Ron DeSantis delivered one environmental victory that left critics speechless

Environmental activists have spent years attacking Ron DeSantis over his policies.

They claim the Florida Governor doesn’t care about protecting natural resources.

But Ron DeSantis just delivered one environmental victory that left critics speechless.

DeSantis announces major victory for Florida’s waterways

Governor Ron DeSantis stood before a packed crowd at Melbourne’s Front Street Civic Center Monday morning with news that environmental groups never expected to hear.

The completion of the Crane Creek restoration project represents a stunning reversal of more than a century of environmental damage – and it happened under a Republican administration that the Left constantly portrays as anti-environment.

Florida Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Alexis Lambert delivered the jaw-dropping numbers that prove DeSantis means business when it comes to protecting Florida’s natural treasures.

https://twitter.com/GovRonDeSantis/status/1954968946861375877

“Every year, this system will move 2.5 billion gallons of water through the stormwater treatment area, removing roughly 24,000 pounds of nitrogen and 3,100 pounds of phosphorus – about the same as taking a dump truck full of harmful nutrients out of our waterways,” Lambert explained.¹

The massive undertaking tackled a problem that’s been plaguing the Indian River Lagoon and St. Johns River for over 100 years.

Back in the early 1900s, engineers built the M-1 Canal to control flooding in the Melbourne area.

The canal worked perfectly for flood control, but it created an unintended consequence that would haunt Florida’s waterways for generations.

Instead of following its natural westward flow to the St. Johns River, stormwater from more than 5,300 acres across Melbourne, West Melbourne, Melbourne Village, and unincorporated Brevard County got diverted straight into the Indian River Lagoon.

That nutrient-laden water fueled massive algae blooms that choked out seagrass beds and devastated marine life throughout one of North America’s most biologically diverse estuaries.

The project that environmentalists said couldn’t be done

Regional water managers have thrown more than $250 million at this problem since the late 1980s, trying everything they could think of to restore the natural water flow.²

Previous administrations talked a good game about environmental protection, but none delivered the kind of comprehensive solution that DeSantis just completed.

The multi-phase restoration effort reads like an engineering marvel.

Crews constructed two pump stations, two pipeline force mains, and a stormwater treatment area that work together to redirect water flow back to its natural pattern.

They built an operable weir east of Evans Road, along with stormwater treatment components west of Interstate 95.

The system captures runoff through the east pump station while maintaining the canal’s existing flood control capabilities – solving the environmental problem without creating new flooding risks for local communities.

“The project protects water quality, safeguards wildlife and strengthens the community’s way of life,” DeSantis declared.³

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The Governor also made a bold claim about his administration’s environmental record.

“I don’t think that this is anything that anyone can dispute. Our administration has done more for the Indian River Lagoon than any administration in the history of the state of Florida, and we’re proud of that,” DeSantis stated.⁴

The numbers back up his bold claim.

Since taking office, DeSantis has directed nearly $8 billion to restore and protect the state’s waterways, according to Florida Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Alexis Lambert.⁵

The Governor specifically highlighted that to date, more than $3.3 billion has gone to over 1,000 projects protecting Florida’s water resources.⁶

More than 250 projects have already been completed, with the results speaking for themselves.

Nitrogen levels have dropped by more than 4.8 million pounds annually, while phosphorus has been reduced by nearly 900,000 pounds per year.

DeSantis puts his money where his mouth is on the environment

The Crane Creek project carries a price tag of $23.2 million, funded through a partnership between state, federal, and local agencies.⁵

The St. Johns River Water Management District contributed approximately $14-15 million, while federal sources administered through the Florida Department of Environmental Protection added $4.5 million.

The state contributed $2.45 million, with Brevard County adding $2.03 million to complete the funding package.⁷

But DeSantis isn’t stopping there.

The Governor announced that Florida’s fiscal year 2025-26 budget includes $460 million for water quality improvements and $50 million for alternative water supply programs.

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Earlier this summer, the state awarded more than $389 million in grants for water quality and quantity improvements across Florida, with $100 million dedicated specifically to Indian River Lagoon protection.

“We are pushing, pushing, pushing to deliver big results,” DeSantis emphasized during Monday’s announcement.⁶

The timing of this environmental victory couldn’t be better for DeSantis as he positions himself for national leadership.

While Democrat politicians spend their time virtue signaling about climate change and environmental justice, DeSantis has quietly been delivering real, measurable results that actually improve Florida’s natural resources.

As a bonus, the restored system will send 7 million gallons of clean freshwater back to the St. Johns River every single day – water that can be used by downstream communities instead of draining more from underground aquifers.

What this really means for Florida’s future

Here’s what the environmental lobby won’t tell you about this story.

For years, they’ve painted DeSantis as some kind of anti-environment villain who only cares about business interests.

Turns out they were dead wrong.

DeSantis just pulled off something previous governors couldn’t manage – actual environmental results that you can measure and verify.

No crushing regulations that kill jobs. No massive tax hikes that punish working families. No surrendering Florida’s economic future to satisfy radical activists.

Just smart engineering, strategic spending, and getting different agencies to work together instead of fighting each other.

The Indian River Lagoon isn’t just another pretty waterway.

This estuary supports a massive tourism and fishing industry that generates billions in economic activity.

“We are the No. 1 boating and fishing state in the country by a long shot,” DeSantis pointed out. “We have over 4 million licensed anglers. We have coastal towns and inlets across the state that are huge destinations.”⁷

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The Crane Creek restoration protects both the environment and the jobs that depend on clean, healthy waterways.

DeSantis managed to protect the environment and the paychecks that depend on it.

Compare that to what Democrats usually offer – endless regulations and lectures about sacrifice while delivering zero measurable improvements.

The same environmental groups that spent months attacking DeSantis over his water policies? They’re pretty quiet right now.

Hard to criticize a guy who just delivered more environmental progress than the previous three administrations combined.

And this is just the warm-up act.

DeSantis has billions more committed to similar projects across Florida, which means he’s building an environmental record that his political opponents won’t be able to touch.

¹ Space Coast Daily, “Florida Gov. DeSantis in Melbourne to Announce Completion of Brevard Canal Restoration to Improve Lagoon Water Quality,” August 11, 2025.

² Florida Today, “DeSantis lauds Crane Creek project marks major milestone for Indian River Lagoon,” August 11, 2025.

³ Florida Today, “DeSantis lauds Crane Creek project marks major milestone for Indian River Lagoon,” August 11, 2025.

⁴ Florida Politics, “Gov. DeSantis touts opening of water project in Brevard County to clean up environment,” August 11, 2025.

⁵ Ibid.

⁶ FOX 13 News, “DeSantis touts completion of water-improvement project that reversed damage done by man-made canal,” August 11, 2025.

⁵ Florida Politics, “Gov. DeSantis touts opening of water project in Brevard County to clean up environment,” August 11, 2025.

⁶ FOX 13 News, “DeSantis touts completion of water-improvement project that reversed damage done by man-made canal,” August 11, 2025.

⁷ Florida Today, “DeSantis lauds Crane Creek project marks major milestone for Indian River Lagoon,” August 11, 2025.

⁷ Ibid.