Florida Awards $150 Million to Strengthen Florida’s Defenses Against Hurricanes and Flooding
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — On Aug. 14, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) announced the award of $150 million through the Resilient Florida Program. The program provides grants to local communities to strengthen our coastal and inland communities against the impacts of flooding.
The awards announced today will support 26 infrastructure projects across the state, including 22 newly authorized projects and four ongoing projects.
“The Resilient Florida Program is turning planning into action,” said DEP Secretary Alexis A. Lambert. “These grants will equip Florida’s communities to better withstand impacts from flooding, storm surge and hurricanes, advancing on-the-ground efforts to safeguard Florida’s natural resources and infrastructure.”
The Resilient Florida Program provides a strategic, statewide approach to fortifying Florida’s community infrastructure against the impacts of hurricanes, flooding and severe weather, focusing on protecting infrastructure, transportation corridors, emergency services and natural resources. In addition to investments in physical infrastructure, the program also prioritizes coastal management solutions, including the use of hardened shorelines, wetland restoration and vegetative barriers, which also serve as invaluable natural defenses against storm surge and flooding.
Since its inception, the Resilient Florida Program has invested more than $1.8 billion to enhance Florida’s coastal and inland resilience. For Fiscal Year 2025-26, Florida has committed more than $200 million toward statewide resilience.
For more information and to view the full list of Fiscal Year 2025-26 Resilient Florida projects, visit ProtectingFloridaTogether.gov/Grants.
Commissioner Wilton Simpson Announces State Protection of Agricultural Land
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — On Aug. 18, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson announced the preservation of more Florida farmland through the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Rural and Family Lands Protection Program. More than 540 acres of agricultural land located in Flagler and Putnam counties is being preserved through a rural lands protection easement on Singleton Family Farms, a multi-generational farming operation.
“Protecting working farms like Singleton Family Farms ensures that Florida’s agricultural heritage remains strong,” said Commissioner Wilton Simpson. “This easement supports a family that has invested generations into feeding our state, while also safeguarding critical land within the Florida Wildlife Corridor. It’s a win for agriculture, a win for conservation, and a win for Florida’s future.”
The Rural and Family Lands Protection Program purchases the development rights to agricultural properties through voluntary rural lands protection easements, which prevent the future development of the land and allow agriculture operations to continue to contribute to Florida’s economy and the production of food, timber, and other resources vital to the prosperity of Florida.
Singleton Family Farms is a working potato farm producing chip potatoes under contract with Frito-Lay. The family operation also includes a small cow-calf operation on the original homestead property, managed by a younger member of the Singleton family. The project site is enrolled in the department’s Best Management Practices (BMP) program and lies within the Florida Wildlife Corridor, further enhancing its conservation value.
DYK: 2025 Florida Python Challenge™ Another Huge S-S-S-Success
A record-breaking 294 invasive Burmese pythons were removed from the Everglades ecosystem during the 2025 Florida Python Challenge™, marking the largest number of pythons ever captured as part of the annual competition.
DID YOU KNOW: Burmese pythons are one of the most harmful invasive species in the Everglades.
WHY IT MATTERS: Every python that is removed is making a difference to protect the Everglades and South Florida’s native wildlife.
These invasive snakes threaten our native ecosystem by preying upon the native wildlife that lives there, including wading birds and mammals. Their aggressive predation robs panthers, raptors, bobcats, and other native predators of their primary food sources.
COMBATING INVASIVE PYTHONS: The 2025 Florida Python Challenge™ took place in July, providing 934 participants from 30 states and Canada a firsthand opportunity to join the effort to remove invasive pythons from the South Florida landscape.
The annual ten-day competition is hosted by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and the South Florida Water Management District (District). This year’s event included the exciting addition of Everglades National Park as one of eight official competition locations.
ANOTHER HUGE S-S-S-SUCCESS: The results of this year’s python challenge are in! This year’s winners include:
🏆 Ultimate Grand Prize — Taylor Stanberry for removing 60 pythons!
🏆 Longest Python, Novice (15 feet, 11 inches) — Michael Marousky
🏆 Longest Python, Professional (9 feet, 8 inches) — Kennith Chamberland
🏆 Longest Python, Military (11 feet, 2 inches) — Jonathan Miller
🏆 Most Pythons, Novice (14) — Krista Hoekstra
🏆 Most Pythons, Professional (56) — Donna Kalil
🏆 Most Pythons, Military (5) — John Southworth
PROTECTING NATIVE WILDLIFE AND ECOSYSTEMS: The District continues to expedite Everglades restoration efforts and we will continue working to protect South Florida’s natural resources and combat invasive species like Burmese pythons.
If you missed out on this year’s Python Challenge, you can still get involved. Visit SFWMD.gov/PythonProgram to learn more.
WHAT THEY ARE SAYING: Environmental Leaders Applaud the Appointment of Eddy Bouza as Chief Resilience Officer
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. ─ Edward “Eddy” C. Bouza II has been appointed as the Stateof Florida’s next chief resilience officer. As chief resilience officer, Bouza will continue to lead the state’s efforts at maximizing its mitigation investments by coordinating cross-agency mitigation strategies against the impacts of hurricanes and flooding.
Here’s what environmental leaders and stakeholders are saying about the appointment.
“Eddy Bouza has been a driving force in advancing Florida’s resilience strategy, helping communities better prepare for flooding and hurricanes. Through the Resilient Florida Program, he has positioned Florida as a national leader in resilience, and his appointment as chief resilience officer will further strengthen efforts to protect our environment, economy and communities.” — Florida Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Alexis A. Lambert.
“Eddy Bouza’s vision and technical expertise have been central to landmark efforts like Florida’s Comprehensive Statewide Flood Vulnerability and Sea Level Rise Assessment, providing state and local leaders with the data they need to identify risks and make informed decisions that strengthen infrastructure and protect communities. I look forward to continuing this important work with him to build a more resilient Florida.” — Florida’s Chief Science Officer Dr. Mark Rains.
“As the director of the Resilient Florida Program and a certified Floodplain Manager, Eddy Bouza brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the position of chief resilience officer. The Florida Flood Hub has had a productive relationship with Eddy, and we look forward to further collaboration that increases Florida’s resilience and protects its people and their assets.” — Dr. Tom Frazer, Dean of the College of Marine Science at the University of South Florida and former Chief Science Officer.
Governing Board Approves Major Conservation Land Acquisition in Pasco County
The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s (District) Governing Board approved the purchase of Kirkland Ranch in Pasco County. This 974-acre parcel is located in Wesley Chapel and has been primarily used for cattle grazing and tree farming. The Kirkland family has owned this property since 1956.
The Kirkland Ranch property is approximately 59 percent uplands and 41 percent wetlands. The areas surrounding the property are predominantly residential single-family homes and are being developed around the west and south of the property as part of Epperson Ranch and Watergrass developments. This acquisition meets all four of the District’s Areas of Responsibility, which are water supply, water quality, flood protection, and natural systems and is consistent with the District’s Florida Forever Workplan.
The parcel is being purchased for approximately $30.8 million, with money appropriated from the Florida Legislature to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). The state funds are being provided to the District by DEP for the purpose of acquiring the property.
“We appreciate Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida Legislature’s commitment to preserving this conservation land in one of the fastest growing areas in Pasco County,” said Brian Armstrong, the District’s executive director. “This important purchase will help preserve the region’s lands and water resources for future generations.”
Kirkland Ranch is located east of Curley Road and just south of Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation in Wesley Chapel.
