Florida Governor Ron DeSantis recently marked the official opening of the Caloosahatchee (C-43) Reservoir, a 10,000-acre water storage facility recognized as one of the most significant Everglades restoration projects in Florida’s history.
Accompanied by state and local officials, environmental advocates, and water management leaders, DeSantis celebrated the completion of the reservoir, which is anticipated to greatly improve water quality, enhance freshwater storage, and protect downstream ecosystems along Florida’s Gulf Coast.
“This project will have an impact far beyond the Caloosahatchee,” DeSantis stated. “The C-43 Reservoir is a landmark achievement in our broader mission to restore the Everglades, expand Florida’s water storage capacity, and leave this state better than we found it.”
Located in Hendry County, the C-43 Reservoir will capture and store excess stormwater runoff from the Caloosahatchee River during the wet season. It will release freshwater during dry periods to help balance salinity levels in the estuary and reduce harmful discharges into the Gulf of Mexico. This project is part of a larger initiative to restore natural water flow across South Florida.
DeSantis has made Everglades restoration a central focus of his administration. On his second day in office in 2019, he signed Executive Order 19-12, pledging $2.5 billion over four years for water quality improvements and Everglades projects—a goal that the state exceeded by investing $3.3 billion during his first term.
In his second term, DeSantis has continued this momentum. The recently signed state budget for FY 2025–26 includes $1.4 billion for water initiatives, bringing the total to $4.6 billion for his current term—already surpassing his original goal of $3.5 billion. In total, nearly $8 billion has been committed to water quality and Everglades restoration since 2019.
“Today, I was excited to join the Governor for this major milestone,” said Florida Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Alexis A. Lambert. “Under Governor DeSantis’ leadership, we’ve invested more in restoration and are seeing meaningful results—on time and on budget.”
