Message from Secretary Colleen M. Castille

With the New Year just around the corner, the Department of Environmental Protection can reflect with satisfaction over the goals and accomplishments of 2005 and we look forward to 2006, another year of protecting and conserving Florida’s natural treasures.

Each day I am pleased to be part of an agency with so many talented and dedicated professionals. The hard work put forth by DEP staff is why Florida is recognized as a leader in environmental protection.

Since growing up in Cutler Ridge, surrounded by Florida’s Everglades, I have always been committed to the restoration of the famed River of Grass. Under the leadership of Governor Jeb Bush, the restoration of the Everglades is replenishing thousands of acres of wetlands, improving water quality, reviving habitat for wildlife and drawing millions of visitors. More impressively, the largest environmental restoration project in this nation’s history is bringing environmental returns quicker than expected and at less cost.

Floridians can be proud to live in state where protecting and conserving our natural resources remains a high priority. Through the Florida Forever program more than a million acres will remain in their natural state. These lands provide recreational opportunities as well as a window into Florida’s history. They provide habitat critical for the survival of our wildlife, including many threatened or endangered animals such as the Florida panther and Florida black bear. And, they protect our water supply and surround our military bases preventing encroachment and helping to ensure our safety.

Florida continues to be recognized as one of only three states east of the Mississippi to meet all federal clean air standards. We can attribute that to the modernization of older power plants. Continuing our efforts, Governor Bush has become a leader in promoting alternative energy sources like hydrogen, ethanol, biodiesel and solar-electric. And DEP is leading by example with its fleet of 50 hybrid vehicles and more than 250 alternative fuel vehicles.

Once again, Florida’s beaches were battered by this year’s hurricane season. However restoring Florida’s popular tourist attractions has been a top priority. Through funding approved by Governor Bush and the Florida Legislature, more than $73 million was appropriated for rebuilding dunes and repairing miles of sandy beaches. Florida’s oceans will additionally receive protection through the newly formed Gulf of Mexico Alliance where the five Gulf states and the federal government are coming together to protect more than 3.7 billion acres of Gulf waters.

Environmental compliance reached new heights this year. The Department’s “clean” and “green” programs continued to gain popularity as the “Clean Marina” program grew to include 110 marinas and the “Green Lodging” program welcomed six new lodges and eleven technical partners and vendors. Our partnership with the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to implement Operation Cleansweep helped farmers and other businesses dispose of more than 49,000 pounds of unusable pesticides.

Our state parks continue to be a top choice for outdoor enthusiasts. We celebrated the addition of our 159th state park into Florida’s state park system this year with the opening of Lafayette Blue Spring along the Suwannee River Wilderness Trail. For the second time in six years, Florida’s state park system was presented the National Recreation and Parks Association’s Gold Medal Award – the only state to be recognized twice by the association.

The opening of the new 21,000 square-foot Environmental Education Center at Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve near Ponte Vedra Beach provides the public with educational exhibits, aquariums and laboratories to study and learn about the flora and fauna found within the 60,000 acre reserve. While in south Florida, at Jonathan Dickinson State Park in Hobe Sound, we broke ground for a new 11,000 square foot Environmental Research and Education Center.

Under the leadership of Governor Bush and with the support of the 2005 Florida Legislature, we now have the first overhaul of growth management laws in two decades. Florida’s “pay-as-you-grow” plan ensures that the roads, schools and water needed to support growing communities is in place, or planned for, ahead of time. The new system bases decisions about new development on the ability of Florida’s communities to provide adequate infrastructure.

A look back this year is proof positive that the Department is accomplishing more protection, with less process. Our accomplishments are substantial: Florida’s air is meeting all federal clean air standards; enforcement is stronger; partnerships are helping to restore America’s Everglades and more than a million acres of land is forever conserved.

Yet, there is still much to accomplish and there are still challenges that lay ahead.

Each day, we are embracing the biggest challenge of all: balancing the needs of more than 16 million Floridians with the needs of nature, and we are doing it with the pride and persistence.

I wish you each a safe and happy New Year.