Florida's Accomplishments

Recognizing the importance of clean water to our economy and quality of life, Florida has taken important steps to strengthen coastal protection over the last five years:

• Florida Forever: The 10-year, $3 billion Florida Forever program established by Former Governor Jeb Bush conserves environmentally sensitive land and protects water resources including coastal areas.
• Everglades Restoration: In 2000, Florida and the federal government established an equal partnership to fund, manage and implement the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan. Three years later and ahead of schedule, Florida began construction to restore the natural flow of water across the River of Grass, which will provide significant benefits to the waters of the Florida Bay.
• Restricted New Oil Leases: New gas and oil drilling leases off the state’s west coast were cut by 75 percent, significantly restricting offshore development near Florida’s coasts.
• Improving and Protecting Water Quality: The Department is implementing a statewide plan to improve water quality, assessing all waterbodies in the State on a five year rotating schedule and cleaning up those identified as polluted.
• Florida’s Aquatic Preserves: Florida’s 41 designated aquatic preserves are protected and maintained in their natural conditions for the enjoyment of future generations.
• National Estuarine Research Reserves: Estuarine Research Reserves have been established to provide a basis for informed coastal management decisions along with long-term estuarine research, monitoring, education and resource management.
• Memorandum of Understanding with the Cruise Industry: In 2000, the 15 Member Lines of the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Department to develop cruise industry policy for waste management.
• Florida’s Clean Marina Program: The Clean Boating Partnership developed the Clean Marina Program to help marinas, boatyards and boaters protect Florida’s waterways using simple environmental practices that prevent pollution.
• Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary: Designated in 1990, the Sanctuary protects the most extensive living coral reef in the United States and countless cultural and historical treasures. The 2,800 square nautical mile Sanctuary surrounds the entire archipelago of the Florida Keys and includes the productive waters of Florida Bay, the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. This complex marine ecosystem supports tourism and commercial fishing, the economic foundation of the Florida Keys. Former Governor Jeb Bush and the Florida Cabinet expanded the boundaries of the Sanctuary to create the largest underwater marine refuge in the world.
• Tortugas Ecological Reserve: Florida established the Tortugas Ecological Reserve, one of the largest marine reserves in the world, together with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to protect marine habitat.
• The Coral Reef Task Force: Florida plays an important role in the coral Reef Task Force, composed of the heads of 11 federal agencies and the Governors of seven states, territories and commonwealths. The Task Force is developing a coordinated scientific approach to promote conservation and sustainable use of coral reefs internationally.
• Fiber Optic Cables Rule: Former Governor Bush and the Florida Cabinet approved a rule that increases protection for North America’s most extensive living coral reef systems and ensures South Florida remains an international gateway for world wide communications and e-commerce. The plan, proposed by the Department, encourages companies to safeguard sensitive reef systems by using designated gaps in the coral reefs to install and connect cables to information networks in South America and the Caribbean.
• Artificial Reefs: Florida’s artificial reefs enhance fisheries by providing habitat and breeding sites for countless marine species. The reefs also benefit marine conservation efforts, education and research and support recreational and commercial fisheries.
• Project Greenshores: Launched in 2001 to restore salt marsh off the coast of Pensacola, the man-made reef provides the foundation for important marine habitat, improves water quality and contributes to the local economy by preserving and enhancing Pensacola Bay.
• Beach Renourishment: The Florida Beach Erosion Control Program was established to preserve and restore the State’s sandy beaches, protecting natural resources and Florida’s economy.
• Florida’s Coastal Management Program: By revitalizing beach areas and waterfronts, battling erosion and pollution, reducing coastal hazards and providing pubic access to coastal resources, the program protects the environmental and economic value of Florida’s coastal communities.
• Waterfront Communities is providing technical and financial support to revitalize communities and strengthen water-dependent economies.
• Blue Ways organize and integrate ecological information for Florida’s Coastal, estuarine and ocean environments.
• Coastal Partnerships Initiative supports innovative local-level coastal management projects through technical assistance, training and funding.
• Uniform Beach Access designs and distributes a beach access sign, free of charge, to Florida’s local governments.

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