Both projects aim to move water south into Everglades National Park and Florida Bay. In 2025, the state signed a memorandum of understanding with the Corps so it could take the lead in implementing restoration projects without federal oversight. Ron DeSantis (R) has pushed to accelerate the restoration effort's timeline, and has directed approximately $9.5 billion in state funding to Everglades projects, with a goal expedite completion of the reservoir by five years. Key Piece of a Larger PuzzleThe reservoir is considered critical because it is designed to send an estimated additional 370,000 acre-ft of new water south to the Everglades annually. It is a component of the Central Everglades Planning Project, which was authorized to begin construction under the 2018 and 2021 Water Resources Development Act.