two tribal, and five state and local government representatives. The duties of the Task Force are formulating, recommending, coordinating, and implementing the policies, strategies, plans, programs, projects, activities, and priorities of the restoration.

2000: President Bill Clinton authorizes the Water Resource Development Act of 2000 (WRDA 2000) , committing a multibillion dollar federal budget to Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan, (CERP). The law authorizes the Federal Government to pay for half of the total cost of the nearly $8 billion project.

The Florida Legislature passed the Everglades Restoration Investment Act to fund the State’s cost share of implementing the CERP. Former Governor Jeb Bush signs the Everglades Restoration Investment Act, committing the state to 50% of Everglades restoration costs, the other 50% to be paid by the federal government. The law's provisions state that over the next decade, more than $2 billion in state and local resources will be directed toward restoration.

Through the "Save Our Everglades Trust Fund", resources will be carried forward across fiscal years ensuring that resources will be available when needed.

Florida Legislature passes the Lake Okeechobee Protection Act (LOPA), a phased, comprehensive program designed to restore and protect the lake. An accompanying appropriation provided $38 million to clean up water pollution generated within the Lake Okeechobee Watershed.

2003: Senate Bill 54A is passed and clarifies amendments made to the Everglades Forever Act during the Regular Session. The legislation also provides the bonding authority for an additional $800 million to improve the water quality in the Everglades.

2007: The Florida Legislature passed Senate Bill 392, The Northern Everglades and Estuaries Protection Program, which expands the Lake Okeechobee Protection Act to include protection and restoration of the Lake Okeechobee watershed and the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie rivers and estuaries.