Everglades Restoration Timeline

The Florida Legislature Passes the Everglades Protection Act

The Everglades Protection Act directs the State to establish and implement the Surface Water Improvement and Management (SWIM) plan to restore the Everglades.  This plan served as the precursor to the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) enacted by Congress in 2000.  SWIM provided a roadmap for complying with water quality standards and restoring hydroperiods and established a permitting program for discharges into the Everglades Protection Area.  It also allowed the SFWMD to impose additional ad valorem taxes on properties within the EAA and to adopt stormwater utility fees.