MARCO ISLAND, Fla. — Gov. Ron DeSantis was in Marco Island on Friday morning to announce that the State of Florida and the U.S. Army have reached a new agreement to accelerate Everglades restoration through expediting the completion of the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) Reservoir.
The EAA is planned to be a 240,000 acre-foot reservoir and a 6,500 acre-foot storm water treatment area south of Lake Okeechobee to prevent harmful discharges into the Everglades and improve water flow and quality.
WATCH BELOW: Expedited reservoir announcement is 'really big deal,' DeSantis says
"The (EAA) Reservoir will be larger, once it's built, than Manhattan, and when operational will deliver between 270-470 billion gallons of clean, fresh water to the Everglades and Florida Bay every year," DeSantis said.
Through the Memorandum of Understanding signed between DeSantis and Acting Assistant Secretary of the Army D. Lee Forsgren, there will be projects for the EAA that will be completed by the state on behalf of the Army Corps using the allocated federal funds.
DeSantis says that this will push up the EAA's expected completion date from 2034 to 2029.
"We've gone above and beyond on these projects than any other state in the country has done," DeSantis said. "This is the largest environmental restoration in America, and maybe even in the world."
WATCH: Gov. DeSantis signs agreement with Army to expedite EAA reservoir construction
The state now has the authority to construct the inflow and outflow pump stations and other auxiliary features of the EAA Reservoir, allowing the Army Corps to focus on the main reservoir basin.
"The agreement also allows Florida to provide support for the construction of the main basin and step in if those vendors don’t get the job done," DeSantis said.
Additionally, Florida is also taking on the construction of the Blue Shanty flowway, which will fully carry water south from the reservoir across obstacles like the Tamiami Trail and into Florida Bay.
"Improving water quality in South Florida not only improves the environment, it also strengthens the economy and boosts confidence in real estate and recreational access in enhanced, so this is a win-win situation," DeSantis said.
Forsgren with the U.S. Army took to the stand after DeSantis, calling Florida a "model partner."
"We are ecstatic to be doubling down today on that partnership on that commitment to continue and accelerate the rehydration of the Everglades and Florida Bay," Forsgren said.
WATCH: Forsgren's words about the agreement
This memorandum comes after DeSantis cut the ribbon at Hendry County’s newly completed C-43 reservoir, a $500 million project capable of storing 55 billion gallons of water. The 10,000-acre site will capture runoff from Lake Okeechobee, helping prevent harmful discharges downstream.
State
DeSantis lauds Everglades project as legal battle brews over detention site
At the end of the press conference, DeSantis answered questions regarding Alligator Alcatraz, including questions about due process and being offered flights home.
"When they get processed, the first thing that happens is they are offered an all-expense-paid trip back to their home country," DeSantis said. "You never have to go to Alligator Alcatraz as an illegal alien. If you can take that plane ticket, and you go, and DHS is picking up the cost of that."
DeSantis also took time to answer accusations surrounding poor food quality at the facility, saying the food quality is of the detainees is the same of those who are working there.
