State of the Everglades Report: Spring 2026

As Audubon’s new senior manager of Everglades policy, I am honored to join this work at a time of real momentum and possibility for the River of Grass. Across South Florida, we are seeing the results of decades of commitment to restoring the Everglades, and the forward motion is tangible.

This year’s State of the Everglades report highlights both meaningful progress and the work still ahead. Restoration efforts under the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan are beginning to reconnect water flow, improve habitat, and strengthen resilience against rising seas. Investments are growing, projects are advancing, and communities are coming together around the shared vision of a healthy, flowing Everglades that supports both wildlife and people.

But progress, while real, is not the same as completion. There is much work to be done and the gains we see today depend on sustained momentum. Success depends on collaboration across federal, state, Tribal, and local partners, working together to ensure priorities remain aligned and focused. Projects designed to restore natural water flow and revive critical habitats cannot become secondary priorities.

Everglades restoration remains one of the nation’s most consequential environmental commitments, one that protects both a unique ecosystem and South Florida’s future. We must work together at all levels to ensure that restoration efforts move forward with the urgency they demand, and that progress is not overshadowed by shifting priorities.

This article first appeared in the Spring 2026 State of the Everglades Report.