The purpose of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection is to protect, conserve, and manage Florida's natural resources and enforce the state's environmental laws. Additionally, the department has general supervisory authority over the state's five regional Water Management Districts—Northwest Florida, Suwanee River, St. Johns River, Southwest Florida, and South Florida.

The department's activities include the following.

• Recreation and Parks includes the Florida Park Service and the Office of Greenways and Trails. The Office of Greenways and Trails provides statewide leadership, planning, and coordination to establish, expand, and promote the Florida Greenways and Trails System (FGTS). The Division of Recreation and Parks appraises the recreation needs of the state and disseminates information relating to recreation. The Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan acts as the state's official outdoor recreation planning document and is a companion to the FGTS Plan.
• State Lands coordinates and evaluates land management plans, conducts appraisals, surveys, and negotiations for land transactions on behalf of the State for conservation and non-conservation lands. The Florida Forever program is the state's conservation and recreation lands acquisition program to conserve the state's natural resources and cultural heritage.
• Air Resource Management manages air permitting, compliance assistance, enforcement, emissions inventory, Clean Air Act regulatory planning, and ambient air monitoring.  
• Water Resource Management is responsible for implementing state laws that protect the quality of Florida's drinking water, ground water, rivers, lakes, estuaries, wetlands, and the reclamation of mined lands.
• Waste Management manages and regulates solid and hazardous waste and petroleum storage tanks, and is responsible for the cleanup of soil, ground water, and surface water contamination.
• Florida Geological Survey collects, maintains, interprets, and disseminates geoscience information to guide regulatory decisions involving water, mineral, energy sources, and land management for environmental protection, restoration, and conservation efforts.
• Division of Law Enforcement enforces environmental laws and responds to incidents where environmental impacts are reported or discovered. The division consists of the Office of Emergency Response, which provides assistance in incidents involving hazardous materials and the Environmental Crimes Unit, which is composed of sworn law enforcement officers.
• Resilience and Coastal Protection safeguards state-owned submerged lands and coastal areas by managing aquatic preserves, national estuarine research reserves, marine sanctuaries, and coastal conservation areas. Additionally, the Office of Resilience and Coastal Protection oversees the Florida Coastal Management Program, the Outer Continental Shelf Program, Clean Boating Programs, the Resilient Florida Program, the Coral Protection and Restoration Program, and the Beaches, Inlets and Ports Program.
• Environmental Assessment and Restoration monitors and assesses Florida's water quality; identifies, verifies, and prioritizes pollution problems; develops and implements restoration strategies; manages water quality data; and provides laboratory services and technical support for water quality analysis.
• Water Restoration Assistance provides grants and loans for project that improve water quality and quantity, and administers grants for water restoration activities directed by the Legislature.
• Water Policy and Ecosystems Restoration is responsible for program areas that focus on environmental restoration and water supply protection. The Water Policy section develops water policies based on statutory direction, oversees the water management districts, and coordinates the department and district water programs. The Ecosystems Restoration section oversees Everglades restoration, including planning, permitting, and compliance assistance, as well as working to ensure resources are available for current and future problems.

The funding information listed below is provided by Transparency Florida. Please contact the department for more information on its funding. Additional information about department funding and activities is available on the State of Florida Fiscal Portal.

Performance measures and standards for the department may be found in its Long Range Program Plan.

OPPAGA Reports and Presentations
A complete list of OPPAGA reports and presentations is available on our website.

Other Reports
Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Office of Inspector Final Audit Reports
Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Statewide Annual Reports
A complete list of Florida Auditor General reports is available on its website.

Websites of Interest
Florida Department of Environmental Protection, News and Press Releases
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Chapters 373, 376, and 403 and s. 20.255, Florida Statutes

Florida Department of Environmental Protection Contact Website
Florida Department of Environmental Protection
3900 Commonwealth Boulevard
Tallahassee, FL 32399-3000
(850) 245-2118
Website