Ron DeSantis plans to improve water quality in Biscayne Bay

DORAL, FL – Governor DeSantis announced on Thursday that he aims at improving water quality in Biscayne Bay through a $22.7 million spending plan that came up based on recommendations of the Biscayne Bay Commission, which was created in a 2021 law.

The money, spread through seven grants, will go toward wetlands restoration, stormwater management and conversions from septic tanks to sewer systems in Miami.

The plan projects using a portion of the grants to restore mangroves in order to improve water quality and reduce damage with hurricane impacts.

“It’s a very big, populous part of the state. And so, there’s just naturally things that you have to deal with,” DeSantis said while at Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park in Key Biscayne. “And of course, it seems to be a place that more and more people want to come to.”

He also said that the investment will make the bay better and will have “a lot of effects downstream”. The current state budget includes $20 million for projects involving Biscayne Bay, which extends to septic-to-sewer conversions and wastewater projects.

According to the governor’s office, the money will be distributed as follows:

  $14.5 million is awarded to Miami-Dade County for water quality characterization and pollution reduction projects.

   $2.3 million is awarded to the City of North Miami for septic to sewer conversions.

   $2 million is awarded to the City of Coral Gables for Phase I Sanitary Sewer improvements.

   $2 million is awarded to the City of Miami Springs for stormwater infrastucture.

   $700,000 is awarded to the Town of Cutler Bay for wetland restoration.

   $650,000 is awarded to the Village of Key Biscayne for stormwater infrastructure.

   $600,000 is awarded to Miami River Fund, Inc., a non-profit organization, that will will work on stormwater and marine debris management.

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